GALLIPOLI REVISITED.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19530, 13 July 1925, Page 4

GALLIPOLI REVISITED.

LETTER FROM GENERAL GODLEY. The Hon. W. H. Triggs, M.L.C., has received a letter from General Sir Alexander Godley, describing his visit to Gallipoli on May ]2, "when he unveiled the memorial to the New Zealanders, designed by Mr S. Hurst Seager. Hie letter is dated s.a. Ormonde, at sea, May 25, 1925, and is as follows ; My Dear' Mr Triggs,—l must write and tell you about my visit to Gallipoli. Wo arrived at tho entrance to the Dardanelles early on the morning of May 12 and steamed slowly up to Kilia Day where we anchored. It was a beautiful morning and all tho familiar landmarks stood out very clearly. Tho forts all appeared to be thoroughly restored. I had not realised how close they were to tho water’s edge. I went ashore about 9 a.in. with Sir James Allen and his daughter, Generals Sir Gerald Ellison, and Sir Andrew Russoli, Lord and Lady Charles Bcntinck, Colonel and Mrs Gibson Bishop, my wife, and others of Sir James Allen’s party. Tho ship’s launches which took everybody from this ship had only about half a mile to go. „At Kilia, tho War Graves Commission had collected about, half a dozen motors, 120 country carts, and about a dozen horecs. Many of these had come from Gallipoli town, 30 miles distant, and across the water from Chanak and had been commandeered by the Valis (Govornors-Gonera!) of Gallipoli and Chanak. Our party then motored, by quite a fairly good road, across the flat country with Aha I Tepo and Sair Bair on our right and Kilid Bahr on our left to Gaba Tepo, tho people in tho other conveyances taking tho same route, which is practically the only one Tho olive grove looked much the same as usual, the trees perhaps a little thinner. Soon after leaving Gaba Tepo, the country carts branched off to tho right to climb up on the Lone Pino ridge and we wont on past Chatham's Post to the cemetery at Hell Spit, just beyond the mouth of Shrapnel Valley. There wo found Villiors-Stuart’s and Onslow’s graves. We then walked a little way up Shrapnel Valley, found Quinn’s grave in the Shrapnel Valley cemetery, and went down into Anzac Covo through tho old sap still existent" across the point. We could make out where Watson’s Pier was—it all looked very still and peaceful and very small ! From tho Cove wo motored straight along the shore, making out Walker’s Pier, just below tho foothills, past Nos. 2 and 3 outposts, Damajelik Bair and Susuk Kuyu to the saddle between Chocolate Hill and Green Hill, from which wo had a good look at the Salt Lake, W. Hills, Auafarta, etc. Coming back, wo visited Hill 60, where Russell reconstructed all the fighting there for us. Sir J. Allen laid a wreath on the N.Z.M.R. memorial in the cemetery there. Wo looked up tho Ayhyo Dcre, and next stopped at the entrance to the Chailak Dero and visited my headquarters for the Sair 'Bair battle and the actual dugout in which we slept, just as they were. We walked a little way up the Chailak Dore to the mouth of Otago Gully and saw the headquarters which I had afterwards and which was the headquarters to the New Zealand and Australian Division till the evacuation. Thence wo wont back past An/.ac Cove Chatham’s Post to the turning up to Done Pine, and after a breakneck drive got to Lone Pine, where Allen, Russell, and j laid wreaths on the Australian memorial which is very fine. , l'bo*roads and the positions are marked by the cemeteries at Johnston’s Jolly, Steeles and Courtney’s (combined), and the road actually crosses; the head of Wire Gully, from which you can see down into Monash Gully, at the actual spot whore w« used to cross it walking round the trenches, and goes up Mule Gully. Tho cemetery at Quinn’s Post is just abovo whore tho actual post was, but practically identical with it, and on we wont across Baby 7000 and Battleship Hill. On Chitlink Bair wo found about 500 j>eoplo assembled, practically everybody from the ship, the valis of Gallipoli and Chanak (one of whom asked me if I was going to say anything political), the Kaimakan of Kilia, several lurkish officers (one of thorn a sailor), about half a dozen Turkish cavalry soldiers on little ponies, and a tout a dozen foot soldiers, who made a feeble sort of effort to form up and salute whoa I arrived. I was the only person in uniform besides the Turks. Sir J. Allen made a short speech. Then I unveiled the memorial, and in rnv speech tried to describe the battle and oitr omi pat ion of tho spot on which we stood. Russell also spoke, and tho dedication and - short service was done 'by Mullincux, a New Zealand chaplain. J It. all went off very well and without a hitch, and tho largo concourse of spectators, among whom were Sir Frederick Hall, M.P. .and Buckmastor, the polo player and M.F.H., and others mentioned later, were evidently much impressed. Our table steward from the ship, who had served with the naval division on the Peninsula, blew tile "Last Post’’ and ‘'Reveille” very effectively. Tho trenches on the top wore, nil just a« they had been 10 years ago, and Bishop stood in the same trench as he had done with tho Wellington Battalion then. The memorial is so designed a.s to catch tho light and shade in such a way as to make it visible from a great distance out in the Aegean, and it is plainly visible a.s one goes up the Straits. Sir George Brampton, the sculptor, who was there, much approved of it. It is 45 foot high. From tho top wo caidd make out all the points—Table Top, Bauchop’s Hill, Monash’s and‘Cox’s headquarters, etc., etc. The navy was represented by Lieutenant commander Hon. R. Coke, who had been in tho “Grafton” at the battle, and who was there with his mother, Lady Leicester; the 7th Glouoesters by Mrs Willoughly, tho widow of one of their officers; and there was a good sprinkling of New Zealanders and Australians, Col. Hughes, tho head of tho War Graves Commission out hero, of course among the latter, and it is to him, and Colonel Vickery his second in command, also an Australian, that the success of the expedition is mainly duo. Colonel Royco Tomkin, who commanded the Suffolk Yeomanry at Anzac, and his wife- Colonel Watnoy, who comm aided a battalion of tho Queen’s at Suvla; and Colonel Clifton (then named Brnce), who was a beach officer at were also there. We lunched at Quinn’s Post, and then Ellison, Bontinck, and his daughter. Bishop, and I, walked out to tho Nek, where there is a cemetery, and also a small Turkish monument (the only one on the Peninsula!. It is terribly narrow ! From tnoro, we went along Russell’s Top to opposite Pope’s, and then down Walker’s Ridge, with the Sphinx towering over us, to tho bottom, whore file car met us Wo found it a very steep and 1 slippery descent without the stops, of which there were traces in the shape of tho wires which used to hold them. We stopped again at Anzac Cove and walked up to my old H.Q. Tho cave behind the “Pigeon Loft,’’ which was built for tho Anzao Corps Commander towards the end, was very visible, and we found traces of tho Corps mess hut before the evacuation after I came there, and I located the exact position cf my bod in my dugout in the old N.Z. and A.H.Q. The terrace of the original Australian Div. H.Q was quite easy to make out, too. Wo walked ‘ across the bomb factory, of which tliere was plenty of trace —jam tins, etc., lying about—and by the water tanks, down to Birdio’s dug-out, and so back to Kilia, picking up a few stragglers on the way. Tho Turkish officials, about half a dozen, came to tea on board, and were quile civil, and with their departure on a Turkish destroyer, ended a wonderfully interesting day. it was an ideal day, very dear, bright sunshine, a gentle breeze, and neither too hot nor too cold. Late'in the afternoon Samolhracc came out of tho clouds as usual, and one fell quite at home. The distances all seemed so short, as indeed they are, and the country, looking at in cold blood, more desperately difficult tuan we ever realised. We wore lucky to land where we did; we should have" had a bad time from Kilid Bahr on the one side, and the long Pino Ridge and Sari Bair on tlio other, if wo had diesbarked nearer Gaba i epe. That evening we steamed up to Constantinople, and had two days there. It is beautiful from the sea, hut squalid at dose quarters, and the Constantinople Turk is loathsome. We wont up the Bosphorus, past Therapia, to within sight of the Black Sea —a lovely evening—and in (hat (here was no disappointment. But fam afraid the Turk as cue sees him in his capital, well deserves his epithet of ‘‘unspeakable,” and his blighting influence is very evident both thore and on the Peninsula, from which all the Greeks have been ejected and which, except for a few herds ot goals and sheep, and a few cattle and a few people ploughmg, seems almost desrted. On the morning of (he 1 Oth we landed by launch at Holies at “V” Bench, under tho Ic© of the monitor sunk there to make

a breakwater, anrl motored by the western coast road past “W” Beach and with Gully Ravine close on our left, by Lancashire Landing, Pink Farm, and Twelve Tree Copse cemeteries, on the last of which Sir ■L Allen laid a wreath to the New Zealanders there, to Krithia, from which Allen, Ellison, Kussell, Bishop, and I walked to the top of Achi Baba—also Colonel England. M.P., who commanded the divisional train in the 42nd Division, Colonel Canning, who commanded the 7th Manchesters. and others, men and women, who walked all the way from Helles and back, among them many of the enclosed list, Cuzenove, adjutant 2nd Coldstreams, Sir Alexander Lawrence, Solicitor to the Treasury, a son of Dean Inge's, Lord Dormer, etc., etc. It is a very strong position, the slopes very gradual and affording exceptionally good fields of lire, very little cover, and once there, still a long way to Kilid Bahr. on which were plainly visible the scars of much strong entrenchment. The trenches on the top and slopes of Achi Baba were of course very numerous and very deep, and wo could follow the lino of deep communication saps right down to the shore. We could not see Fori Dardauus, nor any forts of the Narrows from any part of the top, so the observation, if we had got it, would have been disappointing. AVo lunched at Krithia, in a carpet of most beautiful wild flowers, of which there were masses all over the peninsula. We cam hack by the main road, through the vineyard (now out of cultivation), visiting Redoubt and Skew Bridge cemetereis on the way, to the big memorial to all ships and units that took part in the campaign (at Holies, Anzac, and Suvla), which stands up on the bluff between V and W bcachees. It is a line monument and stands well. Sir James Allen, supported by , Ellison, Russell, and myself, here laid a wreath from the Government and people of New Zealand. At V Beach cemetery, Tomkin and I laid a wreath to the memory of our old regiment, the Dublin Fusiliers, who were on the River Clyde, and we finished the day by looking at Doughty-Wyllie’s grave, two French memorials, one to General Gourand where he was wounded, and one, just where the Clyde was beached, to the French Marines, and finally by inspecting the Castle of Sedd-el-Bnhr. It was another lovely day. and a lovely evening, and a-s we steamed slowly away, Achillea’ Tomb, Kum Kale, Ehren Keui, the Plains, and site of Troy, all stood out vciy plainly. , , , , Past Rabbit Island, with Imbros and Tonodos on either side, it was not till we wore abreast of Lemnos that we lost sight through our glasses of theChunuk Bair and Line Pine Memorials, visible 50 miles away; and not till we could see Mount Athos did we turn our gaze from the Peninsula and the scene of our two days wonderful and unforgettable visit. The cemeteries are beautifully situated, and well cared for, and are planted with pines, rosemary, and lovely purple inses —nothing could be nicer—and I think we all came away feeling quite happy that our comrades left on the Peninsula should be in such beautiful surroundings. LIST OF OFFICERS WHO SERVED AT GALUPOU, ON BOARD S.S. ORMONDE. General Sir Alexander Godley, K.C.8., K.0.M.G., A.N.Z. Army Corns; LieutenantGeneral Sir Gerald Ellison, K.C.8., K.C.M.G., Headquarters ; Colonel A. England CM.G, D. 5.0., M.P., 42nd Division, Hellos: Colonel A. Canning, C.M.G., Leinster Regiment, C.O. 7th Manchesters, Helles; Colonel F. D. Watney, C.8.E., 2-4 Queen’s Regiment, Suvla; LieutenantColonel Gibson Bishop, Otago Regiment, N. ; Lieutenant-Colonel P. R. Clifton, O. D. 5.0., A.N.Z. Army Corps; Lieutonant-Cokmol J. W. Royce Tomkin, Suffolk Yeomanry, A.N.Z.A.C. : LieutenantCommander the Hon. R. Coke. R.N., H.M.S, Grafton; Major Lord Chas, Bontinck, D. 5.0., Headquarters, A. and N.Z. ; Major R. P. Hargreaves, sth East Lancashire Regiment (T.F.), Helles; Major A. E. Ridsdale, R.A.M.C.. T. Sussex Yeomanry, Helles ; Captain C. Fletcher, sth Manchester Regiment, Helles; Chaplain D. E. Fletcher, 42nd Division, LF. Brigade, Helles; Major W. Cross, C. 8., Royal Marines. P.N.T.O. Staff; Captain G. Clausen, 0.8. E., Somerset Light Infantry ; Lieutenant G. D. Garrett, Royal Marines, Landing Party; Captain Clement Jones, 4th Royal Welsh Fusiliers Hellos; Major-General Sir Andrew Russell, K.C.8., K.C.M.G., N.Z.M.R, ; Lieutenant-Commander A Sca.nsbnok, R.N.V.R.