Helles Memorial, Gallipoli, Turkey

Helles Memorial

Gallipoli, Turkey

Pictures courtesy of Brian Budge

Visiting Information: The Panel Numbers quoted at the end of each entry relate to the panels dedicated to the Regiment served with. In some instances where a casualty is recorded as attached to another Regiment, his name may alternatively appear within their Regimental Panels. Please refer to the on-site Memorial Register Introduction to determine the alternative panel numbers if you do not find the name within the quoted Panels.

The Anzac and Suvla cemeteries are first signposted from the left hand junction of the Eceabat- Bigali Road. From this junction travel into the main Anzac area. Follow the road to Helles, opposite the Kabatepe Museum, at 14.2 kms. take a right turn at the 'T' junction and at 14.3 kms. take the left fork. After a total of 22.8 kms, take a right turn to the memorial along a rough track 500m long. The Helles Memorial stands on the tip of the Gallipoli Peninsula. It takes the form of an obelisk over 30 metres high that can be seen by ships passing through the Dardanelles.

IX Corps. Panel

The eight month campaign in Gallipoli was fought by Commonwealth and French forces in an attempt to force Turkey out of the war, to relieve the deadlock of the Western Front in France and Belgium, and to open a supply route to Russia through the Dardanelles and the Black Sea. The Allies landed on the peninsula on 25-26 April 1915; the 29th Division at Cape Helles in the south and the Australian and New Zealand Corps north of Gaba Tepe on the west coast, an area soon known as Anzac. On 6 August, further landings were made at Suvla, just north of Anzac, and the climax of the campaign came in early August when simultaneous assaults were launched on all three fronts. However, the difficult terrain and stiff Turkish resistance soon led to the stalemate of trench warfare. From the end of August, no further serious action was fought and the lines remained unchanged. The peninsula was successfully evacuated in December and early January 1916. The Helles Memorial serves the dual function of Commonwealth battle memorial for the whole Gallipoli campaign and place of commemoration for many of those Commonwealth servicemen who died there and have no known grave. The United Kingdom and Indian forces named on the memorial died in operations throughout the peninsula, the Australians at Helles. There are also panels for those who died or were buried at sea in Gallipoli waters. The memorial bears more than 21,000 names. There are four other Memorials to the Missing at Gallipoli. The Lone Pine, Hill 60, and Chunuk Bair Memorials commemorate Australian and New Zealanders at Anzac. The Twelve Tree Copse Memorial commemorates the New Zealanders at Helles. Naval casualties of the United Kingdom lost or buried at sea are recorded on their respective Memorials at Portsmouth, Plymouth and Chatham, in the United Kingdom.

Number of Identified Casualties: 20839

Memorial Designed by John James Burnet

Victoria Cross:

CUTHBERT BROMLEY

Rank: Major, Date of Death: 13/08/1915, Age: 36, Regiment/Service: Lancashire Fusiliers, 1st Bn., Awards: V C, Panel Reference Panel 58 to 72 or 218 to 219.

Son of the late Sir John Bromley, C.B., and of Lady Bromley, of Sutton Corner, Seaford, Sussex.

Citation: An extract from "The London Gazette," No. 29985, dated 15th March, 1917, records the following:-"On the 25th April, 1915, headquarters and three companies of the 1st Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers in effecting a landing on the Gallipoli Peninsula to the West of Cape Helles, were met by very deadly fire from hidden machine guns, which caused a great number of casualties. The survivors, however, rushed up to and cut the wire entanglements, notwithstanding the terrific fire from the enemy, and after overcoming supreme difficulties, the cliffs were gained and the position maintained. Amongst the many very gallant officers and men engaged in this most hazardous undertaking, Captain Bromley, Serjeant Stubbs, and Corporal Grimshaw have been selected by their comrades as having performed the most signal acts of bravery and devotion to duty.

SIR JOHN PENISTON MILBANKE

Rank: Lieutenant Colonel, Date of Death: 21/08/1915, Age: 42, Regiment/Service: Nottinghamshire Yeomanry (Sherwood Rangers), Awards: V C, Panel Reference
Panel 16.

10th Bart. Son of the late Sir Peniston Milbanke, D.L., J.P. and Elizabeth Milbanke; husband of Leila Milbanke, of 19, Manchester Square, London. Served with the 10th Hussars in the South African War.

Citation: An extract taken from the "London Gazette," dated 6th July, 1900, records the following:- "On the 5th January 1900, during a reconnaissance near Colesberg, (S. Africa), Sir John Milbanke, when retiring under fire with a small patrol of the 10th Hussars, notwithstanding the fact that he had just been severely wounded in the thigh, rode back to the assistance of one of the men whose pony was exhausted, and who was under fire from the Boers who had dismounted. Sir John Milbanke took the man up on his own horse under a most galling fire and brought him safely back to camp."

GERALD ROBERT O’SULLIVAN

Rank: Captain, Date of Death: 21/08/1915, Age: 26, Regiment/Service: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers 1st Bn. , Awards: V C, Panel Reference Panel 97 to 101., Son of the late Lt. Col. G. O'Sullivan (Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders) and of Mrs. O'Sullivan.

Citation: An extract from "The London Gazette, No. 29281, dated 1st Sept., 1915, records the following:-" For most conspicuous bravery during operations South-West of Krithia, on the Gallipoli Peninsula. On the night of the 1st/2nd July, 1915, when it was essential that a portion of a trench which had been lost should be regained, Captain O'Sullivan, although not belonging to the troops at this point, volunteered to lead a party of bomb throwers to effect the recapture. He advanced in the open under a very heavy fire, and, in order to throw his bombs with greater effect, got up on the parapet where he was completely exposed to the fire of the enemy occupying the trench. He was finally wounded, but not before his inspiring example had led on his party to make further efforts, which resulted in the recapture of the trench. On the night of 18th/19th June, 1915. Captain O'Sullivan saved a critical situation in the same locality by his great personal gallantry and good leading."

FRANK EDWARD STUBBS

Rank: Serjeant, Service No: 1506, Date of Death: 25/04/1915, Age: 27, Regiment/Service: Lancashire Fusiliers 1st Bn. , Awards: V C, Panel Reference Panel 58 to 72 or 218 to 219., Native of Walworth, London.

Citation: An extract from "The London Gazette," No. 29985, dated 15th March, 1917, records the following:-On the 25th April, 1915, headquarters and three companies of the 1st Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers, in effecting a landing on the Gallipoli Peninsula to the West of Cape Helles, were met by very deadly fire from hidden machine guns, which caused a great number of casualties. The survivors, however, rushed up to and cut the wire entanglements, notwithstanding the terrific fire from the enemy, and after overcoming supreme difficulties, the cliffs were gained and the position maintained. Amongst the many very gallant officers and men engaged in this most hazardous undertaking, Captain Bromley, Serjeant Stubbs, and Corporal Grimshaw have been selected by their comrades as having performed the most signal acts of bravery and devotion to duty.

ARTHUR WALDERNE St. CLAIR TISDALL

Rank: Sub-Lieutenant, Date of Death: 06/05/1915, Age: 24, Regiment/Service: Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Anson Bn. R.N. Div. , Awards: V C, Panel Reference Panel 8 to 15.

Son of Rev. Dr. Tisdall, D.D. (Vicar of Deal), and his wife, Marian L. Tisdall, of St. George's Vicarage, Deal, Kent. Scholar of Trinity College, Cambridge; B.A. (Double First Class Classical Honours); Chancellor's Gold Medallist, Cambridge; First Class Clerk, Civil Service (Treasury).

Citation: An extract from The London Gazette, No. 29530, dated 31st March, 1916, records the following:-"During the landing from the S.S. " River Clyde " at V Beach, in the Gallipoli Peninsula, on the 25th April, 1915, Sub. Lieut. Tisdall, hearing wounded men on the beach calling for assistance, jumped into the water, and, pushing a boat in front of him, went to their rescue. He was, however, obliged to obtain help, and took with him on two trips, Ldg. Smn. Malia; and on other trips, Ch. P.O. Perring and Ldg. Smn. Curtis and Parkinson. In all, Sub. Lieut. Tisdall made four or five trips between the ship and the shore, and was thus responsible for rescuing several wounded men under heavy and accurate fire. Owing to the fact that Sub. Lieut. Tisdall and the platoon under his orders were on detached service at the time, and that this officer was killed in action on the 6th May, it has only now been possible to obtain complete information as to the individuals who took part in this gallant act. Of these, Ldg. Smn. Fred Curtis, DEV/1899/C, has been missing since the 4th June, 1915." (Since confirmed "missing in action", commemorated on the Helles Memorial).

Shot at dawn: 1/9804 Private T. Davis, 1st Bn. Royal Munster Fusiliers, executed for quitting his post on 02/07/1915.

The mass pardon of 306 British Empire soldiers executed for certain offences during the Great War was enacted in section 359 of the Armed Forces Act 2006, which came into effect on royal assent on 8 November 2006.

The memorial seen from the west side and a memorial to the Officers and men of Hawick in Scotland

446 Lance Serjeant

George Rosie

7th Bn. Royal Scots

28/06/1915.

Panel 26 to 30

Short Biography

Second Lieutenant

David Stuart Spence

"A" Battery, 66th Bde. Royal Field Artillery

13/12/1915, aged 23.

Son of William Sinclair Spence and Susanna Thomson Spence,

of Graham Place, Stromness, Orkney. M.A. (Edinburgh).

Panel 21 and 22.

Short Biography

9863 Private

James King Moodie

1st Bn. King's Own Scottish Borderers

26/04/1915, aged 26.

Son of James and Margaret Moodie, of Schoolhouse, Broughstone, Sanday, Kirkwall, Orkney.

Panel 84 to 92 or 220 to 222

Short Biography

Pictures courtesy of Brian Budge

2086 Serjeant

James Bridge

1st/5th Bn. Manchester Regiment

04/06/1915

Panels 158-170

Picture courtesy of granddaughter, Carole Moorhouse

Tyneside Z/1493 Able Seaman

John Walker

Hawke Battalion, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve

24/12/1915, aged 19

Panel 8-15

"Remembered" by nephew John George Walker and Great nephew John Walker

Killed in action 24th December,1915 at Gallipoli. Although killed in the trenches he has no known grave. He was the youngest of four brothers who volunteered for service in the war and the only one of them to be killed. He cheated his age to enlist and was 19 years old when killed. John and his brothers were all born at Ashington, Northumberland, a mining town. The Hawke Battalion was made up almost to a man of north country miners. They were used extensively at Gallipoli for sapping, mining and digging trenches.

He is remembered by his nephew John George Walker, aged 89 years who is named after him, and by me his great nephew also named John Walker.

Picture courtesy of John Walker

13153 Private

Albert Edward Hales

2nd Bn. South Wales Borderers

13/08/1915.

Panel 80-84 or 219-220

Albert Edward Hales was onboard the troopship Royal Edward, which was torpedoed by the German U Boat UB14. Of the 1500 plus onboard, over 900 people lost their lives. Friday 13th August 1915.

Picture courtesy of Stephen Hales

18884 Sapper

William Greer

37th Army Troops Company,

Royal Engineers

08/10/1915, aged 26.

Panel 23 to 25 or 325 to 328

Picture courtesy of granddaughter Jane Bowman

1170 Private

Thomas Thornton

1st/5th Bn. East Lancashire Regiment

09/06/1915, aged 33.

Son of the late Daniel and Margaret Thornton; husband of the late Mary Agnes Thornton (formerly Munford). He lived at 3 Bush Street, Burnley and left a wife Mary Agnes, and two young daughters Gladys & Marjorie.

Panel 113-117

Picture courtesy of Alan Royle

9248 Private

Daniel Lynch

1st Bn. Royal Munster Fusiliers

25/04/1915, aged 24.

Panel 185 to 190

Born on 9th September, 1892, at Longstone, Lattin, South Tipperary, Ireland. His parents were Daniel Lynch and Winifred Ryan.

Daniel served with the 1st Battalion R.M.F. He joined the R.M.F. Regiment at the New Barracks (now Sarsfield Barracks), Limerick City. He was killed in action at the ill fated Landing at Cape Helles (Dardanelles) from SS RIVER CLYDE on the morning of Easter Sunday, 25th April, 1915. It was the first day of the battle and The Munster Fusiliers suffered very heavy casualties.

Daniel is commemorated at the HELLES Monument with many other soldiers who have no known grave.

DANIEL, you will never be forgotten by your Lynch relatives in Ireland.

We are so proud of you.

Picture courtesy of great niece, Kathleen Lynch