The Gallipoli Oak

 I was in Manchester last week, and in between the cricket and the football, I visited a few museums, including a return to the Lancashire Fusiliers Museum in Bury. My last visit was rushed, so it was an opportunity to savour this fine regimental museum. I picked up a copy Of Martin Purdy and Ian Dawson's book The Gallipoli Oak in the shop. 

In the Spring of 1922, the parents of a teenager killed at Gallipoli took the sapling of an English oak tree in a bucket of water to Gallipoli. One hundred years on, the sapling has grown into an enduring memorial to the sacrifices of hundreds of men from a close-knit group of old Lancashire mill towns.

This is the hook for the story of the 6th Battalion of the Lancashire Fusiliers. This territorial battalion had its baptism of fire at Gallipoli. The professional soldiers of the 1st Battalion are probably better known because of their landing on 'W Beach' near Cape Helles. The battalion was to win six Victoria Crosses before breakfast as they gained control of this beachhead at a huge cost. I have visited what is now known as the 'Lancashire Landing' in their honour, and it is hard to imagine a more challenging place for an amphibious landing.

The 6th Battalion's territorial's had sailed from Britain to Egypt before sailing to Gallipoli. They landed at night and took their place in the trenches. They were almost immediately thrown into a major assault with the 42nd East Lancashire Division as part of the Second Battle of Krithia. Like so many operations in this campaign, the planning was poor, and the Battalion suffered severely, with around one-third becoming casualties. When the news reached home, the postie had to deliver the news to each family. The local newspaper editor recalled seeing a postman sitting on the kerb sobbing.

With few lessons learned, the Battalion participated in a diversionary attack during the Third Battle of Krithia, losing more men even in a supporting role. Lord Rochdale, the regimental colonel, was particularly scathing about the role of staff officers who failed to understand the conditions on the ground. Even in between the major assaults, the battalion lost six wounded and two killed every day.

The battalion had one short break during the campaign and was eventually evacuated in the only competently managed operation of the whole campaign. They went on to serve in France.

The story is well told, using private papers to add to the operational details. This isn't a cheerful tale, but it is a valuable addition to the extensive literature on the Gallipoli campaign.

Some of my 28mm early WW1 figures.