100 Years Ago Today

[Jimbuna]

4th August 1915

Eastern Front

Germans threaten Warsaw; civilians evacuate; Blonie-Nadarzyn line (15 miles west of Warsaw) abandoned by Russians. Latter evacuate Ivangorod.

Southern Front

Castle of Lizzana (Rovereto) destroyed by Austrians.

Italians occupy Col di Lana (Cordevole, Ventian Alps).

Naval and Overseas Operations

French battleships bombard Spelia and Scalanova (opposite Samos).

Russia claims to have sunk 900 Ottoman vessels in the Black Sea, putting strain on Constantinople’s food supplies.

North Sea
C.33 (below, sister-boat C.38 - Navy Photos), submarine, C-class, 290/320t, 1910, 2‑18in tt with 4 torpedoes, 13/7½kts, c16 crew, Pennant No.I.63, Rosyth-based 7th Flotilla, Lt Gerald Carter. Trawler Weelsby, renamed Malta for decoy purposes, left Harwich on 31 July to meet up with C.33 for anti-U-boat patrol off the Norfolk coast, but failed to repeat the earlier successes of C.24 and C.27. At 2015 on the 4th, C.33 slipped her tow to return to harbour independently, last signal at 2150 - "have nothing to communicate", then failed to arrive, “overdue, presumed lost”. (declared lost on the 5th) - Lost, cause unknown, no wreckage found, probably mined in British field near Smith’s Knoll, alternatively an accident as no German claims were made for her sinking; 3 officers and 14 ratings lost, no survivors. Destroyer Firedrake sailed at dawn on the 5th but failed to find any trace of her, declared lost.


Political, etc.

Ignatius TT Lincoln, former British Member of Parliament, is arrested in the US on charges of spying for Germany.


St. Paul Cathedral in London holds the national intercession service to mark the one year anniversary of the war.

French Ministry of War estimates that there has been 14.4 million military casualties, with 5.3 million deaths, on all sides of the war.

Ship Losses:

HMS C33 ( Royal Navy): The C-class submarine struck a mine in the North Sea off Great Yarmouth, Norfolk and sank with the loss of all sixteen crew.
Challenger ( United Kingdom): The fishing smack was scuttled in the North Sea 23 nautical miles (43 km) east by north of Lowestoft, Suffolk by SM UB-12 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Grimbarian ( United Kingdom): The trawler struck a mine and sank in the North Sea 56 nautical miles (104 km) east by north of Spurn Point, Yorkshire with the loss of six of her crew.
Heliotrope ( United Kingdom): The fishing smack was scuttled in the North Sea 23 nautical miles (43 km) off Lowestoft by SM UB-12 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Midland Queen ( Canada): The cargo ship was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 70 nautical miles (130 km) south west by west of the Fastnet Rock by SM U-28 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

[Sailor Steve]

August 4:

Belgium: British nurse Edith Cavell is arrested and charged with helping more than 200 prisoners to escape. Her trial will not begin until October 7th. (Some sources say her arrest was on the previous day, August 3rd)



Celtic Sea: Georg-Günther von Forstner, commanding U-28, sinks Canadian freighter SS Midland Queen, 1,993 tons, bound from Sydney, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, to Newport, Monmouthshire, Wales, with a cargo of steel. Von Forstner ends his second war patrol with 19 ships and 46,463 tons.



Hans Nieland, in UB-12, sinks British fishing smacks Challenger, 50 tons, and Heliotrope, 28 tons, bringing his score to 6 fishing vessels and 270 tons.

[Jimbuna]

5th August 1915

Western Front
Heavy fighting in the Vosges and at Hill 213 (Argonne).

Eastern Front

Capture of Ivangorod by Austrians.

Germans enter Warsaw.


Southern Front

Italian airship captured at Pola.

Progress on the Carso by Italians.

General Maurice Sarrail takes control over French operations in the Dardanelles.


Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Russians capture Turkish positions near Olti and Sarikamish (Transcaucasia) and repel counter-attacks.

Naval

North Sea
Industry, store carrier, 1,460 tons/497grt, 1901, Admiralty-owned. In collision with Dutch SS Zeeland off Wold LV. Sunk c19 October 1918.

Atlantic off W Ireland
CLEMENTINA, Admiralty yacht, 469/1887, hired 22/9/14, 2-6pdr, Pennant No.025, Examination Service, Capt Thomas Walker (retired Vice Admiral). Closing the SS Adam Smith (299grt) for examination off Tor Cor Point (C/D - off Tor Point) in the early morning, in collision, holed, and flooded from the stokehold aft. To prevent her sinking, run aground and beached nearby. Salvage was abandoned, sold for breaking-up where she lay; no lives lost at this time, but an Assistant Engineer RNR died on 20 September 1915 possibly from injuries sustained. Note: location is confirmed as South Tor Cor or Torcor Point, Co Galway.

Political, etc.

Strike in Belgian coal district.

Germans fire on strikers.

Russian Ministry of Munitions proposed.

Duma votes 35 million roubles for refugees.

Kaiser Wilhelm announces a conference in Berlin that will discuss autonomy for Poles in the conquered parts of Russian Poland.

Ship Losses:

HMY Clementina ( Royal Navy): The armed yacht collided with another vessel in the English Channel off Torpoint, Cornwall and was beached. She was a total loss.
Hans Emil ( Denmark): The schooner was sunk in the North Sea (57°07′N 4°08′E) by SM U-38 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Nereide ( Regia Marina): The Nautlius-class submarine was torpedoed and sunk in the Adriatic Sea (42°23′N 16°16′E) by SM U-5 ( Austro-Hungarian Navy) with the loss of all nineteen crew.
Vanadis ( Denmark): The sailing vessel was sunk in the North Sea 56°49′N 5°02′E by SM U-38 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

[Sailor Steve]

August 5:

North Sea: Max Valentiner and U-38 begin their third war patrol with the sinking of Danish sailing ship Hans Emil, 106 tons, bound from Halmstad to Granton with a load of pit props; and Norwegian SV Vanadis, 484 tons, from Kristiania to West Hartlepool, also with pit props. His score is now 24 ships and 9,724 tons.



Adriatic Sea: Georg von Trapp, in Austro-Hungarian U-5, sinks Italian submarine Nereide, 225 tons, bringing his score to 2 ships and 12,631 tons.

[Oberon]

4th August 1915
The arrival at ANZAC during the early hours of this morning was quiet and unmolested and the Battalion immediately proceeded to quarters in WHITE VALLEY. Here they remained without incident, except occasional severe shellings, a few men being wounded, until the evening of Friday.

6-7th August 1915
[6th - 7th] On that evening (Friday) at 8p.m the Battalion moved from White Valley accompanied by the S.W.Bs. Route taken was through Rest Gulley and over the cliffs through the cutting, reaching the shore again beyond Ari Burnu. Thence they were sniped and encountered considerable shrapnel fire. Finally a position was taken up on DAMAJELIK BEIR A,B & C companies take up position from Track 92 N8 to KNOLL 92 O 8-9 inclusive D company in Bde reserve in Gulley S. of Pt. 40 This position was taken with but slight opposition. Number of prisoners taken during the operation by the SWBs and WILTS is estimated at 250 (Reports agree that a number of the prisoners taken on this occasion were old men and very willing to fall into our hands. There was every indication of a hasty retirement of those previously occupying the ground. The fires in the cottages were warm and there were signs throughout of recent habitation. Excellent honey and water was found here. HBLB) Officer casualties on march from ANZAC Lieut A.G.O. Wigmore R.A.M.C (wounded slightly) Lieut A.C Belcher (killed)

[Jimbuna]

6th August 1915

Eastern Front

Germans repulsed at Osovyets (Neuve Chapelle).

Archduke Joseph Frederick enters Lyublin.

Southern Front

Two divisions effect surprise landing at Suvla Bay and attack with Anzacs on right, and southern force on Achi Baba.

Battle of Lone Pine begins as Australian troops advance as part of a diversionary attack.


Naval

North Sea
LEANDROS (L/Lr/D/dq - Leander; D - but renamed Leandros), Admiralty trawler, 276/1907, Lindsey Steam Fishing, Grimsby-reg GY.260, hired 8/14 as Leander, minesweeper, Admiralty No.18, Dover Patrol, Skipper Walter Richmond RNR. Mined, laid by UC.5 (Herbert Pustkuchen) three days earlier, sank off North Knock Sand Buoy, off Thames Estuary (wi - in 51.43N, 01.38E); 7 ratings lost (He – 5 died).

Political, etc.

345 British establishments declared "Controlled" under Munitions of War Act.

Combined Entente Note to Balkan States.

Bulgarian Government negotiate fresh loan for 400,000,000 francs with Austro-German banks.

Agreement concluded between Japan and China substituting Japanese authority for German in Tsingtau customs.

Benjamin F. Tracy, Medal of Honor recipient and former US Secretary of the Navy, has passed away.


Ship Losses:

C.E.S. ( United Kingdom): The fishing smack was scuttled in the North Sea 42 nautical miles (78 km) east north east of Lowestoft, Suffolk by SM UB-17 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Fisherman ( United Kingdom): The fishing smack was scuttled in the North Sea 37 nautical miles (69 km) east north east of Lowestoft by SM UB-17 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Hesperus ( United Kingdom): The fishing smack was scuttled in the North Sea 37 nautical miles (69 km) east north east of Lowestoft by SM UB-17 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Ivan ( United Kingdom): The fishing smack was scuttled in the North Sea 42 nautical miles (78 km) east north east of Lowestoft by SM UB-17 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
HMT Leandros ( Royal Navy): The naval trawler struck a mine and sank in the North Sea with the loss of seven of her crew.
Maj ( Sweden): The coaster was sunk in the North Sea (56°58′N 6°48′E) by SM U-25 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Ocean Queen ( United Kingdom): The trawler was scuttled in the North Sea 25 nautical miles (46 km) north west of Muckle Flugga, Shetland Islands by SM U-38 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Westminster ( United Kingdom): The trawler was shelled and sunk in the North Sea (60°38′N 0°12′E) by SM U-38 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew were rescued by the drifter Maria Josepha ( Netherlands).
Xmas Rose ( United Kingdom): The fishing smack was scuttled in the North Sea off Lowestoft, Suffolk by SM UB-10 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

[Sailor Steve]

August 6:

Norwegian Sea: Max Valentiner, commanding U-38, has moved out of the North Sea. West of the Shetland Islands he sinks the British trawlers Ocean Queen, 185 tons, and Westminster, 252 tons, bringing his total to 26 ships and 10,161 tons.



North Sea: Otto Wünsche starts his third war patrol in U-25 by sinking Swedish freighter SS Maj, 920 tons, bound from Göteborg to Hull with a load of pit props. His score is now 16 ships and 8,796 tons.

Otto Steinbrinck, in UB-10, scuttles British fishing smack Xmas Rose, 27 tons, bringing his score to 13 ships and 6,901 tons.

Ralph Wenninger, in UB-17, scuttles fishing smacks C.E.S., 57 tons, Fisherman, 24 tons, Hesperus, 47 tons, and Ivan, 44 tons. His score is 4 fishing boats for 162 tons.

[Jimbuna]

7th August 1915

Western Front

German attacks in Argonne and Vosges repulsed with heavy losses (estimated 4,000).

Eastern Front

Russians repulse Germans near Riga.

Enemy attacks Kovna; Russian retreat behind Jara.

Enemy attacks with gas near Osovyets.

Sierok (northern Georgievsk) occupied.

Enemy reaches Vistula near Pienkow.

Southern Front

Gallipoli: Very heavy fighting and losses; little progress; frightfully hot.

New Zealand forces attempt to take the summit of Chunuk Bair are also repulsed with heavy casualties.

Australian forces attack Ottoman lines on a hill codenamed “Baby 700,” but suffer heavy casualties and are repulsed.


Italian artillery reaches Ercavallo Peak (Trentino).

Naval

German Minefield - Moray Firth field of nearly 400 mines laid by German auxiliary minelayer Meteor (1,912grt, ex-British Vienna seized Hamburg 4/8/14), night of 7th/8th to foul the approach to Cromarty and the Grand Fleet base of Invergordon, discovered the morning of the 8th by a minesweeping trawler.

Gallipoli Campaign
Scourge, destroyer, G-class, c1,100t, one of ten destroyers taking part in Suvla landings, each one carried in 500 troops on deck with another 500 in a towed X or motor lighter, Scourge landed her men on C-beach, S of Nibrunesi Point. Now trying to get some of the lighters off the ground, hit in engine-room by Turkish shell around 0830 and had to retire for repairs; casualties uncertain, but one rating lost.

X-lighters, ramped self-propelled landing craft, X.1-series, designed for Dardanelles, launched 4-7/15, 160t, could carry 500 troops, carried K numbers, also known as K-boats, motor lighters, nicknamed "beetles". At least 10 lighters, numbered K.1-10 took part in the Suvla landings, some of which may not have got off, others damaged by gunfire.

Political, etc.

King George of Britain establishes the Naval General Service Medal, which will be awarded for service in minor naval operations.

Romania mobilises 10 classes of reservists.

Ship Losses:

Geiranger ( Norway): The cargo ship was sunk in the North Sea 70 nautical miles (130 km) east south east of Sumburgh Head, Shetland Islands, United Kingdom (59°33′N 1°39′E) by SM U-24 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Norman ( Norway): The barque was sunk in the North Sea 18 nautical miles (33 km) off Arendal, Aust-Agder (58°15′N 9°24′E) by SM U-25 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

[Sailor Steve]

August 7:

North Sea: Rudolf Schneider, commanding U-24, starts a new war patrol with the sinking of Norwegian freighter SS Geiranger, 1081 tons, bound from Patschora to Southampton with a load of timber. His score is now 16 ships and 49,187 tons.

Otto Wünsche, in U-25, sinks Norwegian barque SV Norman, 1,060 tons, carrying pit props from Göteborg to Hull. His score is now 17 ships and 9,956 tons.

[Jimbuna]

8th August 1915


Eastern Front

Germans attack Kovna, repulsed with heavy losses.

Novo Georgievsk cut off in the east.

Praga (Warsaw) occupied.

Mackensen forces Russians back across the Veprj.

Southern Front

Monfalcone dockyard (northern Adriatic) bombed.

Night raid by Austrians into Italian positions in Trentino.

British attack on Anafarta (Gallipoli) repulsed.

ANZAC offensive at Gallipoli begins to falter due to strong Ottoman defenses and counterattacks.

Doolan Downing, New Zealand rugby player with 26 caps, is killed in action at Chunuk Bair.


New Zealand troops captures Chunuk Bair at Gallipoli after heavy naval bombardment.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Bushire (Persian Gulf) occupied by British as reprisal for two officers killed there on 12 July.

Naval and Overseas Operations

German Fleet attacks Riga and is repulsed.

THE RAMSEY, (J/C - Ramsey), Admiralty armed boarding steamer, 1,443/1895, Isle of Man Steam Passenger Co, Douglas-reg, hired 28/10/14, 2-12pdr, Pennant No.M.14, attached to Grand Fleet, Lt-Cdr Harry Raby RNR (Rn - Lt P Atkins RNR; gf - refers to Acting-Lt Atkins RNR as senior surviving officer), on patrol SE of Pentland Firth. After laying mines in the Moray Firth (see 7 August), Meteor, flying the Russian flag, met The Ramsey around 0600 c70 miles ENE of Kinnaird Head in 58.20N, 00.05W "but nearer to Cromarty". The Ramsey signalled the stranger to stop, closed to about 80yds to lower a boat when the German ensign was hoisted and Meteor (c2-8.8cm/2tt/375 mines) attacked with gunfire and torpedoes, The Ramsey sank in three minutes (J - torpedoed; J/D - SE of Pentland Firth; C - off Firth of Forth; dx - off Moray Firth); 53 lives lost - 5 officers including Cdr Raby, 23 ratings and 25 MMR (He – 65 lives lost, 33 survivors; gf - 54 lives), 4 officers and 39 men taken prisoner, Meteor headed back to Germany, but was scuttled next day and the British POW's released.

BEN ARDNA, Admiralty trawler, 187/1912, R Irvin, Aberdeen-reg A517, hired 8/14 as minesweeper, Admiralty No.289, Dover Patrol. Engaged in sweeping, mined at 1330, mine laid by UC.1 (Egon von Werner) three days before, sank quickly about ¾ mile E of Elbow Buoy, off North Foreland/Broadstairs, Kent; 2 ratings lost. Note: Lloyds lists her as fishing when sunk, not in Admiralty service.

Norwegian Sea
INDIA, Admiralty armed merchant cruiser, ex-passenger ship, 7,940/1896, 18 kts, Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Co, Greenock-reg, hired 13/3/15, Pennant No.M.81, 10th CS, Northern Patrol, c300 crew, Cdr William Kennedy i/c, master, Lt Richard Groundwater RNR. On patrol off Norwegian coast to intercept iron ore carriers sailing from Narvik for Germany via Rotterdam, with attached hired trawlers Saxon and Newland also 10th CS for inshore duties. Swedish SS Gloria sighted at 0830, India intercepted, boarded and searched her, details of Gloria wirelessed in. Other ships were sighted and followed, at noon ordered to send Gloria into Kirkwall, and proceeded to search for her. Now 1740, alarm gong sounded, and torpedo track seen approaching, could not be avoided and struck starboard side aft near No.3 gun, fired by U.22 (Bruno Hoppe), ship immediately started to settle by stern. Of the four starboard and three port boats kept lowered for such an emergency, six were successfully manned but with ship's way still on, a port boat capsized and on the starboard side the boats were fouled or stove in, ship sank in five minutes, 6-7 miles NNW of Heligver Light near Bodo (te - in 67.30N, 13.20E; ke - mined off Helligvaer/Hellevoer island); 121 lives lost - 11 officers, 53 ratings including some Royal Marines and 57 MMR, number of crew buried ashore in Norway (Mn - 9 officers and 107 men lost, with 189 men saved including the captain; of the latter, 19 officers and 138 men either went down with the ship and came up again or had to dive over the side before rescue; He – 166 lives lost; ke/wd - 10 officers and 150 ratings lost, 141 survivors including Cdr Kennedy), survivors picked up by Swedish SS Gotaland and HM Trawler Saxon, and landed in Norway where they were interned.

Ottoman battleship Hayreddin Barbarossa is sunk by the British submarine HMS E11, resulting in 258 deaths.


Political, etc.

Princess Mary, daughter of King George, is detained for four hours by French authorities, as her entourage had forgotten their papers.

German unsuccessful peace tentatives to Russia through Denmark.

Naval General Service Medal instituted.

Russian Minister of Finance orders commercial schools to replace German with English as a compulsory subject.

Ship Losses:

Arbor Vitae ( United Kingdom): The fishing smack was scuttled in the North Sea 35 nautical miles (65 km) north east by north of Lowestoft, Suffolk by SM UB-10 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Barbaros Hayreddin ( Ottoman Navy): The Brandenburg-class battleship was torpedoed and sunk in the Sea of Marmara off Bolayır, Turkey by HMS E11 ( Royal Navy) with the loss of 253 of her 568 crew.
Benarthur ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship struck a mine and was damaged. She was beached but was a total loss.
Berk-i-Satvet ( Ottoman Navy): The gunboat was torpedoed and sunk in the Dardanelles by a Royal Navy submarine.
HMT Ben Ardna ( Royal Navy): The naval trawler struck a mine and sank in the English Channel with the loss of two of her crew.
Glenravel ( United Kingdom): The cargo ship was scuttled in the North Sea 25 nautical miles (46 km) north of Kinnaird Head, Aberdeenshire (58°07′N 2°01′W) by SM U-17 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
HMS India ( Royal Navy): The armed merchant cruiser was torpedoed and sunk in the Norwegian Sea off Bodø, Nordland, Norway by SM U-22 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of 160 of the 311 people on board.
Malmland ( Sweden): The cargo ship was sunk in the North Sea 2 nautical miles (3.7 km) east by south of Rattray Head, Aberdeenshire (57°35′N 1°39′W) by SM U-17 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
SMS Meteor ( Kaiserliche Marine): The auxiliary cruiser was scuttled in the North Sea. All on board were rescued by Royal Navy cruisers.
SMS T52 ( Kaiserliche Marine): The S43-class torpedo boat struck a mine and sank in the Gulf of Riga.
SMS T58 ( Kaiserliche Marine): The S58-class torpedo boat struck a mine and sank in the Gulf of Riga.
HMS The Ramsey ( Royal Navy): The armed boarding steamer was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea (See Naval Operations section).
SM U-12 ( Austro-Hungarian Navy): The U-5-class submarine struck a mine and sank in the Venetian Lagoon with the loss of all seventeen crew.

[Sailor Steve]

August 8:

Norwegian Sea: Bruno Hoppe begins his third patrol in U-22 by sinking armed merchant cruiser HMS India 7,940 tons, off the coast of Norway, bringing his career total to 6 ships and 13,713 tons.



North Sea: Hans Walther, commanding U-17, begins his second war patrol by sinking British freighter SS Glenravel, 1092 tons, bound from Belfast to Leith with a general cargo; and Swedish freighter SS Malmland, 3,676 tons, carrying iron ore from Kirkwall to Middlesbrough. His score is now 5 ships and 11,776 tons.



Otto Steinbrink, in UB-10, stops and scuttles the 26-ton fishing smack Arbor Vitae, bringing his total to 14 ships and 6,927 tons.



Adriatic Sea: Egon Lerch and Austro-Hungarian U-12 are on their fourth war patrol. On August 6th the Italian destroyer Rosolino Pilo struck an underwater object near the entrance of the lagoon surrounding Venice, Italy. On the 8th workeers dredging the area to find the object hear an explosion. Divers sent down to look for the source discover the wreck of U-12 with her stern blown off. Egon Lerch and the other 16 men in his crew are all lost.
August 8:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SM_U-1...ria-Hungary%29

SM (K.u.K.) U-12


Egon Lerch and crew after damaging Jean Bart in December 1914.


The wreck of U-12 after salvaging in 1916.

[Oberon]

8th-9th August 1915

This line (at DAMAJELIK BEIR) was held during Sunday - casualties Capt J.W Greany (slightly wounded) Lieut G.D Bidwell (seriously wounded) At 7p.m of Sunday evening this line was taken over by the 4th South Wales Borderers and the trenches begun by us during Sunday completed. We learn that they were attacked in this position on the following day and were completely successful in holding it. Move into CHAILAK DERE and here remain until after dark. Then move into AGHYL DERE in rear of the HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT. At this period we were attached to 38th Bde. Casualty on march Capt F Spencer (wounded)

[Jimbuna]

9th August 1915

Western Front

British recapture trenches at Hooge.

French air-raid on Saarbrucken.

Eastern Front

Osovyets evacuated and destroyed by Russians.

Night attack on Kovna fortress; Germans lose three battalions in Russian counter-attack.

Germans advance east of Warsaw.

Southern Front

Heavy Anzac losses; Turks getting stronger.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Jerusalem-Beersheba railway opened.

Turkish attacks at Olti and Passin (Armenia) repulsed.

255,000 Armenians from Van migrate into Transcaucasia.

Naval and Overseas Operations

Gadji (Cameroons) reported evacuated by Germans after French operations.

North Sea
LYNX (Lynx had three funnels; below, two-funnelled sister-ship Ardent - Navy Photos), destroyer, K-class, c1300t, 1913, 3-4in/2-21in tt with 4 torpedoes, 29kts, 73 crew, Pennant No.H.71, 4th DF Grand Fleet, Cdr John Cole, on patrol with two other destroyers in Moray Firth, SE of Helmsdale. Around 0600 or 0630, explosion under No.1 boiler room, bridge area destroyed and back broken, fore part sank almost straightaway and stern half ten minutes later. Mined, laid by Meteor off Moray Firth (He - in 58.07N, 02.38W; wi - in 58N, 03W), "position stated to be 2 miles to the northward of the mine-field as then located"; Cdr Cole, 1 officer and 61 ratings lost (Rn/gf - 3 officers and 21 men survived; He/ke/wi - 70 lost including captain, 26 survivors), survivors picked up by SS Vocana later that morning.


Aviation

Zeppelin raid on east coast; one airship destroyed at Dunkirk.


Political, etc.

Italian Consuls throughout Turkey preparing to leave.

Germany indefinitely postpones the census scheduled for this year due to fears it would reveal war losses.

British Foreign Office notifies embassies that all foreign residents in Britain will have to register under the National registration act.

Ship Losses:

HMS Lynx ( Royal Navy): The Acasta-class destroyer struck a mine and sank in the North Sea. There were 26 survivors from her crew, which numbered about 100.
Thrush ( United Kingdom): The trawler was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 50 nautical miles (93 km) west of Eagle Island, County Mayo by SM U-38 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

[Sailor Steve]

August 9:

British freighter SS Asuncion de Larrinaga catches fire on voyage after departing New York. Sabatoge suspected.



Air War: German pilot Kurt Wintgens, still in Fokker M5K/mg E.5/15, shoots down a Voisin two-seater for his third kill. The date of his second is lost to the records.



Atlantic Ocean: Max Valentiner, in U-38, has moved from the North Sea and into the Atlantic. Off the northwest coast of Ireland he sinks the British trawler Thrush, 264 tons. His score is now 27 ships and 10,425 tons.

[Oberon]

10th August 1915

1a.m (01.00) Battalion moves away in single file less D company and part of B company (The history of this party will be given separately as far as possible. H B L B) Order of march C - Machine guns - A - B companies "Move by a steep and winding course to a cup-shaped deformation at the head of the Gulley to the right and some distance in front of our salient." (Words of 2 Lieut R.W.M. Dewhurst one of the few officers on the march who subsequently survived.) The Battalion was guided, as far as I am able to ascertain by a New Zealand Officer.
Here they arrived two hours before sunrise (circa 0.300) and the men were told to dig into dugouts and make themselves comfortable as the position was quite safe. Men therefore removed equipment and rifles. This position I take it to be just N. of the H in Chunuk Bair and the march to it from the Aghyl Dere must have been via the APEX (Ref. Gallipoli Map 1.20,000 Koya Dere) (Circa) 4.30 a.m.
As soon as it was light machine guns opened on the men lying in their dug outs. About 1/4 of an hour later there was a rush of Turks from both sides of the depression which drove the men, unarmed and unequipped down the gulley (SALZLI BEIT). The bottom of the gulley commanded by machine guns and so escape was cut off.
Three courses were possible:-
1. To rush past the machine guns down the Sazli Beit, this was tried but in nearly all cases proved fatal.
2. To climb the northern slope of the ravine under fire and try to escape over the top. This was done in a few cases with success.
3. Hide in Gulley till night, this also was done with more success. (A party of 5 men was rescued from the Gulley having been there 16 days - ie:- from Aug 10 - Aug 26th. They reported numbers of men who were wounded, were unable to get away and died of exhaustion and starvation. H.B.L.B )
Parties arrived on the Beach in fours, fives, and some carried bodies during the 11th, 12th and 13th unarmed, unequipped and demoralised. The Battalion when mustered on the Beach mustered roughly 420 (This includes 76 men lately arrived as Details from Lemnos.)
Officer casualties:- Lt Col. J Carden (missing) 2nd Lieut J.E.R Firmin (killed) 2nd Lt G Gamman (missing) Maj. F Ricketts (killed) 2nd Lieut W.Y. Radcliffe (killed) Lieut A.J Hinxman (missing) Maj. W.S Hern (killed) 2nd Lieut C.G.C Fisher-Brown (missing) Capt & ADJ A.C Belcher (killed) Lieut A.W. Huckett (missing) Lieut F.E Hill (wounded) Lieut Brown (wounded - attached) 1a.m (0100)
After the Battalion had marched off (A. C and part of B). D company under Major Hern relieved the Gurkhas with the Royal Irish Rifles in reserve. The position was attacked at dawn on Tuesday (10th) morning and through the retirement of the regiments on right and left. D company are left 'in the air'. Major Hern and Lieut J.E.R Firmin killed but remainder hold on until surrounded and are forced to retire into Gully. Here reorganised and sent up to a counter attack - unsuccessfully and with large loss. Lieut Gamman killed - several wanton attacks attempted with handfuls of men.
At night men retire from Gully, some taking refuge with 38th Bde. Tuesday August 10th - Sunday August 15th Reorganisation of Regiment Officers Lt J.C Bush Lt R.W.M Dewhurst Lt H.B.L Braund Lt J.C McDonnell Lt J.H Moore Lt W.R Wrigleg (sic) [Wrigley] Joined as M.O. Capt C.V Single (A.A.M.C).


Personal notes.

I found my great-grandfathers war records a couple of years ago on ancestry.co.uk, it was at this point I realised that he had served at Gallipoli with the 5th Wiltshire Regiment and had been wounded there. The entry for his gun shot wound to the left leg indicates that the date it occured was the 10th August, however the date of the entry itself is marked 26th August.



This leads me to believe that he was one of the men mentioned in the above diary who hid in the Gulley for sixteen days. Further research has found the following entries for winners of the DCM:

9213 Pte WJ Head.
For conspicuous bravery and resource. Private Head was one of a party of seven, who became seperated from their regiment during the fighting on the 10th August 1915 at Chunuk Bair and who remained within the enemy's lines for over fifteeen days . Although wounded three times between 10th and 26th of August , he collected food for his wounded comrades from the bodies of the dead, this being the sole and very slender supply. He displayed the finest qualities of endurance and leadership in keeping up the spirits of the survivors in most trying conditions. (LG 16.11.15)

9416 Pte R Humphries
For conspicuous gallantry between the 10th and 26th August 1915, ay Chunuk Bair . Private Humphries was one of a party who were lost outside our lines for over a fortnight, at the end of which time, although greatly exhausted and weakened by privation , he, with the greatest bravery , made his way in, and so brought about the rescue of his comrades, In the course of his return he was constantly exposed to heavy fire, and only succeeded with the utmost difficulty. He did not hesitate at once to return and act as a guide to the relieving party. (LG 16.11.15)

11574 L/Cpl AG Scott
For conspicuous gallantry between the 10th and 26th August 1915, ay Chunuk Bair . Lance-Corporal Scott was one of a party who were lost outside our lines for over a fortnight, at the end of which time, although greatly exhausted and weakened by privation , he, with the greatest bravery , made his way in, and so brought about the rescue of his comrades, In the course of his return he was constantly exposed to heavy fire, and only succeeded with the utmost difficulty. He did not hesitate at once to return and act as a guide to the relieving party. (LG 16.11.15)

And the battalion diary entry for the 25th August 1915 notes:

This Diary of the fortunes of the 5th (Service) Battalion. 5th Wiltshire Regiment is continued by H.B.L Braund, Lieut and Acting Adjutant since Capt A.C.S. Belcher, Adj. Killed in action 10.8.15
Owing to the events to be detailed herein there has been a considerable hiatus in the compilation of this diary due to the temporary disorganisation of the Regiment and the incompleteness of the narrative will be due to this cause.
H.B.L Braund Lieut 5th Wilts 25.8.15.

Two men L/C Scott. Pte A Humphries arrive in hospital having escaped from Sazli Beit after 16 days confinement, almost without food. Immediate organisation of search party under Capt Greany - unsuccessful on night of 25th - successful on night of 26th. Men discovered in an exhausted condition, two badly wounded. Congratulation from General.

I cannot begin to contemplate the conditions that my great-grandfather and his colleagues must have gone through in nearly a fortnight, and I have immense gratitude for my existence to Privates Humphries, Head and Lance Corporal Scott.

Thank you.