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Commander Unwin, then commanding the destroyer Hussar, came forward with the novel proposal that an innocent-looking collier carrying two thousand men should be run ashore at V Beach; the men would emerge from holes cut in the sides- called ‘sally ports’- run along specially built gangways down to a bridge of lighters connected to the shore by a steam hopper, and thence on to the beach. By this method, the number of men to be landed in the first wave would be doubled, but the naval and the military staffs were doubtful, for the sensible reason that once unlucky shell might send two thousand men to the bottom of the Dardanelles. Wemyss, however, was very enthusiastic, and managed to persuade the staffs to adopt Unwin’s scheme. Unwin was instructed to take charge of this part of the operation, and he selected a ten-year-old collier, River Clyde , as this modern Trojan Horse.

“Gallipoli”, Robert Rhodes James, p. 88-89

"The Seddülbahir beach /summer 1915)", picture reproduced from "The Dardanelles", Paris, National Association of Veteran Groups of the  Dardanelles, p. VII

"Amunition storage under the walls of Seddülbahir castle /summer 1915)", picture reproduced from "The Dardanelles", Paris, National Association of Veteran Groups of the  Dardanelles, p. VII

The Allied in the Orient : "Le Cheval de Troie" reproduced from a period picture (Austin Fennessy - private collection)

 last updated : 26/01/08

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