A WAR STORY

Hokitika Guardian, 3 October 1929, Page 7

A WAR STORY

AM ZAO “CAMELTERS” AT TEL EL KHUWEILEE.

The advance northward info the hills after the capture of Eeersheba resulted in sharp lighting. On the morning of November G, 1917, our trops made the last of several attempts to take Tel el Klunveilfe, a commanding flat-topped fit 11 where natural vuiv'cs provided ideal cover for its defenders,.

During the night the 3rd (\nzac - Battalion of the Camel Corps hat moved forward on the right of tin .infantry. When day 'dawned 'the Camels found themselves isolated am in full view of Khuwciifc; they wore just ablp- to gain the cover of a ridge on their left before the Turkish machine guns open.cd.

Then the Turks attacked from tlu right flank between the main position ’taken up by the Camels and a detachment holding another ridge te their right rear. There was a brisk engagement, and after these Turin had been driven off some of our infantry were seen coming back ovei the high groan,d away to the left.

An officer of the Camel Corps tool a party of his men and rushed forward to restore |tho (line, the infantry responded gallantly, and the 'lurks retreated from the crest which neither side could occupy.

SWEPT BY HEAVY FIRE,

The Camels continued to hold then own, although every approach to their position was swept by heavy fire. would lmvo meant disaster, and no reinforcement was forthcoming until the 2nd Australian Liglr. ITutse Brigade Mabhine-Gun {Squadron appeared and galloped for the high ground on the left. .The squadron had to stop short of the crest, hut, thus strengthened, the Camel?' held on all day and all night. Infantry relieved the machine-gun-ners, who had lost 29 of their number, and in the evening of the 7th our artillery opened and drove hack the Turks on the left flank, a prelude to the general retirement of the err r -">v, who abandoned Klunveilfe. Th. 4 C mol Battalion lost 5 officers and ' 'CI others killed and wounded, and buried 105 dead Turks.

Ell’S EXPLDTTS THAT WON THE V.C.

The British submarine Ell (Lieut.Commander Nasmith) in May 1915 had penetrated to the Sea of Marmara, where she .did her best to stop the movement of troops and supplies to the Turkish forces at Gallipoli. ‘‘Her activity,” says the British Official History of the Land Operations, “was of immense value to the 'Expeditionary Force, and towards the end of the month of May the Turkish sea-communications had been completely interrupted. After that date, thanks to the continued activity of tlie submarine service, no more reinforcements were sent from Con stantincplc by sea, and .... all •Turkish writers agree that the maintenance of their army on the (Gallipoli) Peninsula remained throughoutthe campaign an acutely anxious problem,”

HAVOC AMONG SHIPPING

After her exploits at Constantinople, Ell proceeded to the Turkish port of Rodosto, diving in pursuit ol a. heavily laden storeshio. This vessel had tide up alongside the pier when Ell torpedoed her aiijd sank her under sharp rifle fire. Next day Nasmith took Ell once more to Constantinople to see what could he done there. He submerged when near tho Turkish capital and came up in tho Golden Horn, close to ■the American guardship and the Turkish, arsenal. OIF the arosnal lay the German steamer Stambul, with a lighter at her side. He fired two torpedoes at her; 7 the first hit the lighter ,nnd sank ' it, also inflicting some small damage on the Stambul; the second hit the stonework of the quay.

As for_Ell, she was in some dap. ger from cross tides and currents, but, skilfully commanded, she escaped intact. After resting a day she was able po resume her cruise. On May 28 she sank a big supply ship and fired a torpedo at a second blit without result. On, the 31st she caught a large German steamer in Panderma Roads and fired a torpedo at Ibis vessel.

On .Tune 2 she torpedoed and sank a Turkish ammunition ship; on June 7. on her way hack to the Dardanelles, she torpedoed a large transport which was lying empty of troops. On her return journey, in the Narrows she folded a mine, the moorings of which caught in one of her hydroplanes. By cool and brilliant manoeuvring, Nasmith got rid of this terrible companion and emerged safely at Holies, after exploits for which he most deservedly received, the Victoria Cross.