by Simon_Fielding » Fri Apr 22, 2011 4:12 pm
gallipolidigger wrote:
> hello simon,
> I need anykind of information about lance corporal John GANLEY who died in
> 27 sept. 1915 suvla/gallipoli....
> I appreciate any assistance ...thanx
Can't see any specific action during this period - suspect it was sniper activity.
Simon
Ganley, John, 12171, L/Cpl., Gallipot, 27/9/15.
At I.mbros the 4th Worcestershire passed a pleasant week in camp, resting as much as 4 T H
possible. Leisure, good food, and the absence of shells enabled all ranks to recover to some extent
from the strain of the fighting. Reinforcements also came in, including eleven new subalterns from
the Reserve Battalions (c) at Plymouth.
Embarking again on the evening of September 8th, the 4th Worcestershire were carried over
to Suvla, landed in the darkness and marched two miles in the teeth of a biting wind to a sheltered
position in a gully near the front line, where all ranks lay down to rest under waterproof sheets.
(a) Drafts for 9th Worcestershire—6th September 3 officers and 255 men. 8th September 3 officers and 208
men. 12th September 194 men. These are the Brigade figures ; the Battalion diary gives rather different
figures.
(6) Including being arrested as a spy by a nervous sentry of a Yeomanry regiment.
(c) A draft of six young subalterns from the 5th Battalion (2/Lieuts. A. L. Wills, L. A. W. Knight, M. Hurford-Jones,
H. Croom-Johnson, M. H. Meredith and J. M. P. Baird) had an eventful time in joining the Battalion. They
arrived at Suvla on September 5th, only to find that the Battalion had gone to Imbros. They were taken
off again in a rowing boat, which was compelled by rough seas to shelter under the lee of H.M.S. " Swiftsure."
There they had to remain while that battleship bombarded the Turkish positions; after which ear-splitting
experience they were transferred to a destroyer which eventually landed them at Imbros.
105
Next night the 88th Brigade relieved the 86th Brigade in trenches on the right of those previously
held. The 4th Worcestershire relieved the 1st Lancashire Fusiliers, and settled in to a long period
in the trenches.
Ten days later the 9th Worcestershire also came up into the front line. The 13th Division,
9 T H hitherto in reserve trenches by the Salt Lake, were now to relieve the 53rd Division in the centre of
the Corps front. On September 19th the relief began. Marching forward across the dry bed of
the Salt Lake the 9th Worcestershire took over the trenches round Sulajik Farm.
The new position of the 9th Worcestershire was little more than a mile south of that then
held by the 4th Battalion. Both formed part of the main line of defence which ran across the low
ground facing the Anafarta Hills. The ground was rough but fairly open, dotted with trees and
scrub which afforded good cover for snipers and patrols. The enemy, however, was anything but
active, and there were few encounters between the lines. Shell fire, however, was regularly kept
up, and the Turkish snipers were a constant danger.
The enemy's snipers indeed caused most of the loss. Incessant work was necessary to
make the long line of trenches reasonably safe and the officers (a) supervising the work were always
under fire. Perfect weather and a bright moon at night made easy the task of the Turkish
sharpshooters.
The 4th Battalion lost several officers in rapid succession, and as usual those thus lost were
among the best. On September 15th Lieutenant A. L. Wills was hit, on the 23rd. 2/Lieutenant
J. M. P. Baird was severely wounded, and on the 27th the Adjutant, Lieutenant H. James, V.C., was
put out of action by a wound in the foot (6). On the following night Captain F. E. Myddleton-Gavey
was shot dead.
The loss of Captain Myddleton-Gavey was a heavy wind. He was a most brave and competent
officer, and had just taken over command of the Battalion from, Major Winnington, whose
health had broken down. On hearing the news Major Winnington, although still physically unfit,
insisted on returning to duty, and carried on bravely until ordered back to hospital on the first
day of October. This was the last that the Regiment was to see of that gallant officer, who was
destined to fall later at the head of a battalion of another regiment in Palestine.
The command of the 4th Battalion then devolved on a subaltern, Lieut. H. Arnold. The
other surviving officers were all 2nd Lieutenants, who soon numbered some twenty in all (c)—a situation
probably unique in the annals of the Regiment. Regimental-Sergeant-Major C. Felix was a
tower of strength to the Battalion during that period, giving every aid to the inexperienced young
officers.
On the night of October 17th an incident occurred which proved that those young officers
had little to learn in the way of courage and devotion. The usual work was proceeding along the
trench line, and to protect the workers a small covering party had been sent forward. A burst
of fire from the front indicated that this party had been ambushed. A subaltern, 2/Lieut. G. W.
Mellor, went out to the spot and found that the N.C.O. and two men of the party had been hit.
He himself was wounded but managed to crawl back to the trench, as also did the rest of the covering
party. On hearing of the wounded men out in front, another newly-joined subaltern, 2/Lieut. D.
A. W. Greenway, went out with two of his men to bring them in. The wounded men were lying
on the far side- of our wire entanglements, which there formed three separate belts. The enemy were
keeping up a sharp fire. Stopping his men on the near side of the entanglements 2/Lieut. Greenway
crawled alone under the three belts of wire, reached the wounded men and dragged them back one at
a time. He brought two into safety and was just about to reach the third man when he was shot
dead. Dawn was then breaking and nothing more could be done. Next night, after a day of heavy
shell fire, the body of the brave subaltern was recovered. He had been with the Battalion exactly
a week.
A mile to the southward, the 9th Battalion was passing a very similar time. The energy
of Major Faviell and the restless enterprise of the young Adjutant, Captain Conybeare, were
responsible for many minor adventures. On the night of September 26th a working party under
(b)
(c)
a) During this period several officers joined or rejoined the 9th Worcestershire, notably Capts. A. N. C. Kittermaster,
P. Mac D. Sanderson and E. H. Hiscock, Lieut. C. E. Sladden and 2/Lieuts. C. J. Howell, R. C. Marshall,
C. W. F. Rawle and E. K. Myles.
2/Lieut. B. G. T. Hawkes took over the Adjutancy during the next fortnight.
More 2/Lieuts. joined in large numbers during October, as follows :—Oct. 4th J. E. Overbury. Oct. 7th G. P.
Brettell, L. A. Bruton, D. A. W. Green-way, C. S. Jagger, J. Powell, E. P. Thornton and G. W. Mellor. October
9th G. W. Field, L. L. Goold and K. Greenaway. On Oct. 10th 2/Lt. L. A. W. Knight took over the duties
of Quartermaster and 2/Lt. M. H. Meredith was appointed A/Adjt.
It was later reckoned that, up till October, the 4th Worcestershire had received 105 officers.
Researching the 75 men of the Great War Memorial of St Anne's Church, Bewdley, Worcestershire .