At four the bombardment began. Ships, howitzers, mountain-guns, all combined to create a babble which, if less intense than that of the previous week, was nevertheless sufficiently formidable. The trenches were so close to one another that our troops waiting to advance were covered with dust from the high explosives, but no injury was done. At last, at five, the bombardment ceased and the stormers, led by Lieutenant S. H. Lewis, went over the top. They went into the Turkish trenches almost before the enemy were aware of their coming and forced their way along them with bayonet and bomb. The supporting parties, however, were not so fortunate. The range to the parapet from whence they started was accurately known to the enemy, and from every part of the trench which was not actually under assault violent machine-gun and rifle fire opened. Man after man as he climbed over the parapet fell back into the trench dead, yet the next calmly stepped forward to take his place. Now, too, the enemy’s artillery opened and as, un-menaced elsewhere, they were able to concentrate all their forces on the defence of Hill 60, their fire was terrific. Incessant salvoes of shrapnel burst overhead, while the parapet of the trench from which the advance was taking place was blown in by high explosive. Yet, still, the men went on over the parapet and gradually a few succeeded in struggling through the barrage and in reinforcing their comrades in the captured trench.

The surviving Connaughts managed to reach the communication trench, later known as D-C Trench, that ran up the hill. In here they were hampered by the amount of Turkish dead and debris in the trench; in some places it was reported that the dead were up to six deep and elsewhere never less than two. At 5.57 pm the Connaughts signaled back that the whole of D-C Trench had been captured, and again they were within touching distance of the crest. However, this success could not be long lived without support. After dark the Turks began to counter attack and with their bombs began pushing the Irishmen back.

Cooper’s narrative continued:

Again and again, the Turks attacked, mad with fanaticism, shrieking at the top of their voices and calling on Allah. The merciless bombing continued and the trenches slowly became encumbered with dead. At last, about 10.30 pm, after the fight had lasted five hours, a crowd of Turks succeeded in entering the Rangers’ trench near its northern extremity. This northern end was held by a small party of men who died where they stood. The remainder of the trench was, however, blocked and further progress by the enemy arrested. Still the fight raged and bombs and ammunition were running short, while the losses became so heavy. Fresh Turkish attacks kept coming on, and for every assailant that was struck down, two more sprang up in his place. It was clear that soon the defenders would be swept away by force of numbers.

Sergeant John Mcllwain, 5/Connaughts, wrote in his diary:

Not long there when Turks bomb us from front and left flank, also snipe us along the trench from left. My men with few exceptions panic-stricken. By rapid musketry we keep down the bombing. My rifle almost red with firing. By using greatcoats we save ourselves from bombs. Turks but ten yards away drive us back foot by foot. I have extraordinary escapes. Two men killed beside me following me in the narrow trench and I am covered head to foot in blood. Casualties alarming and we should have fought to the very end but for the 18th Australian Battalion, a party of whom jumped in amongst us and held the position until reinforced. When able to look about me I found but two Rangers left with me. The rest killed, wounded, or ran away before or after the Anzacs had come. Struggling all night: consolidating, firing, and looking out. Anzacs abusive for Rangers having lost trench. The most awful night of my life.38

The Connaughts had lost 152 out of their 250 remaining men. Elsewhere the New Zealanders had some success, but similar casualties. Lieutenant Colonel William Meldrum, commanding officer of the Wellington Mounted Rifles, wrote:

In the centre our men rushed forward to the minute and, clearing the first trench, rushed for the second. They went in three lines, and soon had seized both the fire and communication trenches. They lost a good number from machine gun and shrapnel fire as they advanced, but that seemed to make no difference to them.

It was a fine sight to see them pushing on so gallantly and so well on the whole. We gained two trenches, which we still hold. Holding on to the trenches was nearly as costly as taking them for the first twenty-four hours, for the Turks tried to drive our men out again with bombs. Out of 200 men, my regiment lost 110 in the twenty-four hours, but they were game and spirited throughout. The Turks must have suffered very heavily, for a lot of their dead were in and about their trenches—in one trench lying three deep.³⁹

The Australian renewed assault further to the right was less successful. As soon as they rose from the trenches they were literately cut to pieces by machine gun and rifle fire. Two-thirds of the Australians became casualties in no more than a few minutes. As it drew dark, reinforcements in the shape of two Australian Light Horse regiments were sent forward to help the New Zealanders expand their gains. During 27 August the New Zealanders had managed to capture two lines of trenches that took them close to the summit; however they could not retake the D-C trench. This trench ran from the seaward side of the hill directly to the summit, and although in previous assaults troops had managed to get a footing in the trench, it was holding onto it that became the problem. It was now the turn of the light horsemen to try.

At 11.30 pm, 140 men from 9/LHR from South Australia, led by their newly appointed commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Carew Reynell,⁴⁰ charged towards the summit. They managed to gain a footing in the D-C Trench, and from there Reynell ordered another rush forward. Reynell was killed, whilst his men who still retained parts of this trench were very quickly overwhelmed by a subsequent Turkish counter attack. A second party of the regiment, led by Major Harry Parsons, managed to recapture the seaward end of D-C Trench, which had been originally held by 18/AIF on 22 August, and the Connaughts on 27 August. Even though they were driven back from most of their gains, Parsons held onto about seventy metres of this trench. It was now getting light, so after dawn on 28 August the Australians and New Zealanders set about consolidating their gains, deepening the trenches and building parapets for extra protection. This had to be done under a constant rain of Turkish bombs and deadly sniper fire.