Now that it was daylight once more, Lieutenant-Colonels Doughty-Wylie
and Williams set to work to organize an attack on the hill above the
beach. Any soldier who has endeavoured to pull scattered units together
after they have been dominated for many consecutive hours by close and
continuous fire will be able to take the measure of their difficulties.
Fortunately General Hunter-Weston had arranged with Rear-Admiral Wemyss
about this same time for a heavy bombardment to be opened by the ships
upon the Old Fort, Sedd-el-Bahr Village, the Old Castle north of the
village, and on the ground leading up from the beach. Under cover of
this bombardment, and led by Lieutenant-Colonel Doughty-Wylie, and
Captain Walford, Brigade-Major R.A., the troops gained a footing in
the village by 10 a.m. They encountered a most stubborn opposition and
suffered heavy losses from the fire of well concealed riflemen and
machine guns. Undeterred by the resistance, and supported by the naval
gunfire, they pushed forward, and soon after midday they penetrated
to the northern edge of the village, whence they were in a position
to attack the Old Castle and Hill 141. During this advance Captain
Walford was killed. Lieutenant-Colonel Doughty-Wylie had most gallantly
led the attack all the way up from the beach through the west side of
the village, under a galling fire. And now, when, owing so largely
to his own inspiring example and intrepid courage, the position had
almost been gained, he was killed while leading the last assault. But
the attack was pushed forward without wavering, and, fighting their
way across the open with great dash, the troops gained the summit and
occupied the Old Castle and Hill 141 before 2 p.m.