5 Back from Gallipoli

At home, the dreadful news from Suvla Bay was quick to sink in. The final action, the last stand at Gallipoli, was over. There was a winding down of expectations. Ellis Ashmead-Bartlett’s despatch, published on 4 September 1915 in The Times, left no doubt:

We have failed in the great strategic scheme of getting astride the Peninsula north of Anzac by seizing the hills around Anafarta and forcing the enemy to abandon his positions before Achi Baba and on the Kilid Bahr salient, it has certainly not been through want of trying.i

General Sir Ian Hamilton was in a serious situation. The offensive of 6–7 August, the assault on Sari Bair, had failed to reach the heights of the mountain and challenge the Ottoman defences on the Dardanelles. The Allied ships were still nowhere to be seen, Constantinople was still not seriously threatened and the Ottomans still held the upper hand.

The landings at Suvla Bay, with their poverty of leadership and inertia of inexperience had not even achieved its modest objectives – to create a base for supply that was secure from attack. The ring of hills that surrounded the Suvla Plain remained in Ottoman hands. Everywhere on the peninsula the axiom of ‘taking the high ground’ from the enemy was understood; everywhere the Ottomans held this ground, and made the Allied soldiers suffer as a consequence. The ‘what ifs’ of the Gallipoli Campaign are some of the greatest in military history. Yet, General Liman von Sanders, commander-in-chief of the Ottoman forces on the peninsula, was in no doubt what might have been:

The Anafarta [Suvla] landing was an enterprise planned on a grand scale, intended to open the Dardanelles to the Allies by land action while at the same time cutting the Fifth Army from its communications. If the Anafarta landing served to bring the Dardanelles Campaign to a tactical decision as desired by the British, the batteries of the fortress on the straits would have been quickly silenced as they had little ammunition. The mine-fields of the straits could then have been removed and no further difficulties would lay in the way of combined action of the victorious British Army and the Allied fleet.ii

Major General C.E. Callwell, Director of Military Operations and Intelligence at the War Office during the campaign, had his own view:

Whether uncontested possession of the upper crests of Sari Bair would have provided a master-key to open all gateways on the road to the Narrows must remain a matter of conjecture.iii

The last battle, fought on 21 August, had the air of desperation about it. All hopes of carrying the great heights and mortally wounding the Ottoman defence had now disappeared. The shrinking of the scale of objectives had become a familiar story on the peninsula. With the failure of the Battles of the Beaches on 25 April 1915 to carry the heights, the men of Gallipoli grimly held on to the territory they had wrested from an extremely well-motivated and -led enemy, an enemy that was getting stronger with each passing day, in positions that were becoming more and more impregnable.

At Helles, the successive battles in May and June, and the smaller affairs of July foundered before the modest, yet unattainable, mound of Achi Baba, a flat-topped hill that no Allied soldier would ever set foot on during the campaign. At Anzac, the extreme landscape carved from the friable sandy soils of Sari Bair was held by brave men from Australasia, India and Britain, too, who were forced to grapple a determined enemy in hard-fought battles that ultimately failed to attain the heights. The campaign had simply been bold in conception, but inadequate in execution.

The assault on Scimitar Hill and Hill 60 was therefore the death throes of the campaign. Callwell, critical of the whole affair, was particularly damning:

The later events of August hardly call for comment. The battle of the 21st, the biggest action on land of the Dardanelles adventure, partook of the nature of a forlorn hope, for it was in the main merely an attempt to improve the very unsatisfactory defensive position extending from Gaba Tepe to the Gulf of Saros which the invaders had fortuitously taken up. The plan of attack on that day was unquestionably a somewhat venturesome one, for it amounted in reality to frontal assault upon a commanding position which coincided to some extent with an amphitheatre of high ground ... the Expeditionary Force met with defeat on the 21st. Thenceforth the Allies had to rest content with what was virtually a passive role, while their adversaries settled down to trench warfare and confined themselves to trying to preserve the strategical and tactical impasse that had resulted from the great August offensive.iv

The failure of the August offensives, the need for action on the Western Front, and the mounting political pressure meant that the affair in the Dardanelles was drawing to its conclusion. Hamilton was recalled on 16 October. General Sir Charles Monro, arriving on 30 October, made a frank assessment of future success:

On purely military grounds, therefore, in consequence of the grave daily wastage of officers and men which occurs, and owing to the lack of prospect of being able to drive the Turks from their entrenched lines, I recommend evacuation of the peninsula.v

The evacuation of Suvla Bay and Anzac took place on 20 December; Helles followed on 8–9 January 1916.

The yeomen, untried in battle, and the corps reserve, had arrived in the Dardanelles on 18 August and had been committed to battle just three days later, dismounted. Their brief engagement was a costly affair. The 2nd Mounted Division was severely depleted by casualties and sickness, and by the time it had been evacuated its five brigades had been reorganised and amalgamated to form two composite ones. Withdrawn to Egypt, ultimately the division would not survive its experience and was gradually dismembered, its constituent brigades dispersed to other duties. It was disbanded on 21 January 1916.

General Peyton, commanding the division, was quick to recognise the supreme effort of all concerned on their departure from the peninsula:

The GOC 2nd Mounted Division wishes to convey to all ranks his great appreciation of the soldier-like qualities and fortitude, which have been so markedly evidenced during the last two months in the face of heavy losses sustained in action on August 21st, followed by exposure for ten days in a cramped and crowded situation to incessant shell-fire which caused many casualties.

The Division has been called upon, whilst continually under fire and suffering from the ravages of sickness, to carry out abnormal physical and manual exertions to maintain and improve our defences.

The time has come that the troops should be withdrawn and rested, and the GOC feels sure that, when reinforcements arrive and the Brigades are reorganised, they will return to face all hardships and difficulties which the service of King and Country may demand.vi

While the strategic situation was still being considered in the aftermath of the failure, the personal cost and individual sacrifices were being felt across the country. Like so many other similar instances in the shires of England, the wounding of yeomen like the Talley brothers on 21 August was enough to make the local newspapers. The local Finchley Press for 10 September 1915 carried the report of the action that wounded them both:

News has reached Muswell Hill that two brothers – P.L. and F.L. Talley, of 31 Woodland Rise, have been wounded at the Dardanelles. Both men joined the City of London Rough Riders, but in the recent battle, were acting as infantry. One was wounded by shrapnel in his chest and back, and the youngest received injuries to his arm. The engagement was the recent glorious charge made by the Yeomen and other regiments against the Turks.vii

Amongst other local people of Muswell Hill and East Finchley there were still hopes that their loved ones were safe – just as countless others had done so in similar situations up and down the country. Eleanor White wrote to the Talley family with the outside hope that her sweetheart had survived the charge:

14 September 1915

10 Park Hall Road,

East Finchley,

London, N.

Dear Madam,

Having seen in the Finchley Press of September 10th that two sons of yours have been wounded in the Yeomanry charge in Gallipoli of August 21st, I am taking the liberty of writing to you.

My sweetheart, who was in the Rough Riders, had been reported to his parents as having died on August 23rd of wounds received during this charge; and as he somehow got separated from his great friend,143 who was also wounded, we can get no news of him. As there is a chance that your sons may have known him and have been with him, I thought I would write and ask you if you would help us, as we are all very anxious.

His name was W.J. Gibbs (Trooper), 2553, 2 Troop, B. Squadron, R.R.s, and I think he was generally known as ‘Billy’ or ‘Gibbie’. If your sons joined at the outbreak of war, they probably joined with him at Putney, and were transferred to the 1st regiment at the same time as he. Perhaps I had better mention that as his parents do not live in London but at Bedfont, near Staines, I am making this enquiry for them.

Hoping that you will be so very kind as to help us, and trusting that your sons are well on the way to recovery,

Yours faithfully,

Eleanor K. White

Tpr. W. Fielding

C/o Post Office

Northwood

Middlesex

There must have been so many similar requests for information across Britain. Though Trooper Gibbs’ ‘great friend’, Walter Fielding, survived his experience to ultimately gain a commission in the Westmorland and Cumberland Yeomanry, Billy Gibbs had died in the service of his country. The circumstances of his death are difficult to ascertain; it is more likely that he died in the trenches of Chocolate Hill on 23 August than in the charge two days earlier. In any case, he became one of the many thousands of men who were lost in the fields of Gallipoli. He is commemorated as one of 21,000 names on the memorial to the missing of the Gallipoli Campaign, at Cape Helles – a memorial easily seen from the coast of the peninsula, and the entrance to the Dardanelles that these men fought so hard to break through.

At the time, the ‘glorious charge of the Yeomen’ on 21 August 1915 was to feature heavily in the press, with Ellis Ashmead-Bartlett’s account in The Times in early September being accepted, by Percy Talley at least, as a good a description of the battle. With fellow correspondent Henry Nevinson wounded by a shrapnel ball during the action, Ashmead-Bartlett himself had been the target of artillery fire. Both had a front seat view of the attack:

Orders were issued for another attack on Hill 70 by a battalion which had been held in reserve and a mounted Division in reserve behind Lala Baba. This splendid body of troops, in action for the first time, and led by men bearing some of the best known names in England, moved out from under cover and proceeded to cross the Salt Lake in open order. No sooner did they appear than the enemy concentrated a heavy shrapnel fire on the advancing lines, fully exposed as they were in the open. But the men, moving as if on parade, pressed steadily on, losing many, but never wavering.viii

While such reporting was reasonably contemporary with the battle, even months after the charge, in the dying days of the campaign, there was interest in the exploits of the yeomen. The public were obviously still thirsty for news about a campaign that would, it was little known, soon be over. A letter appeared in the press – syndicated by the Exchange Telegraph Company – that had been written by one of the Rough Riders to his parents at home. The account was published in the regional press on 14 December 1915, at a time when the evacuation of some 134,000 men was already in train, with the final withdrawal from Suvla and Anzac just five days later. The letter could just as well have been written by one of the Talley brothers as any other City Yeoman. The Yorkshire Telegraph & Star’s version was typical:

CHOCOLATE HILL

Soldier’s Impressions of Gallipoli Fight

DODGING SNIPERS

Concerning the attack on Chocolate Hill, the Exchange Telegraph Company furnishes the following graphic account of the severe fighting which took place on the Gallipoli Peninsula during the month of August, which has been sent to his parents in London by a trooper of the City of London Yeomanry (Rough Riders). After giving details of the journey from Egypt, he describes how they landed on the beach at Suvla Bay, exposed to an incessant fire from the Turks, and then writes vividly of the great attack on the Turkish trenches on Saturday, 21 August. He says:-

‘As we were the reserve force of the reserves, we didn’t expect to play by any means a prominent part, and quite thought that the most we would get to do would be to hold the reserve trenches. But we were to learn a lot different. The programme was for the artillery to bombard the Turkish lines. The infantry were to go forward, and everything was to be a great success.

‘The Turks had not got a look in, according to the programme, but unfortunately the programme was not carried through. When the infantry division moved off to the attack the Turks put shells over as fast as they could. Five or six men in the line in front of me went down like skittles, and we crossed the centre of the plain known as Salt Lake, men fell all round, principally to black shrapnel.

‘As we got nearer there was rifle and machine gun fire, too, and it was from this that I got the one in my water bottle which probably saved my life. We arrived at the foot of Chocolate Hill, which afforded pretty good cover, and were congratulated by the Regulars of the 29th Division, who were watching our advance, and laid odds against us getting across.

‘I suppose we rested here for about an hour, and then got the order to reform for an attack. As we stood ready to move off a shell burst overhead, killing some men, while some of the bullets hit my pack and that of the man next to me. Our next move was to get round the corner of Chocolate Hill, and as it was well covered with snipers we slipped round one at a time, at intervals. We did not lose many here.

‘From there we raced forward in line and lined the parapet of a communication trench. While we lay there strings of wounded streamed through the trench below, just roughly bandaged, some groaning and moaning, and others giving us a cheery nod and wishing us luck. But it was a sight I shall never forget. From here we raced down the slope of Burnt Hill to a natural gully. When this shallow ditch was completely lined the order came to fix bayonets. The order, however, was countermanded.

‘I was posted at an open spot to look out for snipers, and we had two men out as a listening patrol, who were relieved each half hour. After I had two hours on my post I got relieved. The gully was poor cover, and we lost quite a number here, but in spite of this and the continual rifle and maxim fire from all directions, a fair duty. On Sunday morning, the order came to retire to a certain line, and consolidate the position.

‘It was disappointing to have to retire from the little bit of ground that had been gained at the cost of so many lives, but it was realised it could not be held against counter-attacks. We reformed, and started our march back. It was dark now, and there was no shrapnel, but the plain was well sniped. We were just about to leave the scrub, now all burnt, when my section leader asked to exchange places with the man behind him, so he could be in with his section. He did so, but immediately fell, shot in the stomach.

‘Eventually, we arrived at our dug-outs, threw off our packs, which served as a pillow, and were soon asleep.

‘It was the most eventful day of my life, and I should say of the majority who were there.’ix

‘It was disappointing to retire’ – but, faced with the strength of the Ottoman positions, there was little that could be done.

The Talley brothers had played their part, and had suffered the confusion and experienced the frustration. No doubt 21 August was the most momentous day of their lives. Arriving from Egypt just days before battle, they were committed to the final combat, the ‘strong reserve’ especially chosen to see the battle through to its conclusion and keep alive the dying embers of hope that the Gallipoli Campaign might still see some results alight.

The inadequate briefing of the brigadiers, the confusion of the troops in assaulting hills in front of them, the stalwart defence of the Ottomans, and the deepening gloom, all led to the failure of this one day’s assault. The Rough Riders’ training and long preparation in Britain and Egypt, their year-long journey as soldiers, had effectively ended with failure on that one night in Gallipoli, on 21 August 1915. Though they had held on, the die was cast. On both sides of Azmak Dere, in the Anzac and Suvla sectors, the inability of British, Indian or Anzac troops to carry the high ground in the largest battle so far fought was a wake-up call announcing that the strength of the assaulting troops needed to be dramatically increased. And this was not on the cards. The Gallipoli Campaign was effectively over.

Frank and Percy’s brief service on the peninsula had been debilitating. Percy’s evacuation from the front line in early October had seen him moved to Alexandria. In hospital he was surrounded by the many men, sick and wounded, who had escaped from the Gallipoli Campaign. He was obviously haunted by his experiences, the trauma of the trenches all too evident:

6 October 1915

19th General Hospital

Left Roof Alexandria

My darling Parents,

You will see by the address that I am in hospital, I had rather a bad time in the trenches. My old complaint,144 two attacks and I have been feeling so ill for some time. Think I am absolutely finished knocked to the wide, and I have wasted away a lot my face and body, but you have no need to worry. I am in good hands, they call my disease ‘debility’. I am glad to be away from it all, it was getting on my nerves. I should simply address letters to me as

2366 Private P.L. Talley

Left Roof

19th General Hospital

Alexandria

I don’t expect I shall ever (or for a long time) receive letters that have gone to the trenches. I do hope you are all well, don’t send me anything, specially money as you do not know when you are going to be moved. Now don’t worry I am in good hands and will write as often as possible. Shall not worry you with a description of how I felt in the trenches with my pain.

Now with dear love

Your loving son

Percy

18 October 1915

19th Left Roof

General Hospital

Alexandria

My darling Parents

I have just received a bunch of old letters. Will you please thank all for me. Mr Longe said he was sending some cigarettes; well, of course, if they go to the trenches they will be divided up amongst the boys. I am feeling much better today, although still weak, am still having injections, it is a relief to be out of the trenches for a time. How I do wish I could see you all at home, you are all every one of you in my thoughts night and day. One or two days here in hospital I have felt so depressed, but I must not be so, I suppose but it is hard to be always cheerful.

I am sorry to see that Major Knollys has died, I thought he would be in a bad way as he was such a big heavy man, he had his leg below the knee blown off. The things I should like to tell you but I must not on my honour. I am glad to say my face is filling out a little, although I seem to have at times that awful stare one gets at this game, I don’t know why I write all this but my pencil goes on writing, and it relieves my feelings, but don’t tell everyone. I do so worry about these awful air raids, wondering if any of you have come to any harm, I start thinking and come over so troubled for you all, please let me know exactly how you all are. I am afraid this letter is a bit depressing but I cannot help it, it is how I feel, and again you always ask me to say exactly how I am.

Today is Tuesday and I have just finished breakfast. Have you heard anything of Frank? He has never written to me, perhaps he has not been able. Don’t forget to thank all for writing to me. Now I will say goodbye with all my love

Your ever loving son

Percy

Post Office Telegraphs

22 October 1915

Talley 31 Woodland Rise

Muswell Hill

Following from Alexandria small stone in kidney having infections doing well no need worry. Have written Percy.

23 October 1915

18th Gen Hospital

Alexandria

My darling Parents

I have just received your letter of October 7th nothing between this and September 9th. Thank you for sending the wire, you have all been in my mind so much specially, Father for some reason or other, I answered the wire as soon as possible. I have also had a letter from Frank, I am so pleased he is getting so fit again. I am going along alright, walking about a bit no need to worry. There is not much news here in hospital, I have been here nearly three weeks. Now with love to all and friends.

Ever your loving son

Percy

Have finished having injections

26 October 1915

Block A Section 1, Room 1C

British Red Cross Convalescent

Hospital No 7 Montazah

Alexandria Egypt

My darling Parents

Just a line to tell you I have been sent to a convalescent hospital. I feel awfully weak, but am going along no need to worry, will not write more now. Love to all.

Ever your loving son

Percy

This is about 8 miles from Alexandria

30 October 1915

British Red Cross Convalescent Hospital No 7

Block A Section 1 Room No 1C Montazah Alexandria

My darling Parents

I am just starting this letter before breakfast, and I hope it will be more interesting than the last one. I still have the dull feeling in my side specially when I wake up in the morning, I don’t feel over strong, but you have absolutely nothing to worry about. Of course I don’t know if the stone has gone, when I was sent from the hospital they put on my discharge sheet from there that I had passed it. How they know that beats me, I never told them so, and when the doctor here spoke to me about it, I told him that I did not tell them I had passed it; what I did say was that I passed something in the trenches. This hospital consists of four buildings set apart from each other in most beautiful grounds. There are date trees, numerous, which you may eat to your hearts content so you can imagine me, boating, fishing bathing, none of these I have attempted.

These buildings are called blocks, the one we are in is the harem, ex Khedive Tewfik Pasha lived here. I expect you will remember he went to Constantinople last November.145 Of course all the beautiful things in the buildings have been taken away, it certainly makes an ideal place for a convalescent hospital, nice large rooms. Tonight there is to be a band on the lawn which will certainly liven things up a little, I get very depressed at times. I met a man from the Westminster Dragoons here and I asked him if Karl Stoecker was safe146 when he left he said yes. Mrs Stoecker might be glad to hear this, although it is a month ago. Has anything happened to Frank as regards his joining some other regiment, which I suppose they will make him do, please let me know. I do wish I could have some news from you but suppose it cannot be helped as I get moved about so. It was a relief to have Frank’s letter and to know he was practically well again. I did not think his wound was so serious, it seems sometimes the slight ones are worse than the big ones. How is everybody? Please remember me to all kind friends, don’t think I have any more to say, so with oceans of love to you all.

Ever your loving son

Percy

2 November 1915

British Red Cross Convalescent Hospital No 7 Montazah

Alexandria

Egypt

My darling Parents

Just a line to tell you I am going along alright. You know when I went to see Dr Merill how my side was? It is just like that, so stiff in the morning when I awake. I have no pain in the stomach, I still feel so weary and not fit for much, I don’t know how long I shall be kept here. How is Father I do hope he is quite right by now, I do hope you are keeping fit as well no more rheumatism. For Xmas will you please give all the children the same as last year from me and if you have time to buy Mabel and Florrie a little thing, Wallie, Tom & Charlie a few cigarettes, Father 7/6 and yourself 7/6 and Alice 5/-. The last letter from home was dated Oct 7th, which I received in hospital but nothing since, but suppose I must not worry as I get moved about. The weather here still keeps very warm suppose it is quite winter at Muswell Hill, please let me know anything about Frank. You’re not to worry about me. I hope you receive my letters I write about every 3 days. Now with kind love to all.

Ever your loving son

Percy

4 November 1915

British Red Cross Convalescent Hospital No 7 Montazah

Block A Section I Room No 1C Alexandria, Egypt

My dearie [Alice]147

Have just received your letter dated Sept 20th, also Mother 20th with packet of cigarettes, so you see how erratic the post is. I have just sealed a letter to Mother but since then have seen the doctor, and he sent me with a note to the chief with the remarks I put in Mother’s letter, I am going to be X rayed again to see if any operation is necessary, if so I think I shall get home. I do hope that letter of mine with the officer’s remarks is not going too far round, only to friends please, You know how I hate a fuss specially when I have only done my duty, did no better than any of the others. No more now this was only a line to say what had happened. With oceans of love.

Your Darling

Percy

5 November 1915

British Red Cross Convalescent Hospital No 7 (Montazah)

Block A Section I Room No 1C

My darling Parents

I was so pleased to receive your letter, I was afraid it would worry you, but you must not do so any more. At present I am much better, I only get the dull feeling in my side at times.

They would like to operate on me but I said I would not have it done, I shall tell the doctor if they will send me to England I will have it done, as I shall never be safe, and it seems to me I shall never know when I may get another attack. I don’t suppose they will agree to this, it all depends on the board but at any rate I shall put it to them and see what they say.

I had a very kind letter from Max,148 he hoped I should soon be better and offered to send me money, he is a good boy. He says all Yeomanry are being sent to Cairo (that is wounded and sick which have come from the trenches instead of going back there) to undergo more training and then going to the front as cavalry, which front of course he does not say. You seem rather certain that I am coming home, I don’t want to disappoint you but I do not think it for one moment, I wish it was only time, I could do with a rest and change but they will not send you home unless absolutely necessary, You have to go on and on till you drop. In case the censor should open this I shall put at the top my complaint, as he might think I am writing rather harshly. It was awfully good of you to send me the parcel but suppose I shall never see it, I should have enjoyed the cigarettes and chocs. What has happened to Frank? I hope he is quite himself again. Is Alice keeping well, I have not heard from her for some time, I do hope you are all safe.

You concluded I was ill, well I think I only let seven days go when I was coming from the peninsula otherwise I write most regularly, and will continue to do so. Now with dear love to all

Ever your loving son

Per

8 November 1915

My darling Parents

Just a line to tell you I am coming home for the operation, when I don’t know it might be in a few days, or perhaps 6 weeks. Please do not write saying you are sorry I am having it, I feel it is the right thing as life is not worth living at the present. Think of me when I am on the water. I feel rather nervy, I am glad today I have put on a little flesh since I left the peninsula so you will not, I am glad to say, see me at my worst.

I have just received after 3 months on the way Mr Meyer’s parcel of smokes which includes another pipe, 1 lb tobacco, and 100 cigarettes. I think the regiment must have left the peninsula, as these were untouched, as I told you all parcels are distributed. Since my illness I have no inclination to write to anybody except home, it is a terrible effort. How pleased I should be to kiss all your dear faces once again, I simply lie awake at night thinking of you all, I find it very hard to get any sleep, and when I do go off, I am conscious of everything that is going on.

Now with oceans of love to you all.

Ever your loving son

Per

12 November 1915

My darling Parents,

Just a note to say I am still at the convalescent home waiting. The pains have gone but I do not feel very fit, I don’t want much to eat, when I first came in I could not get enough. One of the boys from the regiment has been sent home, he had to come off the peninsula sick (enteritis) so of course we had a good yarn. Many more have been killed and wounded, about sixty left out of 350, awful isn’t it? It is certain I think that they have come off and are now at Cairo. How is Father? I do hope quite fit by now and Frank, what is happening? I have had another letter from Max, he also tells me Karl is at Malta with enteritis, the sickness is terrible. I shall have lots to tell you all. I have been badly bitten by mosquitoes, my wrists are badly swollen. Now I will say goodbye with dear love to all.

Ever your, loving son

Per

Loaded onto a hospital ship in November, Percy was transferred to the United Kingdom, arriving on the 27th, his first port of call being Epsom Military Hospital for rest and convalescence.

30 November 1915

No 5 Ward

County of London War Hospital

Epsom

Surrey

My darling Parents

Just a line to say I am in England and at the above hospital. I have been under the XRay, and nothing is to be seen, suppose it must have disappeared or else some mistake. I expect you will be down to see me so will not write more. You can come anytime, but of course don’t come in the morning as everyone is busy.

Ever your loving son

Per

4 December 1915

County of London War Hospital

My darling Mother

Just a note all to yourself to thank you so much for the sweets, it is so good of you, I will think of you every time I take on. How kind of Mrs Stoecker to think of me. I do hope Father, Alice arrived home safely, it was all too short. Anybody who cares to come see me shall be delighted to see them, but hope they won’t talk about things too much. Now with oceans of love to you all

Ever your loving son

Percy

15 December 1915

L.C.W.H

My darling Parents

Your letter I received this morning so am answering right away. My movements are practically regular now, but the pain is still awful, one thing to be thankful for is it does not occur so often, bleeding practically finished. A Mrs Mottram called to see me on Monday, she married a brother of the Mottrams we know and lives quite close. She offered to bring me a new laid egg, but as I told her I am not eating much, so she made me promise I would tell her when I wanted any, it was very kind of her.

Now I will say goodbye with oceans of love to all.

Ever your loving son

Per

17 December 1915

My darling Parents

I have just received your letter, I have not spoken to the doctor yet I want to get quite right again in the hopes they will not want to do anything more to me, my condition is about the same. Mr Smith called yesterday & brought me a box of cigarettes, Mrs Mottram was also here, she very kindly left when he arrived. The chocs I shall want will be 8 boxes at ½lb and one pound box for the sister, I must give to all or none, the 2/- a lb would be enough to give for them, of course I suppose they will have gone up but never mind. I am including a box for the massage lady, she always comes to have a talk to me. About coming home, I have heard nothing more. The chocs will be nine boxes in all. If I thought I should be here for Xmas, I would get you to buy me a few boxes of Tunis dates, etc., so you had better not come down to me until the last moment before Xmas, not that I do not want to see you, but to save you expense, and if I am not coming home would sooner see you as near Xmas as possible you understand, this does not stop other members of the family. Now I will close, as lunch is just coming always with oceans of love to you all.

Ever your loving son

Per

On 10 December, with the winter conditions on the peninsula already severe, the first of the soldiers from the Anzac and Suvla sectors began an evacuation that would be complete by the 20th. The planning had been exemplary, the losses light, the ingenuity of deception complete. If only this level of detailed planning had played its part in the landings.

The men of Helles would have to wait for the new year. Some 80,000 men would have to be lifted from this fateful peninsula. When the Talley brothers read of the Allied departure, they must have wondered what it had all been for. Percy, still recovering, was shocked:

20 December 1915

My darling Parents

Your letter just to hand, leave has I hear been stopped and to tell the truth I do not think I am fit. I have had an awful head today and a cold funny feeling, so do not feel like writing much, so shall expect you Thursday. I was so looking forward to be able to spend Xmas at home, but suppose it is all for the best and I hope no fun will be spoilt because I am here; you go on and not think of me during the holiday. What about the evacuation on the peninsula? It seems awful. Some of the boys from the office are coming down on Friday to see me. Will tell you more when you come. Now with oceans of love to all.

Ever your loving son

Per

26 December 1915

My darling Parents

My note, as promised to you, this is Sunday morning. Well Xmas went off quite nicely, in fact we had quite a jolly time dancing in the evening and a good feed, but I should have been better pleased if I could have done it to better advantage. Think I am going along alright, no need to worry. Mr Mottram came to see me yesterday and brought his brother the headmaster of Caterham. Lady Lavedale, sister of Lady St Helier, came in and gave us a packet of smokes, two packets cigarettes, tobacco pouch (round metal), ounce of tobacco, three cigars and a writing case. I do hope you all had a jolly time.

Ever your loving son

Per

1 January 1916

C.L.W.H. Ward 5

My darling Parents

Just a line to wish you all the Very Best Good Wishes for a Happy New Year. I was up till one o’clock last night, singing, dancing, and general frivolity, feeling a trifle thick about the head today so did not get up to breakfast as I intended to, for the first time, but hope to do so tomorrow. Your letter just received.

Ever your loving son

Percy

3 January 1916

My darling Parents

Your letter just to hand saying you think I am lazy, I do feel so sorry, I wrote on Jan 1, so perhaps you have not received it. Well I am going along alright and yet up to breakfast so you need not worry about me. I am so pleased to hear of Frank, I have written him a note. Please do not forget the money (£3), as I am rather short, buying stamps and cigarettes, you certainly must not come down to me until you are quite fit, as the weather is so awful. I am going to give this to the sister as I see the letters have been collected. So with oceans of love.

Ever your loving son

Per

10 January 1916

County of London War Hospital Ward 5

Monday Morning

My dear Father

Just a note to say I have been up before the Major and leave Thursday, as I told you yesterday. They will not grant me more than 10 days furlough. My papers have been marked B division, which means home service until I am fit.

Love to all

Your loving son

Percy

11 January 1916

County of London War Hospital

Ward 5

My darling Parents

I do hope you had a comfortable journey home, I was thinking about you. For myself I am going along nicely, feeling the better for being able to go out a little. I have absolutely nothing more to tell you, we keep having a few wounded and sick in.

Ever your loving son

Per.

Ultimately, Percy was sent to King George V Hospital, Dublin, which had opened in 1913, and despite being a military hospital has been described as having ‘tall and handsome three storey ward ranges flanking a deep forecourt with a central two-storey Italianate entrance block’.149 Percy’s medical report from 26 June 1916 shows he was an invalid in Dublin for some months. The severe and debilitating conditions on the peninsula had taken its toll, but the army was not to be convinced that his military service was the cause of his condition. A medical report reviewing his case survives:

About March 1912, suffered from pain in right loin and was ill for several months. Since that date he has had several attacks. In October 1915, sent back sick from Gallipoli to Alexandria with pain in right side, diarrhoea and micturition.150 He states that XRay showed a stone in Right Ureter. He was invalided home to Epsom, where attempts were made to locate the stone but no stone was found. Dr Thompson Waller (London) diagnosed stone in Right Ureter.x

Section 12 of this report was given over to a judgement as to whether the invalid’s condition was ‘caused by active service, climate, or ordinary military service’. The reporting officer makes his opinion plain: ‘not so caused, began in civil life in 1912’.xi This statement would have repercussions. No pension would be forthcoming for disability due to war service.

Nonetheless, a Medical Board convened on 28 June 1916 to review Percy’s service and that of so many others suffering from debility, injury and sickness. The medical records, and Percy’s testimony, were sufficient. The board found that though his debility was not the result of either climate or ordinary military duty, his active service under the most trying conditions had played its part. There was no mention of the wounds that he had received alongside his brother on that fateful day on 21 August 1915, wounds that had been left to heal themselves. With the judgement that his condition was ‘Probably aggravated by Field Service at Gallipoli’,xii the Medical Board ruled that 2366 Trooper Percy L. Talley be discharged ‘as permanently unfit for service at home or abroad’. He was released from military service on 4 July 1916, just under two months shy of two years’ military service with the Rough Riders. His brief experience at Gallipoli had been a rough ride indeed.

What of his brother? Frank Talley had been admitted to the 14th Casualty Clearing Station (a small hospital set up to provide emergency treatment and then move cases on to more permanent hospitals off the peninsula) the day after his wounding. His wounds were described as ‘Gun Shot wound in the Right Arm and Right Forearm’ – these were shrapnel wounds. Transferred to the hospital in Mudros, he was despatched home on the hospital ship Itonus on 9 September 1915, arriving in Britain some six days later, on 15 September. He would find his way through to a regional hospital in Liverpool. Mill Road Hospital was built originally as a workhouse, but from 1891 it had operated as a hospital – the Mill Road Infirmary. The flow of wounded soldiers from the front was such that general hospitals up and down the country were organised to take military personnel. (Mill Road was practically destroyed in the bombing of another war, in 1941.)

24 September 1915

Mill Road Hospital

Ward 3C Liverpool

My dear Mother

Was awfully glad to get a letter from you this morning. Many thanks for it and the enclosure which will come in very useful. I was sorry not to be able to write to you, but paper has been very scarce. I lost all mine when I left the peninsula including razors brushes etc.

I don’t yet know when I shall get back home, but our leave is only seven days so for that reason I am not hurrying just for the present to get back though I am longing to see you all again.

I too was disappointed in having to come right up here, but suppose we have to go where there is most room, we are not in a Military Hospital which is fortunate but in a local Infirmary Hospital. Everything is very comfortable and the chief point the food is a great improvement on what we have been having. On the boat coming over we had 10 dinners out of 14 in boiled bully beef stew. So were very fed up or under fed up with our food altogether.

After our railway journey here of 12 hours they have kept us in bed. I had hoped to have got up today and gone out, but unfortunately our clothes have not arrived yet from the depot, so shall have to remain in bed.

My wound is quite healed now and have no dressing on it, and all I want is exercise and decent grub and shall soon be fit as ever.

Your affectionate son

Frank

27 September 1915

Mill Rd Hospital

Ward, 3C

Liverpool

My dear Mother

I have no news to give you, but I know you will be glad to have a line, though I have nothing to report about myself yet and am still waiting for some clothes so that I can get out a bit each day. It is over a month since I have done anything in the walking line, so am still a bit weak in the knees. I am longing for the time to come when I can return to London and see you all again.

I am afraid news is very scarce with me just yet, I daresay you have seen the good news in the papers this morning,151 I hope it will continue and that it may be the beginning of the end.

Now I must stop as the old Dr is coming into the ward and we all have to be as quiet as mice, rather different to the wards on Lemnos and the boat when we could talk and smoke.

Ever your affectionate son

Frank

29 September 1915

Mill Rd Hospital

Ward 3C

Liverpool

My dearest Mother

Thanks for your letter received yesterday. Of course I should love to see you, if had been able to come down but I know quite well that it is impossible just now and should not think of asking you, also don’t worry about writing long letter, as long as I just hear that things are all right I shall not worry, and shall always understand No News is Good News.

I managed to get my tunic and breeches back yesterday so can walk about the ward a little, it makes a nice change. The bed was getting a little monotonous especially as we could roam about the boat on our journey back, so it seemed as if we were not making any progress.

Of course for many things I am not inclined to hurry away from here, though I want to see you so much, even if I did they keep us here as long as possible & will not let us go while there is the slightest thing wrong with us.

My writing is not grand but my hands are cold, and so really is the ward, it is a long room about 80 feet long but only warmed by pipes, there are two fire places in it, but they are not allowed to be used.

By the way, there is no need for you to enclose paper in the future as I have been able to supply the shortage up here.

I did not now Knollys had died?152 You say also I had seen him hit but that is not the case, surely I did not put that in any of my letters. I only heard about him from another RR who came back in the same boat and is now here in the next bed to myself. He had to have his leg off on the spot, fortunately there was a dressing station handy but I should think he would be strong enough to get over it, he is only a young man, not more than a year older than myself; imagine the two poor stretcher bearers who would have to carry him a good half mile to the nearest ambulance wagon, I bet they wouldn’t be sorry to get to the end of their journey.

I have heard nothing of Mr Hain for a long time, the last was that he had fallen and broken an arm or a leg, is he better yet and gone out to France?

Well I think I have exhausted all news for the time being.

Ever your affectionate son

Frank

1 October 1915

Mill Road Hospital

Ward 3C

Liverpool

My dearest Mother

At last I am up and walking about what a change, but a very nice one. I feel ever so much better for it. I only want a hair cut to feel civilised once again, if you had seen me at Lemnos with long hair and two weeks growth round my face you would not have known me, or perhaps mistaken me for the missing link.

Yesterday afternoon the Lady Mayoress of Liverpool came round, and doled out cigarettes to us three packets of Woodbines, value 4½d from her ladyship; I’d not want them, but took them for fear of hurting her ladyship’s feelings. Fancy coming on a quiet visit with a brass collar of office all round her neck, I hope she doesn’t come again.

We have had two concerts this week one in the building and one outside at some hall the latter I did not go to. Tonight is the free night for us to go to the Hippodrome or Olympia, while tomorrow week some of us have had an invitation to the Liverpool Yacht Club, where they give us a concert and tea so on the whole the people up here are very good to us.

Well this is rather a short letter, but I am afraid I cannot manage more just now.

Ever your affectionate son

Frank

4 October 1915

Mill Road Hospital

Ward 3C

Liverpool

My dearest Mother

I was very glad to get your note yesterday. Yesterday I went round to Mrs Chandler’s to tea, having special permission to stay out to 6.46, had they not allowed me to do so I could not have gone as it takes quite 40 minutes to get to their place, just a car ride and then two stations in the underground going under the river, perhaps I did not mention before that they live at Birkenhead.

I also went out for a little Saturday afternoon, but it was not very nice. They had a recruiting march here as you did in London but the weather was rather against it being muddy underfoot, and reminded me of the old London muddy days.

Have you had any more news from Percy yet, send it on to me as soon as you can. I didn’t tell you I had brought my watch safely back, without the strap however, then owing to the hot weather and perspiration got so brittle that it snapped in half, I managed to make a substitute and after many adventures it is still going well, it does the makers credit.

Your affectionate son

Frank

6 October 1915

Mill Rd Hospital

Ward 3C

Liverpool

My dearest Mother

Thanks for your letter of yesterday and postcard this morning. Of course I shall not hurry to get away now, as there is I hope, no need to fear, though I have been very unsettled as to what I should do.

May was to have returned home today, but I had a card from Mr Chandler this morning saying that they had persuaded her to stay on a little longer, and also asking me round to tea also the fellow in the next bed who is also a R.R.

Don’t worry about not hearing from Percy, probably there are letters on the way but owing to the new Bulgarian situation153 they are perhaps left in the van. I think it quite likely that the regiment has been sent to some place like Lemnos for rest, which usually consists of a deal of fatigues and guarding prisoners, etc. so he may not have had time to do any writing at all.

Yesterday I got my new lot of clothing back as overcoat, shirt, socks, cardigan, etc. Please excuse more now, but I want to send Percy another line.

Your affectionate son

Frank

9 October 1915

Mill Rd Hospital

Ward 3C

Liverpool

My dear Father

This is only just a short line as I want you to get it tomorrow. As regards myself, I am getting along A.1 and feel ever so much better now that I get out a little each day, though I am still inclined to be livery? I am worse some days than others, but still I cannot grumble after the chopping and changing about I have had.

As I have told Mother in my last letter I am not hurrying away from here though I shall have to go when they give the word, we are having a pretty good clear out tomorrow so my turn will perhaps come sooner than I expected, I don’t know what time we shall be leaving, but shall endeavour to catch the 2 o’clock from here, due Euston 6.10 and will come down as soon as I have landed my things at No 2.154 Now I must close for the post

Ever your affectionate son

Frank

12 October 1915

Mill Rd Hospital

Ward 3C

Liverpool

My dear Father

It is your turn for another letter, but I don’t know what to write about as there is nothing in the way of news. I am getting along pretty well, though unfortunately I have got a bit of a cold, probably due to the change of climate however it is not bad, though the cough is a little irritating but I have got some peps and they will soon put me right.

It has been a wretched wet day here rain all the time, so have not been out. How is the garden looking, it will be a treat to see some green grass after the sandy deserts of Egypt. I hope you had a good crop of apples, keep one or two for me. Now I must stop, excuse such an uninteresting epistle.

Ever your affectionate son

Frank

14 October 1915

Mill Rd Hospital

Ward 3C

Liverpool

My dearest Mother

This afternoon as it was so fine and warm I had quite a nice little outing with two other fellows, we took a tram to the pier head and then crossed the river155 to Seacombe took another car to New Brighton and back from there by the ferry.

I think I can safely say that my stomach is settling down a bit now, it certainly is very much better than when I first came here, my cold is also much better. I am glad you have heard again from Percy and that he is all right. It is rather difficult to say what is best to do about sending out things to him, of course if they get sent back to Egypt they can get more clothing there, but on the other hand I know he did not have pants or vest on when he left and should be very glad of those garments now, even when I left the nights were quite chilly lying without blankets, though probably they may have these by now.

It is late now so I must stop for post.

Your affectionate son

Frank

15 October 1915

Mill Rd Hospital

Ward 3C

Liverpool

My dearest Father

I was surprised and glad to see a letter in your handwriting this morning and to hear from yourself that you are getting on. You have asked me not to hurry home so I can return the compliment and not be too eager to rush back to the City and overdo things.156

About myself, there is nothing to report, you need not worry about my condition, the grub is not all that it might be, nor the time for going out sufficient and I shall not quite pick up till I get back.

My cold is ever so much better and is probably due to the change of climates, and being in a house once more after living in the open air.

Ever your affectionate son

Frank

20 October 1915

Mill Rd Hospital

Ward 3C

Liverpool

My dear Father

Your turn for a line this time, I had a note from May today in which she says you have heard from Percy, I am sorry to hear he is not A.1., but it is nice to know he is not in the fighting line just now.

I have had very little particulars of him or the date of his letter but reckon by this time a comfortable bed and good food will have made a deal of difference to him.

The Doctor came round the ward this morning and gave me my marching orders, I am not really sorry as it was getting dreadfully monotonous up here and yet I did not want to do anything to get sent away, fortunately things have taken their own course.

There is no news to give you, so will save up all details until I see you on Saturday.

Ever your affectionate son

Frank

5 November 1915

My dearest Mother

Only a line to say that I am fixed here. There seems to be no chance of seeing a Dr, they simply make you fit and send you out with the first draft that goes; here we are only considered a nuisance. I have got a new rig out in everything from tunic and riding breeches down to a housewife.157

I shall wait for a day or two and see how things go & then consider what to do about the Commission business.158 Taking things all round they are rotten and I feel a bit humpy, partly due I suppose from being away from you all my address is:

Tpr F.L. Talley 2365

C of L Yeomanry

Trefusis

West Hill

Putney

Please excuse more now as I still have a lot of odds and ends to do.

Yours

Frank

9 November 1915

‘Trefusis’

West Hill

Putney

My dear Father

Only a line to let you know I am still O.K. and fairly comfortable; four 1st regiment men in our room are endeavouring to get a smaller one to ourselves, but don’t know whether we shall succeed, but it will be very much nicer if we do.

I expect you have heard from Mabel of Mr Hain’s suggestion that I take a Commission in the Royal Engineers Signal Service. I had not thought of this branch and shall decide later on when I get the application form, this form will do for any branch of the Service.

We have had a lovely day of rain, and an ideal one for the show some of our fellows went from here to take part and I believe some came down from Norfolk.

I wrote a good long letter to Percy yesterday, from what I hear up here the division is likely to be sent, either back to Egypt or to Servia,159 in either case they will have their horses.

Your affectionate son

Frank

23 November 1915

Trefusis

West Hill

Putney

My dearest Mother

Only a line to say I heard from Mr Hain this morning but quite unsatisfactory. He sent me his letter to the Colonel and the latter’s reply, which was to the effect that I had to get my C.O. to sign my application form, information which I could have given him, so as far as I can see little help is likely from this quarter. Another fellow and I went down to Woolwich this morning to see if we could find out anything there but only drew another blank.

We then introduced ourselves to the Father of one his friends, who received us very well and is taking us down to Wood Green tomorrow and introducing us to a friend of his a Major. I am not expecting any results from the visit, but the unexpected often happens and we will give it the chance, the appointment is not until tomorrow night at 8 o’clock so will not be able to let you know the result until Thursday.

I shall phone Tom in the morning as he said he knew a Colonel who might do something for him, in the meantime I shall alter my form to the R.F.A. as my previous four years may help me, and I am losing time.

Love to all, yours

Frank

Frank Talley was indeed commissioned on 5 December 1915; he returned once again to the 3rd London Brigade, Royal Field Artillery – the very unit he had served with as a pre-war territorial. There is one surviving letter from his time as a junior officer in Flanders. He served the rest of the war in the RFA, before resigning his commission in 1919. One letter from this time survives:

9 November 1917

B.E.F

My dearest Wife

Your parcel arrived on Wednesday just as I was leaving for the gun line, so did not have time to open it until I got there, many thanks for the photograph case and the shaving mirror I did not laugh as you thought I might.

You will have read of our latest push and on account of it [I] had one of the liveliest days I have yet had. That is why I had to go up to the gun line, as I had to go over just after the infantry to try and keep up telephone communications. Needless to say it is about the most difficult job going as the wires were always cut by the shellfire, and then out we have to go and repair them. For 40 hours I existed on 1½ biscuits and my bottle of water, but I am glad to say I am back quite safely and down at the wagon line for a rest. I am hurrying this letter and shall try and get it stamped, and ride into the nearest mail office and get it away; as not having written for three days you may be getting anxious.

All love to you

Yours as ever

Frank

Frank and Percy Talley survived their time as Rough Riders. They served for just over a year. A year’s service that was to take them from the windswept cliff tops of Norfolk, to the parched desert soils of Egypt, and the unrelenting battleground of Gallipoli.

In 1915, thirty-eight Rough Riders lost their lives in the service of their country, just over 10 per cent of the regiment. Many more were wounded, or became sick in the unhealthy conditions of the Gallipoli Peninsula. Of these thirty-eight, seventeen have their last resting places at Green Hill, facing their first and last objective; eight have no known grave on the peninsula. Others lie at Mudros, on the island of Lemnos, or at Suez, Malta or Gibraltar. Those who made it home, wounded, only to die there, lie in the quiet graveyard of an English church.

The Rough Riders went on to greater things. Returned to Egypt, they regained their beloved horses and were once again a mounted force operating in the Holy Land to great effect. And in the last stages of the war they would return with the Mounted Division to Europe, where they were committed to France in 1918. But the yeomanry would never forget that they took part in the last stand at Gallipoli, and the two brothers from Muswell Hill who joined their country’s army.

John Hargrave of the RAMC, writing in 1916, expressed what must have been in the thoughts of all who left those fateful shores in autumn 1915:

Most of the accounts of marvellous escapes and acute encounters, secret scoutings and extraordinary expeditions will lie now for ever with the silent dead and the thousands of rounds of ammunition in the silver sand of Suvla Bay. The stars still burn above the Salt Lake bed, the breakers roll each morning along the blue sea-shore, sometimes washing up the bodies of the slain – just as they did when we camped near Lala Baba. But the guns are gone and there, the heavy silence of the waste places reigns supreme.xiii

Notes

143 Trooper Walter Fielding, 2125, City of London Yeomanry (Rough Riders) survived the war.

145 Tewfik Pasha was ruler, or Khedive, of Egypt under the British until 1892; it was his son, Abbas Hilmi Pasha, who ruled at the outbreak of war, and who was deposed in 1914 for supporting the Ottoman Empire in siding with the Central Powers.

149 Christine Casey, Dublin: the City within the Grand and Royal Canals and the Circular Road with the Phoenix Park, 2005, p.261.

151 No doubt reporting on the British offensive at Loos, which opened in September.

152 Major Knollys, the most senior CLY (Rough Riders) officer to lose his life in the war, was hit by a shell while in the trenches at Chocolate Hill, and died from the amputation at home, a month later. He was 30 years of age.

153 The situation in the Balkans was worsening. Bulgaria, which previously maintained a neutral stance, was now strongly aligned with the Central Powers, and had mobilised on the pretence of ‘armed neutrality’. On 22 October, Bulgaria declared war on Serbia, and so committed the other Allies to support this beleaguered country.

157 A ‘housewife’ or ‘hussif’ was a sewing kit, issued as part of the ‘soldier’s necessaries’ to enable him to carry out repairs on his uniform where necessary.

158 Frank Talley was considering applying for a commission as a junior officer. His previous military experience, his education and the fact that he had survived the Dardanelles would all stand him in good stead. Losses amongst junior officers were high, and replacing them with suitable candidates was a struggle.

159 Frank is referring to the situation in Salonika, facing the Bulgarians. The 10th Division left the peninsula in late September to move to the Greek city to take its place in the multinational force facing the new enemy.

v. Sir Charles Monro, quoted in C.F. Aspinall-Oglander, Military Operations: Gallipoli, Vol. II, p.403.

vi. General Peyton, quoted in A.S. Hamilton, The City of London Yeomanry (Rough Riders), 1936, p.61.

ix. Yorkshire Evening Telegraph & Star, Tuesday, 14 December 1915, p.6, British Newspaper Archive.

x. Medical Report on an Invalid, from Talley, P.L., Soldiers Service Records, The National Archives, Kew.

xi. Medical Report on an Invalid, from Talley, P.L., Soldiers Service Records, The National Archives, Kew.

xii. Opinion of the Medical Board, from Talley, P.L., Soldiers Service Records, The National Archives, Kew.