We had held victory in our grasp
The capture of Chunuk Bair had been the only real allied success during the last twenty four hours, leaving Godley’s other columns no closer to their objectives than the first day. In full daylight on 9 August, it looked like Johnston’s Brigade would be isolated for yet another day.
With 4 (Australian) Brigade now almost out of the picture and unable to advance, Godley decided that the capture of Hill 971 would be put on hold. Monash’s brigade was not going to have a quiet time, as Colonel Halil’s 7th Division was filtered into the open ground between Suvla and Anzac, and engaged the Australians and the British 4/SWB and 6/King’s Own, further along the Damakjelik Spur. This went on all night, but the Turkish onslaught was held back.
Again all day we dug under a blazing sun, with no water, a few at a time managing to get a few hours’ sleep, most having had none for 80 hours. All night again fresh hordes of Turks amassed in Kaiajik Aghala, their patrols and ours scrapping among the bushes in the Dere. Just after midnight great masses of them assembled in battle formation within 50 yards of us. We watched into the gloom with our fingers on our triggers until 2.00 am, when they rose and rushed, several reaching our trench, to die there, however. Within a moment a hundred hand-to-hand fights were taking place, those not using their bayonets pouring bullets into the second and third waves rushing up the slope. Men just fired without sighting in the gloom. It was a grim, voiceless struggle – no orders, invitations or callings on Allah from the combatants. Day dawned, and still the fight raged, but with the light the Turks had no chance of sending reinforcements. By 6 it was all over.27
Turkish casualties were heavy. Both 20 Regiment and 21 Regiment lost their commanders, and all of their officers were either killed or wounded. The total casualties for these two regiments for 9 August was 978 officers and men. The Turks could not throw back the Australians and 40 Brigade, and likewise Monash could not get forward. Pinned down and with little hope of renewing the advance on Hill 971, Godley had to alter the plan. Godley now wanted a concentrated effort to capture the ground from Chunuk Bair north to Hill Q. For this he would use a composite Brigade under Brigadier General Anthony Baldwin. It comprised 6/East Lancs, 5/Wiltshires, who would be withdrawn from the end of Damakjelik Spur, and the last of Birdwood’s Corps reserve: 10/Hampshires and 6/Royal Irish Rifles. All Baldwin’s original battalions were in the line elsewhere.
Lieutenant David Campbell, 6/Royal Irish Rifles, wrote: