Papers relating to Sir Ian Hamilton, 1920 - Page 16

You are here

Transcription

[Page 16]

39

posts and for working paties to follow the assualting parties.

Our attack was launched At 5.30 a.m. our counter attack was launched and by 6 a.m. the positioin had been retaken with the bayonet by the 15th Australian Infantry Battalion led by Major QUINN who was unfortunately killed.  All the enemy in the trench were killed or captured, and the work of restoration was begun.

At 6.30 a.m. the Turks again attacked, supported by heavy Arltillery, rifle and machine-gun fire and by showers of bombs from the trenches. and by shell fire of several kinds.  Our artillery continued to assist the defence by constant fire at accurate ranges on enemy's trenches and batteries.

The fine shooting of ​the artillery and the machine-gun and rifle fire from adjacent posts our guns and steadiness of the infantry enabled us to ​repulse the Turkish attacks with heavy losses, and demoralised inflict upon the enemy a bloody repulse, demoralising them to such an extent that the bomb throwers of their second line threw flung the missiles at​ into the middle of their own first line.

At 8.15 a.m. the attack slackened and the work of clearing the trenches and restoring the parapets was begun.  During this clearing​ a party of 16 Turks who were standing at bay in an underground gallery surrendered.

This page has its status set to Completed and is no longer transcribable.