5 August - Unit diary

On 5 August the unit diary for 2nd Brigade reports that the main concern for their troops was the Turks' 12-pounder gun which fired 53 shells into the unit's trenches during the day starting at about 6:15am.

During the morning reinforcements arrived at these trenches with the 5th Battalion gaining 140 of the fresh troops.

The re-organisation of the 2nd Brigade then commenced at 9am. The 1st Brigade were moved out of their positions (facing Lone Pine, Southern No2 section) and the 2nd Brigade took over this section. From the afternoon of 5 August the 2nd Brigade were manning both this new section as well as their old trenches opposite Johnstone's Jolly. This rearrangement was completed by about 5pm that day.

At about 12:30 Gun Trench was blown in by the Turk's 12-pounder gun firing from Mortar Ridge.

In preparation for the next day's assault the General Officer Commanding and General Staff of 1st Division established their Headquarters behind the Southern No.2 trenches in an area called Brown's Dip. (This can be seen on the map - see Blog post 2 August), behind 'the Pimple'. The 1st Australian Division's commander was Brigadier General Harold Walker, a British officer who had replaced Major General William Bridges (Australian) as temporary commander after Bridges had been killed by sniper in May 1915.

Athol notes in his correspondence of 15 August that he moved from 'B' Company back to 'D' Company at about this time. He became acting second in command after the re-organisation, Athol and 'D' Company were placed in the old 4th Battalion trenches at 'The Pimple'.

This is CEW Bean's map of the Lone Pine trenches. Athol's unit 'B' Company were holding the trenches at 'The Pimple' when the battle commenced. CEW Bean's Official War History, p.498. AWM. 

The 5th Battalion was under the command of Lt Col Le Maistre (more below).

At about 7 in the evening 'a lot of traffic was noticed back down at Mule Gully'. This would have been further supplies coming ashore for the Imperial troops. It took a great deal of effort to move these supplies up to the forward trenches.

Casualties for this day amounted to 7 wounded.

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Below is an image of Lt Col Frank William Le Maistre, who commanded 5th Battlaion during the Lone Pine assault. During WW1 he was mentioned in dispatches and awarded at DSO. He died in 1951. He enlisted on August 17 at about the same time as Athol.

Reference: http://vic.ww1anzac.com/le.html

Below is an image of Brigadier General Harold Walker. General Walker, nicknamed 'Hooky' by the Australian troops, strongly objected to the Lone Pine assault plans as he had the initial landing at Gallipoli. He could see no chance of success for either operation. He was well regarded by the men and was personally very brave. He took part in the landings (the first of Birdwood's staff to step ashore) and impressed those around him with his sharpness and the value he placed on his soldier's lives. In September he was half-buried by a shell which burst in his dug-out. A few days later, whilst inspecting a post he was severely wounded by machine gun fire. He refused attention until another wounded soldier had received treatment. He was nine times mentioned in dispatches during his WW1 service.

Harold Bridgwood Walker (1862-1934), by James Quinn, 1918

Australian War Memorial, ART03349