Lancashire Landing

<body bgcolor="#B5C8B6" text="#000050" link="#000050" vlink="#000050" alink="#000050"> <p align="center"> <img src="web%20pictures%20brooke/lancashire%20landing.jpg" alt="lancashire landing.jpg (13910 bytes)" width="337" height="230"></p> <p ALIGN="center"><font face="Arial"><big><big>This Photograph shows Lancashire Landing</big></big><br> <big><big>looking towards Helles and Asia Minor</big></big></font></p> <p ALIGN="center"><big><font face="Arial">On 25<sup>th</sup> April 1915 whilst Rupert Brookes friend Sub.Lt Dodge was landing under fire at "V" beach, just west at "W" beach, a landing which was to become famous as "Lancashire Landing" was being undertaken by the 1<sup>st</sup> battalion Lancashire Fusiliers. The ships boats of H.M.S. Euryalus and H.M.S.Implacable were lowered and heavily laden men of the battalion embarked by the ships gangways. Tows of six boats were made up and each tow was linked to a steam pinnace under the command of a Midshipman.</font></big></p> <p ALIGN="center"><big><font face="Arial">As the boats neared the shore the naval bombardment of the beach began. The beach on which the landing was to be made was about 350 yards in width with cliffs about 100 feet in height. A belt of barbed wire stretched right across it and when this was noticed orders were immediately given that the attackers were to lie down behind the wire whilst the wire cutters made a sufficient number of passages for the men to pass through.</font></big></p> <p ALIGN="center"><big><font face="Arial">As the naval bombardment ceased, the Turkish troops opened fire on the Lancashire Fusiliers going ashore. It was impossible for them to miss. The Fusiliers rifles had become clogged with the beachs silver sand and sea water and they were unable to fire in any effective response. Enfilading fire from the Turkish machine guns caught the attackers in the open and it was some time before a lucky shot from a Lancashire Fusilier managed to silence a sniper who had caused numerous casualties by his very accurate shooting. Nevertheless the Fusiliers managed to pass through the barbed wire and start the ascent of the cliff and by 7.15 a.m. some sort of line was established which would protect the beach from aimed fire.</font></big></p> <p ALIGN="center"><big><font face="Arial">The heavy casualties amongst the Brigade staff  the Brigadier was wounded and the Brigade Major killed- made for some disorganisation but eventually the beach and its immediate area were captured and survivors amongst the Turkish troops taken prisoner.</font></big></p> <p ALIGN="center"><big><font face="Arial">General Sir Ian Hamilton ordered that "W" Beach should be re-named Lancashire Landing and it was the intention that this name should be as official a title as that given to "Z" Beach which became "Anzac" for the Australians. It was not to be. Whilst "Anzac" was retained, "Lancashire Landing" was ruled to be an unsuitable title and the name "W" Beach was reinstated.</font></big></p> <p ALIGN="center"><big><font face="Arial">There is, however, a link between the exploits of the 1<sup>st</sup> Lancashire Fusiliers at "Lancashire Landing" and the Anzacs at Lone Pine. The attack by the 1<sup>st</sup> Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers on 25<sup>th</sup> April 1915 resulted in the award of six Victoria Crosses to officers and men of the battalion. On 9<sup>th</sup> August 1915 six Australians also won the Victoria Cross in their attack at Lone Pine  one of whom was Captain Alfred John Shout whose name on the memorial is depicted on another web page.</font></big></p> <p ALIGN="center"><big><font face="Arial">As regards the 1<sup>st</sup> Bn. Lancashire Fusiliers the survivors came back to England where they were reinforced and then sent to France. The battalion again distinguished itself, this time on the 1<sup>st</sup> July 1916 at the White City (<a href="http://www.1914-18.co.uk/owen" target="_top">the WW1 poet Wilfred Owen was there in 1917</a>), near the infamous Hawthorn Redoubt.</font></big></p> <p ALIGN="center"><a href="lone%20pine%20frame.htm" target="_top"><strong><font face="Arial">TAKE A VIRTUAL TOUR</font></strong></a></p> <p ALIGN="center"><font face="Arial"><strong><a href="blandford%20camp%20frame.htm" target="_top">1</a>    <a href="royal%20naval%20division%20frame.htm" target="_top">2</a>    <a href="gallipoli%20frame.htm" target="_top">3</a>   <a href="lancs%20landing%20frame.htm" target="_top">3a</a>   <a href="lone%20pine%20frame.htm" target="_top">4</a>   <a href="france%20frame.htm" target="_top">5</a>   <a href="brookes%20brother%20frame.htm" target="_top">6</a>   <a href="summary%20of%20casulaties%20frame.htm" target="_top">7</a></strong></font></p> <p align="center"><a target="_top" href="index.htm"><font face="Arial"><strong>HOME</strong></font></a></p> <p align="center"><font color="#000050" face="Arial"><small>Copyright © www.1914-18.co.uk, 1999. All rights reserved</small></font></p> </body>