Into Hell at Suvla Bay - The Battle of Scimitar Hill

Alfred Charles Morris Bush, Company Sergeant Major in the Royal Army Medical Corps attached to the 1/4th London Mounted Brigade had landed with the rest of the brigade at Suvla Bay on the morning of the 18th August and moved into reserve positions at Karakol Dagh. They then moved to "C" Beach, Lala Baba on 20th August and on 21st August it advanced to Chocolate Hill under heavy fire and took part in the attack on Hill 112.

The Battle of Scimitar Hill -21^st August 1915

The purpose of the attack was to remove the immediate Turkish threat from the exposed Suvla landing and to link with the Anzac sectors to the south of the Gallipoli peninsula and was to coincide with the simultaneous attack on Hill 60.

The plan was to attack Scimitar Hill with the 29th Division and the West Hills with the 11th Division, keeping the yeomanry in reserve near the beach. The preliminary artillery barrage looked impressive but achieved little. The British had no clear sight of their targets, which were obscured by mist and smoke, whereas the Ottoman artillery had a clear view of the entire Suvla battlefield.

The 11th Divisions attempt to capture the Western Hills, collapsed in confusion when confronted by an Ottoman strong-point and artillery fire. The Irish retreated from the summit while the undergrowth around them was set ablaze by the shellfire, incinerating the wounded as they lay helpless.

Around 5:00 p.m. the troops of the 2nd Mounted Division were ordered forward from their reserve position on Lala Baba, near the beach. They advanced, marching in formation, across the bed of a dry salt lake. By this time the air was clouded by mist and smoke so that they had little idea of where they were going. The 5,000 men of the five brigades formed in columns by regiment and, marching in extended order, were easy targets for the shrapnel.

Captain William Wedgwood Benn, 1st County of London Yeomanry, 4th Mounted Brigade, 2nd Mounted (Yeomanry) Division recorded the following.

"At 3.30 pm the 2nd Mounted Division, was ordered to advance from Lala Baba. One by one the five brigades, each consisting of just under a thousand men, began to cross the open expanse of the dry Salt Lake. Reminiscent of a parade, they advanced; regiments followed each other in squadron order, each squadron then in line of troop order at set regular distances. This would be their baptism of fire; their journey "Into the jaws of Death, Into the mouth of Hell".

Painting: The Yeomanry crossing the Salt Lake, 21 August 1915 by Norman Wilkinson.

Captain Wedgwood-Benn, continued his account:

"After about half-an-hour's progress we reached the enemy's shrapnel, through which, of course, we were bound to pass if we were to attain Chocolate Hill. As each line of the Division advanced into the beaten zone, the shells did their part, being timed to burst just ahead of our march. Casualties began, but our orders were strict, and forbade us to stop for anyone. When men fell they had to be left for the stretcher parties, which were following”.

It would seem likely that Alfred Bush would have been involved in some way with the stretcher parties and with the crossing of the salt lake.

By 5.00 pm the whole Division had reached the cover of Chocolate Hill, an advance of almost two miles. Within half an hour the brigades were on the move to their new jumping off positions, with little knowledge of the task ahead of them or of what had already befallen the other divisions.

Captain Wedgwood Benn, continued:

"During the next advance we had no shell fire to meet, only rifle and machine-gun fire, a new experience for us, and one which inspired more fear than it really merited. We ran across the first field and jumped into a line of trench supports of our own, then out again and forward into the next trench, leaping in on top of the men of the Division ahead of us, whose reserves we were. They nearly all, I recollect, shouted to us as we approached to take cover and get down, but almost always tried to wave us away from the particular part they themselves were occupying. The fact was they were packed tight, I should say one man to every fifteen inches. From here we got into a communication trench filled with men of the Irish Division [probably Irish troops from the 86 Brigade] whose gallant attempt earlier in the day had failed. We had to stand aside to let pass a pitiable, ghastly procession of maimed, most of whom had been half-stripped to have their wounds bound by their friends. The horror of that scene will bear no describing”.

 
The Mounted Division was now firmly committed to the attack. Bodies were lying all over the ground in front, whilst wounded continued to dribble back from the mist ahead. The scrub was still aflame in many places and the acrid smoke added to the general haze that still covered the battlefield. The continuing din of battle only added to the confusion. All knew that there was only an hour of daylight left; progress had to be made quickly.

Sir Ian Hamilton, who had sailed over from Imbros to watch the battle from the Karakol Dagh, wrote:

"By 6.30 it had become too dark to see anything. The dust mingling with the strange mist, and also with the smoke of shrapnel and of the hugest and most awful blazing bush fire formed an impenetrable curtain. As the light faded the rifles and guns grew silent."

The night of 21 August brought utter chaos to the British lines, as Captain William Wedgwood Benn recalls

"A young officer ran along the trench shouting that the orders were to retire at once. I can remember how foolish I thought his conduct, for the effect on our troops under fire for the first time and completely fatigued by ten hours of fighting, was of the worst."

But the night was terrifying for the Turks too. Not sure what exactly was going on, they feared a renewed night attack or perhaps a British breakthrough.

Lieutenant Ismail Hakki Sunata, 2/35th Regiment remembered the tension of the night.

"It is getting dark. With the ceasing of the artillery fire some calm has descended on the scene. But the infantry fire continues. The sound of the artillery has given way to other sounds. From our left come shouts, moans, groans and screams, and orders are given. The rear of the trenches is full of wounded and moaning men, there are dead also. In the twilight some are coming, some are going, total confusion. Nothing can be understood of what is happening. There are many dead and wounded. The enemy wounded are also calling out in front. The enemy was completely repulsed. The night passed with carrying the wounded and burying the dead. We were all awake. The day’s events had made us so nervous we had forgotten even what sleep was."

Alfred Bush had served in the RAMC during the Boer War but one must wonder if anything could have prepared him for this day. In one day of fighting on the 21st August, the British suffered 5,300 casualties out of the 14,300 soldiers who participated.

SOURCES:
W. William Wedgwood Benn, In the Side Shows (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1919),

I. H. Sunata translated by ‘Reha’, Geliboludan Kafkaslara, (Is Bankasi Publications) Axis History Forum: http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=80&t=153416&start=15

A. Herbert, Mons, Anzac and Kut (London: Hutchinson, 1919).

S. Chambers, Suvla: August Offensive (Pen & Sword, Barnsley, 2011)

and with full acknowledgement of the resources in the Gallipoli Association website.

*Latest Research update August 2021

The War Diary for the 1st London Mounted Brigade provides the following information

The Brigade had been stationed at the Nasrieh School Hospital in Cario and following orders had arrived at Alexandria on 14th August then embarking to Mundros arriving on the 17th in the morning and setting sail again in the afternoon to Suvla Bay arriving at 1.50am on the 18th. Assembling at A beach at 9pm on the 20th and from there proceeding to Lala Baba reaching their destination at 3am on the morning on the 21st.

At 1.30pm they were ordered to follow the division at 3.30pm and open an advanced dressing station at Chocolate Hill.

At 4pm the Field Ambulance Brigade left their bivovac and marched following the division over a plain covered with scrub and grass.

5pm - After marching about two miles forward there were many casualties so they opened an advanced dressing station about one mile from Chocolate Hill and one other east of that place. The Sgt. Major and 3 other men were wounded early (all seriously).

Alfred was evacuated to a hospital ship but died of his wounds a few days later on the 25th August. He was buried at sea. (Source : Pat Gariepy info supplied to www.ramc-ww1.com regarding Alfred Bush)

America Bound

On August 7th 1915, my Great Uncle, Solomon Charles Wraight, boarded the White Star Liner S.S. New York in Liverpool bound for New York, USA.

Solomon Charles Wraight Circa 1910

Solomon Charles Wraight was born on the 22^nd May 1895 in Lambeth, Surrey. He was the eldest son of Solomon (Solly) and Alice Wraight (Nee Uden) and had three sisters Alice (born 1897), Elsie (born 1903) and Ivy (born 10 Oct 1904) and three brothers William (AKA Bill born 1899), Arthur (Born 1907) and Frederick (Fred Born 1911).

Solomon and William were at school together in 1908 at the Gideon Road School, Wandsworth and by 1911 the family were living at 14 Eland Road, Lavender Hill, Battersea. Solomon Charles aged 15 was now an apprentice Joiner. His father Solly being a Builders Joiner (Shop Foreman). Alice, William, Elsie and Ivy were all attending school. His younger sister Alice died in 1911 aged 14. 

The Wraight Family

The passenger list for The S.S.New York lists Solomon Charles as 20 years of age and a carpenter. Solomon travelled 3^rd Class paying the fare himself and arrived at Ellis Island on the 15^th August 1915. 

SS New York

His final destination being Philadelphia, where he was due to join the Carpenters Union in Philadelphia. Solomon was 5Ft 7 inches, fair complexion with brown hair and brown eyes and no distinguishing marks. His health was good and he was able to read and work.

His uncle, Albert Uden, who had emigrated to Canada in 1907, had joined the 4^th Field Company, Canadian Engineers, whose regiment had recently made the opposite journey to Solomon across the Atlantic arriving in England on 29^th April 1915. (the records are not currently available to confirm if Albert was among their number). For Solomon though a new life awaited in America.

Deadly work under the cover of darkness

On the night of the 29^th July 1915, 100 years ago today, The 2^nd Battalion, The Queens, Royal West Surrey Regiment set to work improving the front communication trenches in their sector around Rue – des – Berceaux.

The War Diary for the 29^th / 30^th July reads as follows.

29^th July 1915

Officers 32. Other ranks 961

From Hospital 2 To hospital 4

2/lt. W. Battiscombe to the 1^st Bn. 

A working party consisting of 8 officers and 287 N.C.O’s and men improved front communication trenches during the night.

30^th July 1915

Officers 31. Other ranks 959

From Hospital 2

Killed 3

Wounded 5

To hospital 5

The three soliders killed were Cpl. Frank William Cousens , Pte. B. Mannerings and Corporal John Joseph Graffham, my Great Grand Uncle in law.

All three soldiers are buried in the Rue-Des-Berceaux Military Cemetery, Richbourg-L’Avoue, North of Bethune in the Pas De Calais.

Rue Des Berceaux Military Cemetery

Corporal John Joseph Graffham (9443) was 26 years old and left behind his wife Daisy and one year old son Albert who were living at 9, Felwick Place, Red Hill, Surrey. He is buried in grave Reference I.B.17.

He is buried next to his comrade Corporal Frank William Cousens (9195) aged 24 who was the son of John and Rose Cousens, of 28, St. Peter’s Grove, Canterbury, Kent. Grave reference I.B. 18

Private B Mannerings (3716) was buried in Grave reference I.C. 14

Corporal John Graffham had fought in some of the heaviest fighting of the War so far and his battalion had suffered a significant amount of casualties since it had landed in Zeebrugge in October. Including the First Battle of Ypres and the Christmas truce of 1914

I have been writing this blog for a year now and this is the first one which records the death of an family ancestor, even now 100 years on, the sense of loss can still be felt, 

One wonders the catastrophic effect of John’s death on his wife, Daisy and son, Albert, back home in Red Hill, as well as his parents, Peter and Sarah and his brothers and sisters including his older sister May Rosetta Cobbold (nee Graffham) who was pregnant with her seventh child.

Lest We Forget

Promoted to Corporal

On the 15^th July 1915 Charles Henry Bush (My first cousin 3 times removed) was promoted to corporal in the 35^th Company of the Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC).

Born in Wimbledon in 1878, Charles had been mobilised from the Army reserve on the 5^th August 1914 and had arrived in France on the 20^th August. He had previously served with the RAMC in South Africa. During 1914 he had been stationed at No.9 General Hospital initially in Nantes and later in Rouen.

Charles was posted to New End Military Hospital, Hampsted at Christmas 1914, one of the new hospitals established to deal with the ever increasing number of casualties arriving back from France and Flanders.

New End Military Hospital

By May it was already treating 300 wounded soldiers, including those suffering from shell shock.

Charles' elder brother Alfred, a Regimental Sergeant Major with the Royal Army Medical Corps, was still stationed in Egypt attached to the the 1/4^th London Mounted Brigade. Both brothers had served together in South Africa and had been brought up in Wimbledon in the 1880's, their father Charles dying and their mother Caroline remarrying when they ere both young.

The Kitchener Connection

Lord Kitchener was the Secretary of state for war during the First World War (until his death in 1916). His recruitment poster, a masterpiece of marketing, encouraged millions of young men to join up and do their bit.

On the 9^th July 1915 Lord Kitchener inspected the 2^nd battalion The Queens Royal West Surrey Regiment. The regiment including my Great Grand Uncle in law John Joseph Graffham lined the road north of St. Hilare.

It was not the first time John Graffham’s battalion had been inspected by senior commanders. On the 21^st April Field Marshall Sir John French (Commander in Chief of the BEF) had inspected the regiment.

And on 27^th May the Allies supreme commander, General Joffre had inspected the regiment. The 2^nd Battalion war diary for that day stated:

Gen. Joffre, C-in-C of the allied forces honoured the 7^th Division this afternoon by inspecting it. The Division was formed up in a large field near Bas Rieux just east of Lillers. The 22^nd Bde was in the centre, each Bde being formed up in mass of battalions in quarter column. Gen. Joffre accompanied by F.M French and other distinguished officers passed down the lines after which three cheers were given and the troops marched past.

My Grandmother, Dorothy Renshaw, working as a domestic servant at Shugborough Hall for Lord Anson, the Earl of Lichfield, was once presented along with the rest of the staff to Lord Kitchener apparently for the excellent table setting. (Family Verbal History).

Dorothy Renshaw

I am still researching the exact date of when this event happened.

Dorothy was born in Brereton, Staffordshire on the 9th January 1902, The youngest of three daughters of George and Matilda Renshaw (Nee Thompson). In 1911, Dorothy and her parents were living at 8 Talbot Road, Brereton, with George being employed as a Coal Miner. Dorothy's sisters Alice was working as a domestic servant in Longdon (near Rugeley) and Elizabeth was married to Joseph Vernon, who also worked as a Coal Miner and were living at 6 Talbot Road.

Continuing the Kitchener connection, my Great Uncle Benjamin Hollins, originally from Rugeley, but living in Armitage in 1915 with his wife Hilda and two young children Benjamin and Henry, had been out in France serving with the 1/6^th North Staffordshire Regiment since March. His third son was born between April and June 1915. The boy’s name -  George Kitchener Hollins.

Another Rugeley Recruit arrives in France

On the 22^nd June 1915, James Fisher, aged 27, of the 1/6^th North Staffordshire Regiment arrived in France.

James Fisher 1/6th North Staffords

James Fisher was born in 1887 in Rugeley, Staffordshire. The eldest of ten children, in 1911 he was living with his parents James and Mary Anne Fisher (nee Glaze) and his 5 brothers, Albert, John, George, William and Frederick and 4 sisters, Eliza, Sarah, Elsie and Harriet at 40 Brereton Road, Rugeley. James along with his brother Albert and father were working as coal miners.

James had married Harriet Hollins (my 2^nd cousin twice removed) the daughter of William and Sarah Ann Hollins (nee Wood) between January and March 1914 and their son also called James was born later on in 1914. 

In 1911 the Hollins family was living at 64 Queen Street, Rugeley. Harriet was seven years older than James and in 1911 was working as a Tin Box Grainer. Her father William was a labourer in the local Phoenix Tanyard.

His brother Albert had been discharged from the 1/6th North Staffords on the 18th January 1915 

The 1/6^th North Staffords, since arriving in France in March 1915, had settled into a rotational routine of 4 to 5 days in the trenches followed by 4 to 5 days resting in camp before returning back to the front lines. Each period in the trenches had seen the regiment suffer casualties, it’s recent tour had been no different on the 19^th June the 1/6^th lost one officer Killed and one wounded, 3 other ranks killed, one died of wounds and five more wounded. 

On the 22^nd June the 1/6^th North Staffords were at “Aldershot” Camp, with showery weather. On the 25^th June the battalion marched with the rest of the brigade to Hutments One mile North East of Ouderdom, Belguim.

5 Cousins at War

On the 27th October 1915, Maurice Edwin Bush (my 1^st Cousin 3 times removed) aged 23, enlisted with the Royal Flying Corps as an armourer / mechanic (85 Squadron?).

Maurice was born in 1892 in Paddington, Middlesex. He was the son of Alfred and Caroline Bush (nee Searle) and had 3 older sisters Ethel (born in 1880), Mabel (born in 1883) and Daisy (born in 1885). 

In 1911 the family were living at 119a Allfarthing Lane, Wandsworth. Maurice was employed as a clerk with the Bombay Gas Company, Mabel and Daisy were both working as shop assistants, Ethel had married Alfred Fox in 1907 and were living in Kingswood Road, Clapham Park. Maurice’s father Alfred was a Jewellers assistant.

Maurice joined his cousins in answering his Country's call. Charles Henry Bush and Alfred Charles MorrisBush were both serving with the Royal Army Medical Corps, Alfred having just been posted to Egypt. Another cousin Frederick Charles Bush had just joined the Navy and another cousin William Alfred Bush was serving in France with the Army Service Corps.

Maurice’s cousin Edwin Maurice Bush had recently married Rosetta Turner and were now celebrating the birth of their first child Edwin PJ Bush (born between April – June 1915).