The detachment detailed for S beach (Eski Hissarlik Point) consisted of
the 2nd South Wales Borderers (less one company) under Lieut.-Colonel
Casson. Their landing was delayed by the current, but by 7.30 a.m. it
had been successfully effected at the cost of some fifty casualties,
and Lieut.-Colonel Casson was able to establish his small force on the
high ground near De Totts Battery. Here he maintained himself until the
general advance on the 27th brought him into touch with the main body.
The landing on Y beach was entrusted to the King's Own Scottish
Borderers and the Plymouth (Marine) Battalion, Royal Naval Division,
specially attached to the 29th Division for this task, the whole
under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Koe. The beach at this point
consisted merely of a narrow strip of sand at the foot of a crumbling
scrub-covered cliff some 200 feet high immediately to the west of
Krithia.
A number of small gullies running down the face of the cliff
facilitated the climb to the summit, and so impracticable had these
precipices appeared to the Turks that no steps had been taken to defend
them. Very different would it have been had we, as was at one time
intended, taken Y 2 for this landing. There a large force of infantry,
entrenched up to their necks, and supported by machine and Hotchkiss
guns, were awaiting an attempt which could hardly have made good its
footing. But at Y both battalions were able in the first instance to
establish themselves on the heights, reserves of food, water, and
ammunition were hauled up to the top of the cliff, and, in accordance
with the plan of operations, an endeavour was immediately made to gain
touch with the troops landing at X beach. Unfortunately, the enemy's
strong detachment from Y 2 interposed, our troops landing at X were
fully occupied in attacking the Turks immediately to their front, and
the attempt to join hands was not persevered with.
Later in the day a large force of Turks were seen to be advancing upon
the cliffs above Y beach from the direction of Krithia, and Colonel
Koe was obliged to entrench. From this time onward his small force was
subjected to strong and repeated attacks, supported by field artillery,
and owing to the configuration of the ground, which here drops inland
from the edge of the cliff, the guns of the supporting ships could
render him little assistance. Throughout the afternoon and all through
the night the Turks made assault after assault upon the British
line. They threw bombs into the trenches, and, favoured by darkness,
actually led a pony with a machine gun on its back over the defences,
and were proceeding to come into action in the middle of our position
when they were bayoneted.
The British repeatedly counter-charged with the bayonet, and always
drove off the enemy for the moment, but the Turks were in a vast
superiority and fresh troops took the place of those who temporarily
fell back. Colonel Koe (since died of wounds) had become a casualty
early in the day, and the number of officers and men killed and wounded
during the incessant fighting was very heavy. By 7 a.m. on the 26th
only about half of the King's Own Scottish Borderers remained to man
the entrenchment made for four times their number. These brave fellows
were absolutely worn out with continuous fighting; it was doubtful
if reinforcements could reach them in time, and orders were issued
for them to be re-embarked. Thanks to H.M.S. _Goliath_, _Dublin_,
_Amethyst_, and _Sapphire_, thanks also to the devotion of a small
rearguard of the King's Own Scottish Borderers, which kept off the
enemy from lining the cliff, the re-embarkation of the whole of the
troops, together with the wounded, stores, and ammunition, was safely
accomplished, and both battalions were brought round the southern
end of the peninsula. Deplorable as the heavy losses had been, and
unfortunate as was the tactical failure to make good so much ground
at the outset, yet, taking the operation as it stood, there can be no
doubt it has contributed greatly to the success of the main attack,
seeing that the plucky stand made at Y beach had detained heavy columns
of the enemy from arriving at the southern end of the peninsula during
what it will be seen was a very touch-and-go struggle.