Shoulder strap, 5th Wiltshire Regiment, 40th Brigade, British Army : The Farm, Gallipoli

Places
Accession Number RELAWM00382.006
Collection type Heraldry
Object type Heraldry
Physical description Brass, Cotton drill
Maker Unknown
Date made c 1915
Conflict First World War, 1914-1918
Description

Damaged remains of a khaki cotton drill shoulder strap, cut from a British tunic. The end with the button hole is torn and crumpled and has dirt and small stones embedded in it. At the bottom of the strap is a brass shoulder title, 'WILTS'. The title has two lugs inserted through the strap, held in place by a metal plate and a split pin. There is dried mud around the front and back of the title.

History / Summary

After the attacks of 7 to 8 August, the New Zealanders held a precarious position on the reverse slope of the ridge at Chunuk Bair. Major General Alexander Godley made plans for another attack on 9 August to capture the crest of the main ridge between Chunuk Bair and Hill Q. On the left, the 39th and Indian Brigades, under Major General H Vaughn Cox, were to attempt the capture of Hill Q. On the right, the New Zealanders, Under Brigadier General Francis Johnston were to assault the southern shoulder of Chunuk Bair and extend their line towards Battleship Hill.

The centre of the attack, on the summit and northern shoulder of Chunuk Bair, was to be made by the 38th Brigade, under Brigadier General Anthony Hugh Baldwin. Baldwin's force was made up from a number of brigades. It included his 6th East Lancashires, the 5th Wiltshires (from the 40th Brigade), the 10th Hampshires and the 6th Royal Irish Rifles (both from the 29th Brigade). Another battalion, from the 38th Brigade, the 6th Loyal North Lancashires was also initially part of this force, but was instead used to reinforce Johnston's troops overnight. They were accompanied by Brigadier General R J Cooper and the headquarters of the 29th Brigade.

At a meeting on 8 August, Baldwin was advised by Johnston to reach his jumping off point via the Aghyl Dere, advancing to Chunuk Bair from The Farm. General Godley had earlier expressed an opinion that Baldwin's men should form up near the Pinnacle, make for the highest point of Chunuk Bair, and then swing left in the direction of Hill Q.

Despite planning to attend the meeting, neither Godley, nor any of his staff officers were present, and Baldwin decided the route. He took Johnston's advice, as he was more familiar with the area, but there had been no time to reconnoitre the route. However, Johnston sent along guides who knew the way. Unfortunately their selected route proved to be clogged with wounded men trying to reach the beach and they became separated, causing long halts and delays.

The Brigade struck off from the main track and came across a precipice, which there was no way around. The guides admitted they were lost, and Baldwin was forced to retrace their steps about a mile, to where he knew there was a route to the Aghyl Dere. However this route was also congested and the brigade was now well behind schedule.

The attack was to occur at 5.15am, as soon as the bombardment lifted. The units to the left and right had been told not to move until Baldwin's troops came into the line. Only the 1/6th Ghurkas and the 6th South Lancastrians attempted an advance, as they had not received the order to wait for Baldwin's forces.

At 6am, the leading battalion of Baldwin's force reached The Farm and attempted to advance. The brigade suffered so many casualties that Baldwin decided to withdraw to the edge of The Farm plateau and dig in.

The next morning, the Turks counter attacked, capturing the Pinnacle, before machine gun fire from the Apex halted their advance. More Turkish troops advanced from Chunuk Bair to The Farm. The British suffered heavy casualties. Baldwin was killed in the fighting, and Cooper severely wounded in the chest.

The British retreated, although The Farm was briefly reoccupied, but as the Aghyl Dere was under the view of the Turks at the Pinnacle, the position was isolated. The British remained until dusk, during which time the wounded were recovered, before withdrawing. A few days later, the Turks reoccupied The Farm.

In 1919, the unburied remains of those who died were found where they fell, scattered in their hundreds around the ridges, by the Australian Historical Mission. Fragments of uniforms and personal possessions were also found. This shoulder strap, cut from a British uniform was found on 3 March 1919, on the seaward side of the slope, leading up to The Farm.