Major Ernest Boyd-Moss DSO (Sp.Mem.2) was in the 4/Worcesters, but attached to the 9/Worcesters for the attack. Born in Charlwood in Surrey and resident in Worthing, Sussex, Boyd-Moss had a brother who was a brigadier general in France. He was educated at Tonbridge School in Kent and later gazetted in the Worcestershire Regiment in 1900. He served in Sierre Leone (1898-99) and during the Boer War from 1900 to 1902, when he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order. He landed with 4/Worcesters at W Beach on 25 April 1915, and was later attached to the 9th Battalion in 13 July 1915. Mentioned in Despatches for Gallipoli, he was killed in action during the Turkish counter attack on 10 August. Buried close by is Second Lieutenant Leonard Hiscock (Sp. Mem. 5), 9/Worcesters, who was killed alongside Boyd-Moss.
A letter from an unnamed Worcestershire private gave an account of this action:
We had been fighting almost continually since the night of August 5th. This (August 10th) made our 5th day of it, when the Turks brought up their reinforcements (about 50,000) to try and gain back the hills which our troops had so gallantly occupied at great cost. In those five days our company was the first line on the crest of Hill 971. When the alarm was given there was only Maj. Moss and Lieut. Hiscock, the only two officers left with our company. They dashed off, calling to us men to follow them with fixed bayonets. It was fine the way they led us, but the numbers told. I don’t think there were many 9th Worcesters left when I was wounded myself. A bomb thrown by the enemy killed both officers and many men.46