Military History

John is listed as being killed in action on 6th August 1915 having initially being reported as missing in action. The 4th Battalion war diary entry for the 6th August is transcribed below.

Gallipoli - 6th Aug 1915: Battalion left the beach at 4.00 AM. Relieved the Munster Fusiliers in trench “H II”, south of KRITHIA. Order for attack. Firing line two half companies. “W” Coy on the right “X” Coy on the left. 2nd Line (supports) Remaining half Companies of “W” and “X”. 3rd and 4th Lines (Supports). Each composed of half companies of “Y” and “Z”. “W” and “X” Coys occupied the fire trench, “Y” and “Z” Coys remained in reserve.The objective of the attack was trench “H 13” which was flanked on either end by an advanced redoubt and the trenches running from the redoubts into our front line. These were originally communication trenches but have been converted by the enemy to within bomb-throwing distance of our line. SEE PLAN ATTACHED. These flank positions were to be attacked by other units simultaneously with the Worcestershire's attack.

Our Batteries shelled “H 13” and flank redoubts the whole morning until 2.30 PM when bombardment preceding the Infantry advance commenced, when every available gun was brought to bear on this Section. The Turkish guns replied with great vigour, shelling our supports and reserves with such effect with their light field fieces that several of these trenches became untenable and the troops were moved. Our trench mortars, borrowed from the French, did great execution in the Redoubt to our left front and totally demolished the parapet in several places. Breaches also gradually appeared in the parapet of “H 13”. The bombardment continued furiously the enemy's guns replying the whole time.

At 3.30 PM the second line had taken up position in the fire trench and the third and fourth line in the communication trenches ready to follow.

At 3.40 PM the range of the guns was lengthened and the first line went over the parapet, followed almost immediately by the second. The fourth line entered the trench to assist the third line over the parapet. The first line had now covered about 200 yards but were already thinning considerably on the left by machine gun fire notwithstanding the haze of dust which partially obscured them. Many men now forced to stop for breath and when they again advanced came under a heavy artillery fire.

The second line suffered terribly from machine gun fire when about half way across and only isolated groups reached the slope to the Turkish trenches.

The third and fourth lines encountered a murderous machine gun and shell fire immediately they left the trench and though none turned back only a small section in dead ground on the right succeeded in getting more than 50 yards from our trench. On the extreme right our men were enfiladed (word missing?) machine gun fire which increased in intensity when the attack on our left failed and the only survivors from this flank were those who were hit on leaving the trench and fell or scrambled back.

Detached parties of the first and second line have entered the enemy's trench and had thrown the tin disc over the back parapet to show the sections occupied. On the right a continuous stretch of 30 or 40 yards was occupied by what afterwards proved to be about 30 men and one Sargeant and here an artillery screen was displayed showing that a firm foothold had been established. With this exception the strength and dispositions of the parties which entered the enemy's trench were unknown and could not be ascertained until dark as the attack on both flanks had failed and the only approach was across the ocean.

It was owing to the failure of these attacks that our men were subjected to the terrible enfilade machine gun fire, which was continued even after the last line had nearly all been shot down, being brought to bear together with shrapnel on the groups of wounded until scarcely a man was left alive.

The Royal Fusiliers, who had come up from reserve were now occupying “H II” and they were relieved by the Munster Fusiliers about 9 PM. From dusk onwards those of the wounded who were able got back to the trench and many were brought in by the Fusiliers and those of our men who remained.

At dark an Officer's Patrol went out to try and locate the sections of our trench “H 13” occupied by our men but after one hour's thorough reconnaissance were convinced that the whole trench was now in the hands of the Turks. Hence it was concluded that the scattered groups who had taken the trench had all either been killed or captured.

Meanwhile a Sergeant and twelve men had returned to our trench. They were the survivors of the party of thirty who had secured a footing in the enemy's early in the afternoon and although the enemy occupied the same trench on either side, with the aid of barricades, they had maintained their position with four bombs only and rifle fire for five hours. Having by then expended nearly all their ammunition and lost twenty men they withdrew under cover of darkness.

Many wounded men brought in during the night and at dawn the Battalions returned to GULLY REACH for reorganization having lost in the attack 16 officers and 752 O.R's.