Skew bridge cemetery

SKEW BRIDGE CEMETERY

IF STONES COULD SPEAK - HELLES

"A burial at Helles : One of the first funerals at the later named Skew Bridge Cemetery, Helles, Padre Bewill Close officiating", period picture reproduced from "Man of Gallipoli", (London-1976), Peter Liddle, p. 128

As a large gap opened between the French left flank and the right of the composite Brigade, the commander of the 2^nd Naval Brigade, Commodore Back-house, ordered the Hood and Anson battalions forward to close in. Unfortunately, the Hood battalion found that the French were unable to advance at all, and soon had their right flank open to Turkish enfilading fire which killed the commanding officer, Lt-Colonel Quilter of the Grenadier Guards, and many of his men.

"Gallipoli", (London 2000), Michael Hickey, p. 166

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The Turkish guns were ready with schrapnel and the Chatman battalion was stopped in its tracks as it crossed the startline. The Portsmouth marines went forward to find, as had the Scotsmen on the previous day, that their objective was no more than the trace of an unfinished trench, and although they courageously tried to consolidate in what was virtually open ground, they were forced to retire with heavy loss. When the Nelson battalion, after a costly advance, jumped with relief into what it thought, was the objective, it was to find the trench packed withmen of the 52nd Division. The sacrifice of the Portsmouth, Chatman and Nelson battalions, amounting to 24 officers and over 500 men, including the death of two commanding officers (*), had been totally unnecessary.

"Gallipoli", (London 2000), Michael Hickey, p. 232

(*) Edmund G. Evelegh & Frank W. Luard

Last updated : 04/02/08

Mehmet then asked an English soldier
who seemed to be at the playing age
how old are you little brother
what brought you here at such an early stage
I am fifteen forever the English soldier said
in the village from where I come
I used to play war with the children
arousing them with my drum
then I found myself in the front
was it real or a game before I could tell
my drum fell silent
as I was struck with a shell
a place was dug for me in Gallipoli
on my stone was inscribed drummer age fiftheen
thus ended my playful task and this is the record
of what I have done and what I have been

From the poem “A Postwar Epic”

by Bülent Ecevit

Late Prime Minister of Turkey