I hadn't but I have now.
Reading the war diaries it seems the dates 22nd May and 18th June 1915 are most likely as the 13th June has this entry;
13th June 1915
A quiet day (The turks much less active of late
The other dates are as follows;
22nd May 1915
..
.the reason was that the Inniskillings had been rushed in their advanced trench on the left which had not yet been completed and had been driven out leaving a machine gun. They shortly counterattacked, retook the machine gun, killed about 180 Turks (inc 3 German officers) and took 15 prisoners.
Inniskilling casualties about 100 (inc Capt Crofton killed).
18th June 1915
The SWB completed the junction of C & AA last night. During the morning the Turks bombarded all the trenches and saps in this angle with high explosive damaging the parapets, but no attack followed. At 6.30pm they commenced a fresh bombardment on the same area lasting till 7.45 and then attacked along the trench AA driving SWB back to the end of the trench where it joined our firing line, some of the Turks with the aid of bombs breaking into our trench for a few yards at this point. They also occupied the trench just completed from C into AA and used it as a fire trench. Capt O'Sullivan of the R.I.F. at once organised a bombing party and advanced down AA forcing his way down about 40 yards. This trench was in the SWB section, the dividing line between SWB and RIF being just N of its junction with our fire trench. The Turks being reinforced came on again and succeeded in pushing the RIF party back about 20 yards where they managed to hold their own. As it was found impossible to make any further headway down the trench, the SWB decided the only way to recapture their trench was to rush it across the open, while the Inniskilling bombing party made another effort down the trench in cooperation. This attack took place at 3am and failed owing to the very heavy Turkish rifle fire, but the bombing party made some headway led again by Capt O'Sullivan, who behaved magnificently throughout. At 4am General Marshall went up to investigate the situation and 4.45 am a push bombing party was organised led by Capt Fowler SWB and (?)Serg mAj Framingham RIF, assisted by Capt Walker SWB. This party gradually regained the trench inch by inch
casualties during the night;
Rank and File
RIF 11 killed 59 wounded and 17 missing
I am finding the war diaries fascinating and informative. I now know what camp he was at prior to saling for Gallipoli (Mex at Alexandria) and even what ship he sailed on to Gallipoli (SS Andania) and from an internet search have found photos of the ship. Thanks to all !
0
