The beach here was very narrow and continuously under shell fire.
The difficulties of disembarkation were accentuated by the necessity
of evacuating the wounded; both operations proceeded simultaneously.
The service was one which called for great determination and coolness
under fire, and the success achieved indicates the spirit animating all
concerned. In this respect I would specially mention the extraordinary
gallantry and dash shown by the 3rd Australian Infantry Brigade
(Colonel E. G. Sinclair Maclagan, D.S.O.), who formed the covering
force. Many individual acts of devotion to duty were performed by the
personnel of the Navy; these are dealt with below. Here I should like
to place on record the good service performed by the vessels employed
in landing the second part of the covering force; the seamanship
displayed and the rapidity with which so large a force was thrown on
the beach is deserving of the highest praise.
On the 26th the landing of troops, guns and stores continued throughout
the day; this was a most trying service, as the enemy kept up an
incessant shrapnel fire, and it was extremely difficult to locate the
well-concealed guns of the enemy. Occasional bursts of fire from the
ships in the Narrows delayed operations somewhat, but these bursts of
fire did not last long, and the fire from our ships always drove the
enemy's ships away.
The enemy heavily counter-attacked, and though supported by a very
heavy shrapnel fire he could make no impression on our line which was
every minute becoming stronger. By nightfall on April 26 our position
north of Gaba Tepe was secure.
The landing at the southern extremity of the Gallipoli peninsula was
carried out under the orders of Rear-Admiral R. E. Wemyss, C.M.G.,
M.V.O., his squadron consisting of the following ships:
Battleships. Cruisers. Fleet Trawlers.
Sweepers.
_Swiftsure_ _Euryalus_ 6 14
_Implacable_ _Talbot_
_Cornwallis_ _Minerva_
_Albion_ _Dublin_
_Vengeance_
_Lord Nelson_
_Prince George_
Landings in this area were to be attempted at five different places;
the conditions at each landing varied considerably. The position of
beaches is given below.
_Position of Beach._--Y beach, a point about 7,000 yards north-east of
Cape Tekeh. X beach, 1.000 yards north-east of Cape Tekeh. W beach,
Cape Tekeh--Cape Helles. V beach, Cape Helles--Seddul Bahr. Camber,
Seddul Bahr. S beach, Eski-Hissarlik Point.
Taking these landings in the above order: _Landing at Y Beach._--The
troops to be first landed, the King's Own Scottish Borderers, embarked
on the 24th in the _Amethyst_ and _Sapphire_, and proceeded with
the transports _Southland_ and _Braemar Castle_ to a position off
Cape Tekeh. At 4.0 a.m. the boats proceeded to Y beach, timing their
arrival there at 5 a.m., and pulled ashore covered by fire from H.M.S.
_Goliath_. The landing was most successfully and expeditiously carried
out, the troops gaining the top of the high cliffs overlooking this
beach without being opposed; this result I consider due to the rapidity
with which the disembarkation was carried out and the well-placed
covering fire from ships.