No. 3 Column, Brigadier-General A. H. Baldwin, commanding 38th Infantry Brigade.—Two battalions each from the 38th and 29th Brigades and one from the 40th Brigade.
General Baldwin’s column had assembled in the Chailak Dere, and was moving up towards General Johnston’s headquarters. But in spite of all precautions, the darkness, the rough scrub-covered country, its sheer steepness, so delayed the column that Baldwin, owing to the darkness and the awful country, lost his way—through no fault of his own.
The Gurkhas on Top
And now, under that fine leader, Major C. G. L. Allanson, the 6th Gurkhas of the 29th Indian Infantry Brigade pressed up the slopes of Sari Bair, crowned the heights of the col between Chunuk Bair and Hill Q, viewed far beneath them the waters of the Hellespont, viewed the Asiatic shores along which motor transport was bringing supplies to the lighters. But the fortune of war was against us. At this supreme moment Baldwin’s column was still a long way from our trenches on the crest. And instead of Baldwin’s support came suddenly a salvo of heavy shells.
The Turkish commander saw his chance; and the South Lancashires and Gurkhas, who had seen the promised land, were forced backwards over the crest.
That evening from Chunuk Bair the line ran down to the Farm and almost due north to the Asma Dere southern watershed, whence it continued westward to the sea near Asmak Kuyu. On the right the Australian Division was still holding its line and Lone Pine was still being furiously attacked. The 1st Australian Brigade was now reduced from 2,900 to 1,000, and the total casualties up to 8 P.M. on the 9th amounted to about 8,500. But the troops were still in extraordinarily good heart.
A great Turkish Attack
During the night of the 9th-10th the New Zealand and New Army troops on Chunuk Bair were relieved. For three days and three nights they had been ceaselessly fighting. They were half dead with fatigue. Their lines of communication, started from sea level, ran across trackless ridges and ravines to an altitude of 800 ft., and were exposed all the way to snipers’ fire and artillery bombardment. It had become imperative, therefore, to get them enough food, water, and rest; and for this purpose it was imperative also to withdraw them. Chunuk Bair, which they had so magnificently held, was now handed over to two battalions of the 13th Division.