Military History

Theatre of War	Medals	Commonwealth War Grave or Memorial
Mesopotamia	1914-15 Star, British War & Victory Medals	Helles Memorial
Arrived in Theatre	Medal Citation (if app)	SWFHS Area Memorials
13 Jul 1915	~	Wilmcote
Action, Battle or Other Reason Killed	Date and Place Enlisted	Other War Memorials
Battle of Sari Bair	Coventry
Place of Death	Previous Regiments or Units
Koja Chemen Tepe	~

Circumstances Leading to Death (Normally from War Diary)           

Thomas is listed as being killed in action of 10 Aug 1915 during the Battle of Sari Bair. 

The 9th Royal Warwickshire, under Major W. A. Gordon, landed at Anzac Cove in the early morning of August 4. During the first two days (August 6-7) of the attack they were in divisional reserve, but advanced up Aghyl Dere. On August 8 they crossed Bauchop's Hill to the ridge beyond, part going to relieve the 9th Worcester at the head of Aghyl Dere. The New Zealanders had captured Rhododendron Ridge on the previous day, and on August 8 followed up their success by winning Chunuk Bair at the southern end of the main ridge.

The crisis of the attack came on August 9 with the assault of Koja Chemen. Three battalions, the 9th Royal Warwickshire, the 6th South Lancashire, and the 6th Gurkhas, reached the crest, whence they could look down on the waters of the Dardanelles and seemed to have victory in their grasp. But the troops on the right, through no fault of their own, were late, and when the Turks rallied to a counter-attack our men were forced back to the lower slopes from whence they started. One company of the Royal Warwickshire held on, till they were surrounded, and, as it is supposed, all perished. Next day the Turks attacked in the early morning with disastrous results.

The trenches were enfiladed by machine-gun fire, and since no supports were available it was impossible to hold the remainder of the crest on Chunuk Bair. When at night the Royal Warwickshire was withdrawn to reserve no officers and only 248 men were left. Major Gordon
had been wounded on August 8, and Major A. G. Sharpe, who succeeded him, was killed two days after. During the four days 5 officers were killed, 9 wounded and 1 missing; of other ranks 57 were killed, 227 wounded and 117 missing. For their service on these days Majors Gordon and C. C. R. Nevill received the D.S.O.

The fact that the battalion had lost all its officers probably explains why at the time its share in reaching the crest of Sari Bair was not recorded. But a New Zealander who had seen the exploit of the Royal Warwickshires bore witness to their heroism. He had watched them march up Aghyl Dere, and had been struck by their soldierly bearing, and, as an old Birmingham man himself, was proud of the imperishable renown which they won.

Had not the attack at Suvla Bay failed through the fatal delays (whatever their reason) on August 8 and 9 the ground won on Sari Bair might have been held. But the brief space when the men of the Royal Warwickshire looked down on the Maidos road was the nearest approach to decisive victory which the British in Gallipoli were to achieve. More than three trying months of exposure to the enemy's attacks and to the weather still remained before the final evacuation.

The 9th Royal Warwickshire was withdrawn to reserve, on August 10, 1915 and it was temporarily commanded by Sergt.-Major Collicott.

The above is taken from The Story of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment by C.L. KINGSFORD