Military History

John is listed as dying of wounds in Alexandria, Egypt on 22 Aug 1915 just 13 days after landing on C Beach in Suvla Bay, Gallipoli. It is not known on which day he was wounded but the trip from Suvla to Alexandria took 3 or 4 days at least. The war diary for the periond 9th August to 22nd August is transcribed below.

Suvla Bay – 9^th – 2.30am: Disembarked on C Beach

5.30am – Battalion ordered to proceed to a line S.W. Chocolate Hill (Hill 53 and entrench)

6.40am – Urgent message received for Batt. to move forward to N.W. slope of Hill 54 in order to reinforce 31^st Bde., which was then in action. Battn advanced over open ground S-SE of Salt Lake during which it came under shell and rifle fire and had several casualties.

7.30am – Arrived at Chocolate Hill and reported to Brig Gen Comdg, 31^st Bde.

8.00am - Ordered by him to join 33^rd Bde & to advance round N spur of Hill & thence E to support the Bde which was hard pressed.

9am - joined 6^th Dublin Fusiliers Bttn advanced and occupied old Turkish trench running N and S through 105.H.3.6.9. 3 Companies advanced 600yards to front on Hill 70 but were driven back by shell fire from our own guns in rear.

12 noon - Advanced to Hill 70 a second time but had to retire owing to heavy fire from our guns in rear and the fact that all scrub on hill was ablaze. At his point had many casualties (8 Officers and about 250 men) the Battn fell back to Turkish Trench and in absence of orders it was decided to strengthen this position and to hold on.

9^th/10^th Night – Much firing from one front and from snipers all round. Received orders from 33^rd Bde to hold position at all costs. Batt remained in this position until 9pm 12/8/15 when it was relieved by Lancs & Yorks Regt & proceeded to beach where it reported to 160^th Bde.

13^th 8.0pm – Battn moved to line of Trenches on track running N&S through 118, Q.6.9 & 118.V.3

14^th 9.0pm – Relieved by 5^th Welsh Regiment & moved to Brigade Reserve at 105 B.

18^th (no entry for 15, 16 & 17^th) 7.30pm – 2 Companies moved to front line of trenches running through 105 B.6.9 & 105 H.3.
TRENCHES

21^st (no entry for 19 & 20) 15.00: Supported by covering fire attack 7.29^th Div on Hill 70

22^nd 20.00: Remaining 2 Companies moved up from reserve to trenches . Reinforcement 1 Officer and 150 men arrived. Battn employed in Construction Fire, Support and Communication trenches.