Military History

Geoffrey was KIA on 10 Aug 1915 at Chanuk Bair. The following information from the Malvern School Magazine The Malvernian published in Nov 1915 gives context to the circumstances that led to his death:-

"The officer commanding another native regiment writes: "The whole of the officers of my regiment were killed or wounded, and he was sent up to take my place. He was really attached to the 1/5th and not to us [1st/6th], but we had nobody left, and the General thought someone must go up. He came to see me before he went out, and said that he would do his best to get the regiment safely out of the precarious position they were in. The regiments on the right and left had retired and left them greatly exposed. Within 10 minutes of getting up he was killed".

The following is taken from The Australian War Memorial website "On 5th August, Indian Brigade landed at Anzac Cove, to be part of the Australian Division under General Monash. An ambitious plan to capture Sari Bair, coordinated with a feint at Helles, became underway. The Brigade war diary records that all units were disoriented owing to the guide losing their bearings and mistaking the gullies and spurs in the darkness.

On 9th August, the 1/6th Gurkha managed to reach Sari Bair and Major Allanson related “At the top we met the Turks… we fought hand to hand, we bit and fisted, and used rifles and pistols as clubs… And the Turks turned and fled, and I felt a very proud man”. 23 The victory
was short-lived since they came under artillery attack by 0525 hours, presumably by their own guns, and had to evacuate their position. The capture of Sari Bair by the Gurkhas, though only for 10 minutes, remained the only major objective attained during the Gallipoli campaign. Every British officer in the 1/6th was killed or wounded, except for the Medical Officer Captain Phipson.

Subedar-Major Gambir Singh Pun, the de facto leader, spoke no English and relied on Captain Phipson to interpret for him. The battalion withdrew in good order and Gambir Singh was awarded the Military Cross for his leadership and gallantry.