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The Graveyards
of Gallipoli; A Digger
History Associate Site |
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A Tribute
to the Men of all the Nations that took part in the Gallipoli Campaign of
1915 |
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Royal Naval Division (RND)
(later 63rd Div) at Gallipoli |
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The RND was formed at the outbreak of WWI from Royal Marines who were
not needed for service on warships. It fought briefly in October 1914 in
the defence of Antwerp, before retraining and re-equipping in England
prior to posting in Egypt. The troops were
considered well-trained professionals of high discipline. Some fought at Anzac and the first
VC at Anzac went to a RND man.
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| Photo from The
War Illustrated, 31 July 1915. Caption reads: Charge!
The best photographic record of a charge yet published, showing men of
the Royal Naval Division leaving the trenches in Gallipoli to attack
the Turk with cold steel. On the extreme left the officer is seen
leading the attack, while the hills in the background are typical of
the difficult country to be traversed before Constantinople falls to
the Allies. (This photo may be a "set-up" shot taken
during training). |
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When the RND was
withdrawn from Gallipoli it was sent to France. Here it came under the
command of Brigadier-General Shute. He did an inspection and was NOT
IMPRESSED and said so. This ditty was the result.
The General inspecting the trenches
Exclaimed with a horrified shout
"I refuse to command a division
Which leaves its excreta about."
But nobody took any notice, coz
No one was prepared to refute,
That the presence of shit was congenial
Compared to the presence of Shute.
And certain responsible critics
Made haste to reply to his words
Observing that his staff advisors
Consisted entirely of turds.
For shit may be shot at odd corners
And paper supplied there to suit,
But a shit would be shot without mourners
If someone shot that shit Shute. |
| RND
Order of Battle Gallipoli Apr 1915 - Jan 1916 |
- 1st RN Bde
- Drake Bn
- Nelson Bn
- Hawke Bn
- Benbow Bn (*09/06/15)
- Deal Bn (till
30/05/15)
- Hood (from
02/08/15)
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- 2nd RN Bde
- Howe Bn
- Hood Bn (till 02/08/15)
- Anson Bn
- Collingwood Bn (*09/06/15)
- Chatham & Deal Bn (02/08/15-12/08/15)
- Port & Plymouth Bn (02/08/15-12/08/15)
- 1st Royal Marines Bn
(from 12/08/15)
- 2nd Royal Marines Bn (
from 12/08/15)
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- 3rd RN Bde * 02/08/15
- Chatham Bn (till
27/07/15)
- Portsmouth Bn (till
27/07/15)
- Plymouth Bn
(till 27/07/15)
- Deal Bn (30/05/15
- 27/07/15)
- Chatham & Deal Bn (27/07/15-02/08/15)
- Port & Plymouth Bn (27/07/15-02/08/15)
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* Disbanded |
| Chatham & Deal Bns amalgamated
27/07/15 and became the 1st Royal Marines Bn 12/08/15. Portsmouth
& Plymouth Bns amalgamated 27/07/15 and became the 2nd RM Bn
12/08/15. |
| Composite
Division (Temporary). Helles, Gallipoli. 5th - 17th May 1915. |
- Composite Bde 5-10/05/15.
- Drake Bn.
- Plymouth Bn. (RMLI)
- 1st Lanc Fusiliers (86th Bde, 29th
Div)
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- New Zealand Bde
- Auckland Bn NZEF
- Canterbury Bn NZEF
- Otago Bn NZEF
- Wellington Bn NZEF
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- 2nd (RN) Bde 10-17/05/15
- Howe Bn
- Hood Bn
- Anson Bn
- Drake Bn
-
Plymouth Bn
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- Australian Bde
- 5th Bn AIF
- 6th Bn AIF
- 7th Bn AIF
- 8th Bn AIF
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The Div started to
embark for Lemnos at Devonport 06/02/15 and by 01/03/15 the rest of
the Div (except the training Depot) were on their way to Lemnos. By
19/03/15 the Div were stationed of the Gallipoli Peninsular, but as
the "great Naval attack" on the 18th had failed the Division were
landed at Port Said by 29/03/15. The Division re-embarked for Mudros
08/04/15 and were landed Helles, Gallipoli 25/04/15.
| 25-26 Apr 1915 |
Gulf of Xeros |
| 25-26 Apr 1915 |
Landing at Cape
Helles (Anson & Plymouth Bns) |
| 28 Apr -12 May 1915 |
Defence of Anzac
(Chatham, Portsmouth, Nelson & Deal Bns) |
| 28 Apr 1915 |
1st Krithia (2nd
RN Bde and Drake & Plymouth Bns) |
| 1-2 May 1915 |
Eski Hissarlik
(2nd RN Bde and Drake & Plymouth Bns) |
| 6-8 May 1915 |
2nd Krithia
(Drake, Plymouth, Howe, Hood & Anson Bns) |
| 2 May 1915 |
The Chessboard
(Nelson, Deal, Chatham & Portsmouth Bns) |
| 4 Jun 1915 |
3rd Krithia (RN
Div) |
| 7-9 Jan 1916 |
Evacuation of
Helles (RN Div). |
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- 1st
Royal Naval Brigade: By April
1915, this was redesignated 1st (Royal Naval) Brigade. On 2
August 1915, the Brigade was redesignated 1st Brigade.
The Brigade was broken up on 2 July 1916, the staff
joining the 3rd (Royal Marine) Brigade.
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2nd
Royal Naval Brigade:
By April
1915, this was redesignated 2nd (Royal Naval) Brigade. In July
1915, the Brigade was broken up. It
reformed on 2 August 1915, and was redesignated 2nd Brigade
-
Collingwood
(4th) Battalion -
-
Nelson
(5th) Battalion -
-
Howe
(6th) Battalion -
-
Hood
(7th) Battalion -
-
Anson
(8th) Battalion -
-
Chatham
& Deal Battalion -
-
Portsmouth
& Plymouth Battalion -
-
Royal
Naval Division
- Territorial Force
-
Engineer
Units, RE
-
247th
Field Company
-
248th
Field Company
-
249th
Field Company
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Other
Divisional Troops
-
53rd
Mobile Veterinary
Section
-
Royal
Naval Sanitary Section
-
Royal
Naval Division Cyclist Company
-
Field
Ambulances
-
No
1 Field Ambulance
-
No
2 Field Ambulance
- No
3 Field Ambulance
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