_Landing at W Beach._--The 1st Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers embarked
in _Euryalus_ and _Implacable_ on the 24th, who proceeded to positions
off the landing-place, where the troops embarked in the boats at
about 4 a.m. Shortly after 5 a.m. _Euryalus_ approached W beach and
_Implacable_ X beach. At 5 a.m. the covering ships opened a heavy fire
on the beach, which was continued up to the last moment before landing.
Unfortunately this fire did not have the effect on the extensive wire
entanglements and trenches that had been hoped for, and the troops,
on landing at 6 a.m., were met with a very heavy fire from rifles,
machine-guns, and pom-poms, and found the obstructions on the beach
undamaged. The formation of this beach lends itself admirably to the
defence, the landing-place being commanded by sloping cliffs offering
ideal positions for trenches and giving a perfect field of fire. The
only weakness in the enemy's position was on the flanks, where it was
just possible to land on the rocks and thus enfilade the more important
defences. This landing on the rocks was effected with great skill, and
some maxims, cleverly concealed in the cliffs, and which completely
enfiladed the main beach, were rushed with the bayonet. This assisted
to a great extent in the success of the landing, the troops, though
losing very heavily, were not to be denied and the beach and the
approaches to it were soon in our possession.
The importance of this success cannot be overestimated; W and V beaches
were the only two of any size in this area on which troops, other than
infantry, could be disembarked, and failure to capture this one might
have had serious consequences, as the landing at V was held up. The
beach was being continuously sniped, and a fierce infantry battle was
carried on round it throughout the entire day and the following nights.
It is impossible to exalt too highly the service rendered by the 1st
Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers in the storming of the beach; the dash
and gallantry displayed were superb. Not one whit behind in devotion
to duty was the work of the beach personnel, who worked untiringly
throughout the day and night, landing troops and stores under continual
sniping. The losses due to rifle and machine-gun fire sustained by the
boats' crews, to which they had not the satisfaction of being able to
reply, bear testimony to the arduous nature of the service.
During the night of the 25th-26th enemy attacked continuously, and it
was not till 1 p.m. on the 26th, when V beach was captured, that our
position might be said to be secure.
The work of landing troops, guns, and stores continued throughout this
period, and the conduct of all concerned left nothing to be desired.
[Illustration: MAP 4. (_To face page_ 96.)]