Return to Anzac Introduction
 

Home >Gallipoli >Anzac Introduction >Dead Man's Ridge

Dead Man's Ridge: 7 August attack by the 1st Australian Light Horse Regiment

Above the Australian positions at Anzac Cove looms a dominating ridgeline that runs from the high point of Baby 700 south toward Lone Pine. Along this ridge the Australian and Turkish had established a series of fortified posts and strongpoints, often only metres apart. To the north, the Australians on Walkers Ridge were opposed by the Turkish positions on Baby 700. To the south, the Turks and Australians were at their closest at Quinn's Post.

Between these positions Dead Man's Ridge juts out, threateningly, toward Anzac Cove. Throughout the campaign, the Turks held Dead Man's Ridge. Parallel to it, and separated by a steep gully (Waterfall Gully), were the Australian positions on Pope's Hill. From Pope's, the Australians could clearly see the Turkish trenches on Dead Man's Ridge. Similarly, Turkish positions to the north at Baby 700 and the maze of trenches known as the Chessboard threatened the Australians whilst affording protection to the Turks on Dead Man's Ridge.

Between May and the August Offensives the Australians at Pope's had successfully beaten off significant Turkish assaults and as a result their confidence was correspondingly high. However, there had been no major Australian attacks from Pope's on the Turkish positions. 

 

 

Diagram of the 1st Australian Light Horse attack at Dead Man's Ridge, 7 August 1915

Diagram of the 1st Australian Light Horse attack at Dead Man's Ridge, 7 August 1915 (Taken from C.E.W. Bean's Official History of
Australia in the War of 1914-18' Volume II ('The Story of Anzac'), p625)

 
  This was to change with the unfolding of the British plans for the August offensive. To support the British and New Zealand assaults on Chunuk Bair on 7 August, simultaneous Australian attacks were planned at the Nek (to take Baby 700), and from both Pope's and Quinn's Posts. At Pope's, the plan was for the 1st Australian Light Horse Regiment to take the Turkish trenches on Dead Man's Ridge then drive through and establish positions overlooking the valley at the rear of the Chessboard and hence inhibit any Turkish attempts to reinforce Baby 700. 

From Pope's a two pronged attack was planned on Dead Man's Ridge. Under command of Major Glasgow, about 200 men of the 1st Australian Light Horse would attack the Turks. Half were to attack directly from Pope's while the remainder would follow up the creek to the top of Waterfall Gully, immediately below the Turkish positions. At 4.30am the two parties would attack simultaneously.
 
Australian War Memorial G01135: Dead Man's Ridge, Pope's Hill (in the centre), the Nek (on the left of Pope's Hill), and the gully across which the 1st Australian Light Horse Regiment attacked on 7 August 1915.

Australian War Memorial G01135: Dead Man's Ridge, Pope's Hill (in the centre), the Nek (on the left of Pope's Hill), and the gully across which the 1st Australian Light Horse Regiment attacked on 7 August 1915.
  It was also planned that the attacks at the Nek and from Quinn's would draw Turkish fire away from the assaulting parties at Pope's. Indeed, the success of the assault was to be dependent on the Australians at the Nek gaining a commanding position on Baby 700.

The attack took place as planned. At 4.30am the two parties attacked simultaneously. Oblivious to the raking fire from the Chessboard, Major Reid gallantly led his party directly from Pope's and quickly gained the Turkish trenches, ably supported by Major Glasgow's party attacking from Waterfall Gully.

The first two Turkish trench lines were taken under a hail of bombs; the third trench was gained but by now Turkish resistance had stiffened. Indeed, so robust was the Turkish defence and so determined were the Australians, that nearly all the 1st Light Horse officers were soon wounded. Turkish bombs rained down on the Australians but by now their own supply of bombs had run out. Valiant attempts were made to re-supply the Australians over ground swept by Turkish rifle and machine gun fire. 

As the morning light increased, the 1st Light Horse could clearly see the failure of the grim events at the Nek and at Quinn's. It was obvious the 1st Light Horse could expect no support at all from either position. Indeed, no longer occupied at the Nek or Quinn's, Turkish machine guns were soon being turned upon Dead Man's Ridge, Pope's and the open space between. In effect, the 1st Light Horse became stranded in a sea of Turks. To say their position was precarious would be an understatement. After tenuously holding on for two hours, Glasgow realised the game was up. Gathering their many wounded, the survivors made a hazardous retreat across the exposed ground back to Pope's. Not surprisingly, more casualties were suffered as the Turkish fire raked the retreating troops. 

Australian War Memorial H00356: Survivors of the 1st Australian Light Horse Regiment's attack on Dead Man's Ridge, 7 August 1915. Less than 50 men of the 200 who attacked returned unscathed.

 Australian War Memorial H00356: Survivors of the 1st Australian Light Horse Regiment's attack on Dead Man's Ridge, 7 August 1915. Less than 50 men of the 200 who attacked returned unscathed.

Back in the safety of the trenches at Pope's the extent of the 1st Light Horse's casualties became obvious. Of the original 200 Light Horsemen in the assault, 154 were casualties, over 50 being killed. Every officer, except Glasgow, had been hit. In a moment of understatement, C.E.W. Bean aptly observed that the losses of the assaulting party had been "almost annihilating".

Ian Smith (AWM)