They stormed forward, crying in the name of God
Just after 3.30 am Turkish bombers began to work their way forward towards the British lines from Chunuk Bair and north along the saddle to Hill Q. Below, the forward elements of Baldwin’s and Cox’s brigades (9/Worcesters, 6/South Lancs, 6/Gurkhas and 9/Warwicks), who were strung out along the upper slopes, began to come under increasing bomb and rifle fire from the top of the ridge. This was nothing unusual, and at this time no one knew what would soon be unleashed upon them.
Closely packed into whatever cover the slopes around Su Yatagha could offer, the Turks were able to place over a division of men, its ranks so thick that it was likened to ants swarming their nest. Kemal wrote:
It was early in the morning, on 10 August, the dawn was about to break. I was standing in front of my tent, and I could see all the men. The time was 4.30 am. I was worried about my men waiting in densely packed infantry lines. If the enemy opened fire on these lines it would be disaster. I immediately ran to the front to greet and inspect the men and said, ‘Soldiers! I am sure that you will defeat the enemy, you do not hurry, let me go first, when you see my whip go up, you all go together.’ Then they walked with the commanding officers. All the men were in attack position, one step forward, rifles with fixed bayonets, officers with revolvers or swords in hand, watching for my signal.
At 4.30 am, as the frail morning light had begun to lighten the shadows, Mustafa Kemal gave the signal. Five thousand men, in several lines, bayonet charged the British lines, shouting “Allah ... Allah ... Allah”. Many of the British defenders did not have time to return fire, as the overwhelming numbers of men swept over the forward positions. The British troops were wildly scattered, many running in panic back down the slopes. The Turkish 23 and 24 Regiments regained the lines at Chunuk Bair, whilst 28 Regiment charged down the slopes and recaptured The Pinnacle. The Auckland’s history described this action: