19893. Private  Thomas Edgar Russell

4th. Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment. Born 1894 in Birmingham. Enlisted in Birmingham. Sailed from Avonmouth with the 4th. Battalion on 21st. March 1915 for Egypt, as part of the 88th. Brigade, 29th. Division. Their destination was changed en route and they formed part of the first day of the landings at Gallipoli on 25th. April 1915. Killed in Action on Friday 6th. August 1915, aged 21, at Gallipoli on the first day of the ill-fated Sulva Bay Landings, during the action of Krithia Vineyard. Lost Without Trace. No Known Grave. Known unto God. Commemorated on Panels 104-113 of The Helles Memorial to The Missing, Gallipoli Peninsula, Turkey. Son of John and Ada Russell of 53 King’s Road, King’s Heath, Birmingham. Thomas is also Commemorated by name on The Birmingham War Memorial. Thomas was entitled to The 1914-15 Star, British War Medal & Victory Medal. A staggering total of 358 of Thomas’s Comrades from the Battalion were also Killed in Action on this day, together with the following 2 Officers, also Killed in Action:

Second Lieutenant Henry Freeman Russell

Second Lieutenant Henry Eugene Voyce

THE ACTION OF KRITHIA VINEYARD

The 4th. Worcestershire, after reaching Gully Beach on July 28th. 1915 lay in reserve along the shore, labouring on various fatigues and bathing whenever work and the enemy’s shells would permit. Gradually the news of the forthcoming battle filtered down. The attack of the 29th. Division was to be made by the 88th. Brigade, commanded by Brigadier General D. E. Cayley. The Brigade was to attack over their old battle ground between the Krithia Nullah and the Gully Ravine. Further to the right a Battalion of the 42nd. (East Lancashire) Division would attack astride the Krithia Road, their principal immediate objective being the enemy defences around Krithia Vineyard.

At 4.00 a.m. on the morning of August 6th. 1915, the attacking troops left the beach and moved forward to the assembly trenches. The 4th. Worcestershire, commanded by Major Seton, had been made up to full strength by fresh drafts and went into action over 800 strong. The other battalions of the Brigade were equally strong and all were full of fight; “The best Brigade of the best Division of the Army” wrote their Brigadier enthusiastically. Before dawn all were under cover in the front trenches and ready for the Battle.

There was plenty of time to make final preparations, for the attack was not to commence until the cool of the evening. So all that morning the crowded troops lay quiet in their trenches under a grilling sun and a haze of flies, while the officers scanned as best they could the ground in front. A slight rise in the ground hid the enemy’s trenches from view, but their location was well known.

In front of the 4th. Worcestershire the enemy’s line formed a deep re-entrant, with a strong redoubt in the re-entrant angle. Another redoubt flanked the enemy’s line further to the right. To the left of the Battalion’s frontage the enemy’s trenches came forward to that salient position which the bombers had endeavoured to gain on July 2nd. 1915. That salient was now to be attacked by the Hampshire and Essex. On the right of the Worcestershire the Turkish salient at the junction of the two arms of the Krithia Nullah was to be attacked by the 5th. Manchester of the 42nd. Division.

Midday passed admit heat and buzzing flies. At 2.20 p.m. the British heavy artillery opened fire. Instantly the Turkish guns replied. The enemy was expecting an attack, and a shower of shrapnel and high explosive shells burst all along the British trenches. The troops crouched low, and escaped heavy loss, though behind them the communication trenches were wrecked with all telephone lines broken.

At 3.15 p.m. the British machine-gun batteries added their stammer to the crash of the shells, and five minutes later the field guns joined in the chorus. For half-an-hour the storm raged. Then at 3.50 p.m. the Officer’s whistles sounded; the Platoons scrambled over the parapets and advanced to the attack.

The Battalion went forward in four waves. For the first  fifty yards all went well and losses were not heavy until the crest of the low rise in front was reached. Through the smoke and dust of the enemy’s shells, spectators in the British trenches saw the successive waves crest that low rise and disappear into the haze beyond. Through the din the watchers could hear the stammer of machine-guns in front.

As the successive waves topped the rise and came in full view of the enemy they were struck from both flanks by a hail of machine-gun bullets. Quickening their pace the platoons rushed on towards their goal, but under that deadly fire the ranks withered away. The remnants dashed onwards, charged the trenches and in many cases leapt in. The enemy’s machine-guns raked all the ground, and soon none remained outside the trench but dead or disabled men. Inside the trench the survivors closed with the enemy and fought hand to hand until overpowered by numbers. In few cases was quarter either asked or given.

Apparently about 60 members of the Battalion were taken prisoners, including three officers, Captain Brett, Lieutenant Stone and Captain John Maurice Binley Entwistle. The latter remained a prisoner until 1918, and was invaluable in cheering his comrades in misfortune by his pluck and spirit. He was released after the Armistice, and all were saddened by his death on 1st. December 1918 at Alexandria on the way home.

At one point about thirty of the Worcestershire forced their way into the trench and found themselves isolated in the midst of the enemy. Swiftly erecting barricades on both flanks, they organised a little stronghold for defence. For three hours they held their ground, fighting desperately against attacks from every direction. Their bombs were soon exhausted, but their musketry kept the surrounding enemy at bay until night came on. By that time twenty of the little party had fallen.

The survivors numbered only twelve, commanded by Sergeant Stevens. They had expended nearly all their ammunition and their were no signs of help. The Sergeant decided that they must retreat, and under cover of the darkness they succeeded in leaving the trench. Sixteen strong Platoons had advanced to the attack; only this little party returned.

On the left of the Worcestershire the 2nd Hampshire had been annihilated in the same way. Still further to the left the 1st Essex had actually captured a portion of the enemy’s trench  and had there held for some time. Eventually bombing attacks forced them out of all their gains except one little salient corner which was retained.

On the right the 5th Manchesters had likewise failed to gain ground. A renewed attack was ordered at that point by a fresh Battalion, the 7th Manchester. That fresh attack was made at 8.15 p.m. In the absence of any news it had been assumed that the 4th Worcestershire had taken their objective and were holding it, and those fresh troops were instructed to gain touch with them. In the gathering darkness the Manchesters advanced to the Turkish trench. The 42nd Divisional Diary notes that an Officer went forward and called “Are the Worcesters there?” He was heavily fired on. Moving to the left he tried again with the same result. Realising that the attack must have failed, he withdrew his men. On the way back he found Sergeant Stevens’ little party in “No Man’s Land” and brought them back.

The ensuing night was one of great anxiety. Save for the personnel of Battalion Headquarters the trenches of  the 4th Worcestershire were empty; nor were the Battalions on the left in any better case. Had the Turks attempted a counter-attack nothing could have averted disaster; but the enemy made no move. All night the Headquarters personell worked in “No Man’s Land”, bringing in wounded and searching for survivors. Second Lieutenant S. W. Southwood crawled forward to within thirty yards of the enemy’s trench and located two of their machine-guns; but there was no sign that any of our men were still holding out in the enemy’s trench, or that any were still alive save the helpless wounded in the open. For this act of bravery he was later awarded the Military Cross.

By dawn, nearly 300 of the wounded had been brought in, and with the dawn came relief - the Fusilier Battalions of the 86th Brigade. The remnant of the 4th Worcestershire went back to Gully Beach, to reorganise and reckon their loss. It was found that the casualties numbered 16 Officers and 752 N.C.O’s. and men. 

The virtual destruction of the Battalion was a stunning blow after the high hopes before the Battle.

Barry Jenkins