2nd Battle of Krithia - 6-8 May 1915

The Allied preliminary artillery bombardment commenced at 10:30am on Thursday 6 May.

The Australian Field Battery was involved in this bombardment and they also supported the initial advance of the English on the left and the French on the right.

Major General Hunter Weston was very optimistic and 'seemed certain of success' at this early stage. He believed that he could take Krithia that afternoon and Achi Baba the following day, according to British war correspondent Ashmead-Bartlett. Mr Ashmead Bartlett could not see any basis for the General's positive outlook.

Major General Aylmer Hunter Weston and staff at Helles, May 1915

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Aylmer_Hunter-Weston_and_staff_at_Helles.jpg#/media/File:Aylmer_Hunter-Weston_and_staff_at_Helles.jpg

The 99th Brigade (British) was the first infantry unit to advance that morning, in broad daylight after only minimal artillery bombardment. They covered several hundred yards but were stopped by machine gun and rifle fire. The 125th Brigade (British) proceeded forward to the high, open ground above 'Y' beach where they too were stopped by machine gun fire.

On the right the French (with mostly Senegalese troops wearing blue uniforms with scarlet facings) did not leave the start line until 11:40am and advanced only about 400 yards when they met with heavy Turkish resistance and halted.

The attacks on the 6 May had not reached their objectives, but both the French and British commanders believe that important progress was made and that they were much closer to these objectives than was actually the case. With inaccurate maps they were misinformed. At this stage they believed that casualties were not to heavy. Hamilton issued orders that the attack should be resumed the next day - Friday 7 May.

The evening of the 6 May was very cold. A number of men in the 6th Battalion were killed in their sleep that night by shrapnel bullets. The big Turkish guns at Chanak on the Asiatic shore were able to discharge over the Narrows and right into the Australian's 'rest camp'.