The following is based on an article entitled Local Men at Gallipoli in WWI which appeared in the Summer 2007 Newsletter of the Largs and District Historical Society. The article contained information from Highland Mountain Gunners at Gallipoli which was originally published in the Spring 2007 issue of The Gallipolian, the journal (3 issues per year) of the Gallipoli Association :-
The Gallipoli campaign was a gallant but doomed attempt to shorten the war. Troops carried and supported by the Navy were to capture the Gallipoli Peninsula and dominate the Dardanelles Strait, which would lead to the occupation of Constantinople (Istanbul) and the surrender of Turkey, Germany's ally. Sadly the courage of the soldiers was not equalled by the competence of the generals, and the problems of amphibious operations were not appreciated. The landing took place on 25th April 1915, and after months of bitter fighting and 250,000 casualties the Allied forces withdrew on 9th January 1916. It was one of the classic military tragedies of the Great War.
Britain's Territorial Army was a volunteer reserve of part-time citizen soldiers who would fight alongside friends and neighbours from their own district. Largs and Millport Territorials along with Rothesay men formed the Bute Mountain Battery of the 4th Highland (Mountain) Brigade of the Royal Garrison Artillery. That brigade was the only Territorial Force Artillery assigned (for 5 months) to the 29th Division. It used "screw guns" which were taken apart, transported on sturdy Highland ponies - sometimes even by the men themselves - and reassembled on sites inaccessible to guns with fixed wheels. This let them be used in front line firing positions, often on commanding heights, and too close to the enemy to cause "friendly fire".
The Brigade Batteries, along with the Ammunition Column (recruited in part at Millport), were mobilised in August 1914, trained at Bedford, and were sent into Active Service in March 1915. They went via Alexandria, where they acclimatised, to Gallipoli. Once they arrived in harbour at Mudros "the gunners felt … too much time was spent sweltering in their troop ships awaiting sailing orders", but they were able to have a practice at disembarking the ponies, thereby helping them to overcome the fear of "being pulled out of the hold of one ship and slung over the water to another before being placed on landing barges".
When the real attack took place on 25th April the Highland Gunners were the first artillery to land in support of the infantry. "The British forces … showed remarkable professionalism and courage … When the officers commanding a particular unit were killed, the resulting successions of command proceeded smoothly and quickly". As in other spheres of the war, local Scottish names were given by the gunners to their whereabouts, e.g. Kilkerran Road. Some "down time" was possible at the "not too far rear"; this allowed them to swim on the beaches - the only way to bathe [? = wash] - repair clothing and equipment, and relax with their comrades.
One new recruit appeared on the scene, Lady Gallipoli, daughter of one of the mares. While bringing some light and joy, "Polly" brought her own problems. The other ponies had to be given shorter rations to feed her and her mother. It was ordered that she be put down, but before that could happen the vet giving the order was himself killed on the way to see if it had been carried out. Lady Gallipoli survived the campaign !
The troops were temporarily evacuated on 3rd/4th August from the Peninsula, but some were later redeployed for a new landing at Suvla Bay a few miles up the coast, and men from the Mountain Battery were among the last to be finally evacuated in December 1915. This has been described as the "most successful part of the whole Gallipoli campaign". For decades after the War ended a reunion was held every 25th April in Stornoway.
The article concludes with an Obituary list. The names include :-
Gunner/Driver Alexander McKeith who had transferred from the Rothesay to the Argyll Battery. He had been an apprentice plumber with Morrison Brothers in Rothesay.
Gunner George Andrew Cuthbertson who had been transferred from the Bute battery to Brigade HQ staff. Though born in Glasgow, he had enlisted in Largs where his parents, Andrew and Margaret, then lived in John Clark Street.
Gunner George McGowan, born in London but enlisted in Largs.
Gunner Peter Ferguson, born on Cumbrae to Colin and Janet Ferguson of Millport, he enlisted at Rothesay and died on a hospital ship.
Gunner James Corrigan, born in Rothesay, he trained there, but was assigned as a replacement to the Argyll battery. He died and was buried in Alexandria in September 1915.
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