Item 03: Ellis Ashmead-Bartlett telegrams, 1915 - Page 140

[Page 140]

[Telegram form – The Eastern Telegraph Company, Limited. Alexandria Station. Dated 24 Aug. 1915. 226 words]
[Continuation of Ashmead Bartlett's first report of the British action at Suvla Bay, 6th – 10th August]
Section 11
R.T.P. Daily Telegraph London
Section eleven August eighth thus refreshed at five o'clock the 11th Division again advanced stop they swept inland under very heavy shell and rifle fire in long lines keeping their formations beautifully as if on parade stop in vain the Turkish gunners tried to check the advance
the long lines swept forward amidst clouds of smoke and dust thrown up from the bursting shells they swept right across the back of the Salt Lake wheeling half right and finally joined up with the infantry who had advanced on the southern side stop

a long continuous firing line was thus formed in front of the Ananfarta Hills which is [in] the gathering darkness swept up the lower slopes disappearing in the scrub and gloom but before darkness had fallen two battalions of the 33rd Brigade had the captured the advanced position of Yighir Burnu and are firmly established in front of the main ridge stop this ended the days fighting stop a most successful landing has been made we have deployed on a big front and have everywhere penetrated some three miles inland stop on the other hand the Turks were taken by surprise their reserves have not yet come up and their main position is still intact stop I have no details of the advance from Anzac [censor's deletion - but I have learnt that the hill known as Chunuk Bar has been captured and the Australian forces and 13th Division are now quite close to their main objective hill 971)] end of message
ashmead Bartlett / Radcliffe Censor