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Martin Enlists
Private James Charles Martin enlists in the Australian Imperial Force, against his families opinion. He practically forced his mother to sign him up as he threatened to enlist under a different name and never, ever, write to them. He gave a false birthdate, claiming to be 18, when he was actually 14 and 3 months, though his manly appearence supported his argument. -
Beginning of the Battle of Gallipoli
The Gallipoli Campaign, also known as the Dardanelles Campaign or the Battle of Gallipoli, was a campaign of World War I that took place against the Ottoman Empire on the Gallipoli Peninsula (known known as Gelibolu in Modern Turkey). -
Period: to
The Gallipoli Campaign
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Landing at Anzac Cove and Cape Helles
The invasion plan was thoroughly planned out, the 29th Division was to land at Helles on the tip of the Peninsula and push towards the forts of Kilitbahir. The Anzacs were to land north of Gaba Tepe where they would advance across the Peninsula in order to cut off the retreat or reinforcements of the Turks. -
Turkish Counter-Attack
Mustafa Kemal launched a counter-attack to drive the Anzacs back. Between the 27th and 29th of April, the counter-attacks failed to drive the Anzacs into the sea. The small area that the Anzac’s know held became known as Anzac. The area on the southern tip of the Peninsula captured by the British became known as Helles. -
The Battles of Krithia
Starting on the 29th of April and ending on the 4th of June, the Battles of Krithia were a series of Allied attacks against the Ottoman's defences. The objective was to capture the Village of Krithia and later, push to the Vineyard of Krithia. This failed, and led to a new objective for the Third Battle of Krithia. This was to capture and facilitate Achi Baba (Alci Tepe) which commanded most of the Gallipoli Peninsula. The Allies failed again, and costed them several vital resources. -
Battles of Krithia Cont.
The Allies suffered 15,800 casualties. The exact amount of casualties from the Turkish Empire is unknown, but from the first and third Battles of Krithia, 5,300 men were lost. -
First Hospital Ship reaches Alexandria, Egypt
The first hospital ship "Gascon" to evacuate the wounded from Anzac was deployed. It carried 584 men, 14 of which died on the voyage to Alexandria. -
First Victoria Cross Awarded
The first Victoria Cross was awarded to Lance-Corporal Walter Parker. He assisted the wounded in an abandon trench, and helped to evacuate the position (with his own wounds). -
Anzac Push
Several British warships gave artillery support at Anzac during the major attack. Their objective was to extend their claimed land to the top of the hill. These battleships were: Conopus, London, Majestic, Prince of Wales, Queen, Triumph, the cruiser Darthmouth and the destroyer Bacchante. -
Turks Shell Anzac Cove
The Turkish began shelling Anzac cove from a new position behind their claimed lines. This was known to the Australian's as "Beach Bill" and it is believed that "Beach Bill" caused over 1000 casualties at Anzac Cove. -
Second Battle of Krithia
Between the 6th and 8th of May, the British, French, Australian and New Zealand forces fought the second Battle of Krithia. The Turkish still held onto their lines. -
15th Battalion captures Turkish Trench
A party from the 15th Battalion snuck out during the night and captured the Turkish trench in front of Quinn’s Post. The next morning they were driven back with many wounded men as they ran for their lives, across the battlefield, to the Australian line. -
Major Turkish Counter-Offensive
The Turkish launched a major assault at Anzac – 42,000 men attacked 17,000 Australians and New Zealanders, but the attack miscarried. The Ottoman’s lacked artillery and ammunition and relied greatly on the element of surprise. Their preparations were detected, and the Anzacs were ready. The Ottoman’s lost 3,000 men, and 10,000 were injured, the Anzac’s suffered 160 killed and 468 wounded. -
Temporary Truce
A ceasefire allowed the Turks and the Allies to bury the dead lying on the battlefield. This was because the summer heat begun to rot the bodies and the smell was horrible. -
Quinn's Post
The Turkish soldiers advanced into Quinn's Post after exploding a mine close to the Australian line. After hours of heavy fighting, the Turks were pushed back and the Australian position was restored. During this particular battle, Major Hugh Quinn of Charters Towers lost his life (hence where the name "Quinn's Post" came from) -
Third Battle of Krithia
At Helles, the British engaged in the Third Battle of Krithia. Although the British advanced through the Turkish lines towards Krithia, they were not able to with-hold their newly accomplished advantage, therefore the Turkish line held. The British suffered around 4,500 casualties, the French suffered around 2,000 and the Turkish had more than 9000. -
First Hospital Ship travels to Australia
The First Australian Hospital Ship, the Kyarra, carries wounded back to Australia from Suez, Egypt. -
Pier Created
A pier construction was completed which allowed for landing stores and important equipment to the men on the battlefield. It was built by the 2nd Australian Field Company and Royal Australian Engineers. It was named after Major S H Watson, the man who supervised the construction. -
French Attack
At Helles, the French forces engaged in an attack on the Turks at Haricot Redoubt and Kereves Dere. The French suffered 2,500 casualties and the Turks suffered 6,000. -
A Fresh Division Arrives
A fresh division of men (the 52nd Division) began to land at Helles in time to participate in the last of the major Helles battles, to be more precise, the Battle of Gully Ravine. This attack advanced the British line along the left (Aegean) flank. In 8 days the Turks suffered more than 16,000 casualties, more than 10,000 whom were killed. The British refused a truce at this point. -
Martin Departs
Martin departed with the 21st Infantry Battalion from Melbourne aboard HMAT Berrima. -
Ottoman's Counter
Over the course of 5 days (beginning on the 1st of July) the Ottomans launched a series of desperate counter-attacks against the new British line, but failed to regain the lost ground. -
Medical Assessment
Colonel Neville Howse, Assistant Director Medical Services attempted to report the condition of the men of the 1st Australia Division six days before they were to take part in the major August Offensive at Anzac. He wrote that the constant strain, small quantity of water, climatic conditions and severe health issues had undermined the men’s health. Thirty percent of them were unable to participate in the offensive. -
Reinforcements Received
During the nights of 3rd-5th August, 20,000 British soldiers of the 13th Division were secretly brought ashore at Anzac for the August offensive. -
August Offensive Begins
At 2:30pm at Helles, the British 29th Division advanced towards a feature now known as the Vineyard. This attack was aimed at holding down Turkish reinforcements from the main August offensive attack. The attack did not go as planned and the British lost more than 2,000 men.
The Australians, New Zealanders, British, the 29th Indian Brigate, the 14th Sikhs and the 5th, 6th and 18th Gurkha Rifles all made their way from North Beach, Anzac, into the Sari Bair range and up towards Chunuk Bair. -
August Offensive Cont.
1st Australian Division attacked Turkish trenches at Lone Pine.
Turkish front line at Lone Pine fell to Australians.
Turkish counter-attacks begin.
British units begin landing at Sulva Bay. -
The Battle of Lone Pine
On the 6th-9th of August the Battle of Lone Pine took place. The Battle was intended as a diversion for the other attacks taking place at Hill 971 and Chunuk Bair. The Turkish shelled the Anzac lines just before the attack. The 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th and 12th Battalions later reinforced the 1st Brigade. Lone Pine became known for its hand to hand combat. This occured because it was fought in a complex of trenches. -
The Battle of Lone Pine Cont.
A troop wrote "We were like a mob of ferrets in a rabbit warren, it was one long grave, only some of us were still alive in it.
The Australians had lost 2273 men, while 4300 were wounded, and the Turks lost 4000. The battle had taken place in an area the size of two soccer fields. -
The Battle of Suvla Bay
Between the 6th and 9th of August the Battle of Suvla Bay took place. This was an attempt to break the "lock" that they faced. The landing, which took place during the night of August 6th was intended to support the breakout form the Anzac sector (land which they controlled) which was 8km to the south. Even though the Anzac's faced a weaker opposition, a stalement was still reached. -
The Battle of Suvla Bay Cont.
Eventuallly, the British commander at Suvla, Lieutenant-General Sir Frederick Stopford was ejected from the area because of inactivity.
The Allies suffered 15,000 casualties (220 men drowned because of the amphibious landing). The Turkish suffered 9,000-20,000 casualties (the exact number is unknown). -
British Back-up
British forces make little progress at Sulva. Four waves of the 3rd Australia Light Horse Brigade attacked Turkish horses at Nek. They were “cut to pieces” – Charles Bean. -
British Back-up Cont.
The 4th Australian Brigade became lost in the foothills leading to their objective (hill 971). -
The British back up the New Zealanders
The New Zealanders backed up by the British captured Chanuk Bair. Deadly Turkish counter-attacks failed to drive them off. -
Turkish Troops Gather In Their Masses
Chunuk Bair was held by the New Zealanders and were backed up by British units.
British planes reported significant numbers of Turkish troops massing behind Chunuk Bair.
Turkish reinforcements were now advancing and beat the British and New Zealanders back from their key position. -
British Advance
British Units advance against the Turks at Sulva on the Kiretch Tepe Ridge. Little progress was made and the attackers suffered over 2,000 casualties.
It was recorded that by this date 45% of South Australia’s soldiers had been evacuated because of acute diarrhoea. -
Hill 60 Attack
A mixed force of Australians, New Zealanders and British units attacked the flank of Hill 60 to gain some ground. They succeeded. -
The 18th Battalion Fail
The newly arrived 18th Battalion failed to break into the Turkish positions and lost half its men killed or wounded. -
Another Attempt To Take Hill 60
Last attempt to take Hill 60 by the mixed force. Gained some ground, but did not take and hold the main position. -
Martin lands at Gallipoli
From Egypt, Jim Martin an his Battalion were deployed to Gallipoli. their transport ship was later torpedoed by a German submarine. Martin and his Battalion spent several hours in the water before being rescued. Martin landed at Gallipoli in the early hours of the morning.
Jim Martin took his position near Wire Gully. -
Evactuation Is Discussed
General Sir Ian Hamilton wrote: It would not be wise to reckon on getting out of Gallipoli with less loss than that of half the total force … we might be lucky and lose considerably less than I have estimated. -
Martin's Death
Private James Charles Martin died from typhoid on the hospital ship "Glenart Castle."
21st Battalion (Victoria), of Hawthorn Melbourne. Aged 14 and 9 months, he is thought to be the youngest Anzac Soldier to die at Gallipoli.
Refer to this link for an example of a letter he wrote:
http://static.awm.gov.au/images/collection/items/ACCNUM_SCREEN/RCDIG0000970%2FRCDIG0000970-ENTIRE-1-.JPG -
Kitchener Inspects Positions
Lord Kitchener inspected positions at Helles, Anzac and Sulva. -
Kitchener Suggests Evacuation
Lord Kitchener suggests that Gallipoli is to be evacuated. This would involve taking off more than 93,000 troops, 200 guns and more than 5000 animals as well as large quantities of stores and ammunition. -
Thunderstorms Sweep Through Gallipoli
Deadly rain and thunderstorms swept through Gallipoli, 280 men died and there were 16,000 cases of frostbite and exposure. -
Evacuation Is Approved
The British Government finally gives approval for the evacuation of the Anzac and Sulva positions, but Helles was to be retained. -
Gunner James Twamley Dies
Gunner James Twamley, 22, Royal Field Artillery, died of wounds at Helles.
On his grave in Lancashire Landing Cemetery his family placed an inscription saying:
Only a boy but a British Boy
The son of a thousand years. -
Helles Evacuation Approval
The British Government ordered the evacuation of Helles. -
French Forces Evacuated From Helles
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Turk's Major Attack
The Ottoman's launch a major attack on the remaining 19,000 British troops. The plan was to bombard the British, but many Turkish soldiers refused to leave their trenches after realising the British were leaving. The attack failed.
