British .303 inch projectiles : Sniper's Nest, Gallipoli

Fifteen fired British .303 inch calibre Mk VI and Mk VII projectiles.

These projectiles form part of a larger collection of British .303 inch projectiles that were collected from an area of 6 square yards (approx 5.5 metres squared) at Sniper's Nest, Gallipoli.

Sniper's Nest was located in the North ANZAC sector on one of the ridges of Baby 700. The projectiles were found on 2 March 1919 by CEW Bean, who noted in his diary ' ...From there [Baby 700] I struck down the wooded slope from which Sniper's nest [sic] springs. There were 4 prongs to this ridge - Snipers Rest [sic] is most N.Ely [north easterly]. I often looked at this ridge & wondered why more sniping was not done from it. The scrub seemed to overlook the beach...

Then went thro [sic] scrub - there had been some sniping from the scrub near the Edge of the cliff down onto the beach - to the 4th Prong leading to Sniper's nest [sic]. Snipers nest [sic] I found not to be the End of the 4th Prong, as I thought, - but the knob half way down. It ends in Camels Hump...Snipers Trench is revetted with basket work, which makes loopholes. At one point where the trench opened towards Table Top I picked up for our museum at least 100 of our bullets.

From Snipers Nest [sic] Walkers R. [Ridge] cut out Everything Except Ari Burnu from the Stationary Hospital to the point. You can see the whole of the Milo & therefore the end of that one of the Evacuation pier wh [which] joined it to the shore.'

The Turkish snipers at this position made life very difficult for Allied soldiers at North Beach, who could only safely traverse the area at night. By day they had to move through a communications sap. The Turks continued to hold this position, despite machine gun and rifle fire from Light Horse troops at the Table Top, as illustrated by these projectiles, and shelling from artillery and warships.