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13th Battalion Unit History – 3 May
1915
The Turks truly held the keys of the
Anzac position, and, even for defensive purposes, it was urgently
necessary to secure these keys by an advance. Unfortunately this was
impossible before 2nd May, and, before we were ready to make the
attempt, we lost another extremely valuable officer in Lt. H. J. Salier,
who was badly wounded through the cheeks at Quinn’s. (He returned to the
Bn. in August and did splendid work.)
In the dusk the 16th filed up past the
foot of Quinn’s to the end of Bloody Angle, The 13th followed to the
opening of the Angle, also in file. Both Battalions were greatly
weakened and extremely weary.
Darkness had now come on rapidly, and
the 13th advanced with difficulty up the Angle, the narrow, steep valley
being blocked by wounded, stretcher-bearers and ammunition carriers of
the 16th to such an extent that the 13th had to form single file. The
Turks poured bullets blindly from their rifles, and showers from their
machine-guns set on fixed platforms to sweep the Angle and the crest
even in the darkness, but the singing of the advancing troops remained
as firm and as hearty as ever. That singing and the thrills it inspired
will never be forgotten by those who heard it from Monash Valley, the
Beach and neighbouring boats.
Fire was coming from everywhere, and
the enemy threw a few bombs, one of which wounded Faddy in the neck. He
commenced to walk back, but was never heard of again. Meanwhile the
rear platoons of the 13th were still filing on to the Chessboard.
The Landing strength of the 13th was 25
officers and 934 other ranks; our strength on the evening of 3rd May was
9 officers and 500 other ranks, and the 15th and 16th had suffered even
more severely.
Although not at Bloody Angle, Forsythe
had lost his four officers and 112 other ranks out of his Company of 217
by 3rd May. The 4th Brigade had landed 105 officers and 3720 other
ranks; its strength in the 3rd May was 41 officers and 1770 other
ranks. Such was the bloody baptism of the 13th and its sister
battalions. Bloody! Yet gloriously-ever-to-be-remembered while
Australians remain the Australians of 1914.
CHATAWAY, T. P, History of the 15th
Battalion AIF War 1914-1918,
page 32 - 36
(source 172) |
