6 replies to this topic

[michaeldr]

This is a sketch map of the Turkish defences at Cape Helles 'as existing 25 April 1915.'
It was made by Commander (Actg. Capt.)* H. P. Douglas RN. His notes in the top left hand corner include the following:
'The contours are given for every 10 metres; and heights in metres and feet above sea level.......
Barbed wire entanglements were also placed in the shallow water off the beaches but had been removed when sketch was made.'
The full length of the linear scale shown is 1,000 yards and the sketch's scale is given as 1/9,000
* See post #6 for details of Douglas' promotions




The notation on the map itself is clear enough, except that is, for the word 'Gallows' shown above the northern end of V Beach, just to the right of the Ruined Barracks.




I have not noticed this before and wonder if anyone can offer an explanation.

regards
Michael

Edited by michaeldr, 26 May 2012 - 09:45 AM.

[michaeldr]

My apologies for the quality of this scan; my machine here may be about to expire

Nevertheless the image may be of use. It shows the 'Situation at V Beach on April25th, 1915: 7.30am – 7.0pm' as drawn by Captain Geddes of the RMF. It is to be seen in WO 95/4310 (image 376)



I think that the 'Dummy Guns' identified by Geddes (seen beneath the red arrow here) may well be the 'Gallows' on the Douglas sketch.

Any comments?

[curranl]

Hi Michael,
I'm afraid neither scan has appeared?

Regards,

Liam.

[michaeldr]

Well now that's interesting.
I can see all three, even when I'm not logged on

Let's try again
here goes -  first the Douglas crop & then that from Geddes



EDIT:
Geddes crop - no little red arrow this time, but perhaps better repro

Edited by michaeldr, 24 May 2012 - 09:48 AM.

[Suddery]

I've tried a rudimentary search on the name Gallows to eliminate the possibility of the site being named for an individual - a frequent convention elsewhere on the peninsula. Pretty much struck out bar two R. Inniskilling Fusiliers named W.Gallows (19464 & 18360) who are both evidenced in France but not Gallipoli. Might be worth a quick look by someone more experienced with the RIF than I; after all the 1st Btn did serve in both theatres.

Reference to this site may also be of interest http://archiver.root...82006779 as it appears the term 'Gallows' was applied to bayonet practice areas. I doubt very much this was the case at V Beach but then again I've always been a proponent of discount nothing.

Suddery

[michaeldr]

Suddery,


Thank you for your thoughts on this
Despite Douglas' mention of e.g. Fort Doughty-Wylie, I am inclined to think that Gallows is not a proper name; it is certainly not one that I have ever come across on Gallipoli before.

Douglas was a midshipman on HMS Cleopatra in 1894 and took part in the landing at Bluefields, Nicaragua that year. Apparently, Cleopatra was a Comus Class Corvette, so Douglas would have been familiar with rigging and probably also the nautical use of the term 'gallows'.

Your suggestion of a gallows used in connection with bayonet drill is also very interesting. I have seen a photograph which I took to be of the dummy guns mentioned by Geddes; alas I cannot find it on the web now that I need it. However, it is quite within the bounds of possibility that, at some time after the landing, the dummy gun barrels had a cross bar stretched between them forming a gallows to be used for bayonet drill.

Which raises the question; when exactly did Douglas make his sketch? On it, he signs himself as Captain; however he did not become an Acting Captain until 11 October 1915 and was only promoted Captain on 31^st December 1915. (details from The Naval Who's Who 1917)

I think that your gallows for bayonet drill is looking more likely as an explanation

regards
Michael

[michaeldr]

This is the picture which I thought might be showing the Dummy Guns: they are certainly unlike anything that I have ever seen before.



The position is about right, and Geddes is confirmed in a second sketch of V Beach from the sea; this one by Lt. Congdon RMLI



Q: are these Dummy Guns and are they what Douglas has described as Gallows?