George PICKLES

BRITISH REGIMENTS AT GALLIPOLI, by Ray Westlake (Pen & Sword Books Limited 1996)

6th (Service) Bn. East Lancashire Regiment

AUGUST 1915
Attack on Chunuk Bair (9th). Moved forward early morning – original route over Cheshire Ridge into Aghyl Dere found to be crowded with returning wounded and difficult. Turned around and after reconnaissance by Captain G.E. Chadwick crossed into Aghyl Dere and moved forward. Regimental history records . . . ‘at daybreak they were still strung out along the ravine. All could hear the British bombardment, but at 5.15 a.m., the hour of assault, General Baldwin’s column (Commander, 38th Brigade) had not arrived in its place of deployment.’ Leading companies reached start position by 6 a.m. – under heavy fire from enemy position on crest immediately north of Chunuk Bair and machine guns in a cornfield on eastern side of The Farm advanced across open land. First casualties included Captain A.E. Gayer (wounded) and Captain C.G. Lutyens while leading ‘C’ Company. Regimental history records that this officer apologized to his commanding officer for having been wounded. He died later at a dressing station. Colonel Cole-Hamilton received mortal wounds while leading his battalion, Major Trent (2nd in Command) severely wounded. ‘A’, ‘B’ and ‘C’ Companies checked by fire from hidden ravine between them and objective. ‘D’ Company under Captain H.S. Bull on right made some advance but forced to halt upon reaching an almost sheer cliff. Relieved by party of 10th Hampshire at dusk and fell back to edge of Farm Plateau. Later assembled at Aghyl Dere.

[George Pickles was killed in this action on the 9th.]

HISTORY OF THE EAST LANCASHIRE REGIMENT IN THE GREAT WAR 1914-1918 (Littlebury Bros. Ltd. 1936)

GALLIPOLI, 1915

6th (Service) Bn. East Lancashire Regiment

It had fallen to the East Lancashire to play a part in the third and last attempt to carry the Sari Bair Ridge, the principal objective of the August offensive.

It was nearly six o’clock (a.m.) [9th August] when the two leading companies of the East Lancashire reached the position from which the attack was to be launched. The way forward led across some level cornland, known as The Farm, about half a mile wide which formed a kind of shelf amid the hills. Beyond this was the almost cliff-like end of Chunuk Bair, and on each flank were lower ridges held by the enemy.

Without any hesitation, although already under fire, the two leading companies of the East Lancashire deployed and advanced across the open, at once to be smitten in enfilade by a hail of shrapnel and streams of machine-gun bullets . . . The whole battalion now pressed forward though officers and men were falling fast . . . The battalions in the rear were thrown into the fight as they came up, but the Turks were well prepared and strongly posted, and there was now no hope of success . . . the survivors of the attack lay where they were until at dusk it became possible to withdraw to the edge of the Farm plateau where a line was entrenched . . . Of the East Lancashire not many more than 100 men remained.

[George Pickles was killed on the 9th August.]