THE MEMORABLE DAY IN GALLIPOLI

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2543, 18 August 1915, Page 5

THE MEMORABLE DAY IN GALLIPOLI

BRITISH ADMIRAL'S DISPATCH ADMIRATION OF COLONIALS' DASH 1 VICTORIA CROSS AWARDS By TeMgrapl—Press Association-Copyright ; London, August 16. Vice-Admiral De Roebeck's dispatch describing the landing of- the troops north of GabaTepe on April 25 says: "The beach is very narrow, and was continuously under shell-fire. The service called for great determination and coolness' under lire, aiid the success achieved indicated the spirit animating v ali concerned." . The report specially mentions .the extraordinary gallantry- and dash of the 3rd Australian Infantry Brigade, who formed ; tho covering force, and eulogises tlie. good service rendered by vessels in the landing of the covering force, *. tlie seamanship displayed deserving the highest- praise.. . Navy and Army Co-operate. After detailing the operations on the 25th -and 26th, ho says: "From the very first the co-operation between' the Army and the Navy was most happy. Difficulties' arising were quickly surmounted. Nothing could have exceeded the taetfulness aud forethought of General Sir lan 'Hamilton ana hie staff. Admiral Guepratte's loyal support simplified the task of landing the Allied armies simultaneously. , "When the committees of both services were working out details of the landing at Mudros, the keenness displayed by officers and men resulted in a good standard of efficiency, especially in the case of the Australian and New Zealand Corps, which appear to he composed of natural boatmen. Such actions as the storming of Seddul-Balir by the 29th Division must live in history for. ever.' ... . v "Innumerable deeds of heroism and daring were performed, and the gallantry and- ivbsolute -contempt for death displayed alone made the operations possible. 'The landing at Gaba Tepe and the dash of the Australian Brigade for the cliffs 'were magnificent. _ Nothing cou!4 stop such men. In this, their first battle, the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps sot a standard as high as any in the Army's history, one of which their countrymen have every reason to be proud." V.C. Heroes, The Admiral specially recommends the following, all of ' whom havo been awarded the Victoria Cross :— Edward Unwin, commander of the River Clyde, who, under a murderous fire, endeavoured to get the landing lighters into position till the cold from : his immersion in the "water obliged him to return to his ship. He was wrapped in and, having somewhat recovered, he, against the doctor's orders, returned to complete his work. Later, though suffering from three abrasions caused by bullets,. he continued to rescue the wounded, lying-in shallow water till physical exhaustion,forced him to stop. . . . Midshipman Gsorgo Drewry, who was wounded in the hand, .continued ' his work. Twice he attempted to swim from lighter-to lighter with a line. , Midshipman' 'Wilfred Malleson, who, after Midshipman Drewry had failed, swam with the line and succeeded. The line broke and he made two further - unsuccessful attempts. • ; Seaman ;,}Villiam Williamson, who held on, to a line in the water for'-oi er an hour, under heavy fire, until killed. Seaman George Samson, who v/orked bn ,a , lighter all day long under fire, attending>to" the: wounded and' getting . out lines, and .who was dangerously wounded by Maxim fire. : Admiral De Roebuck speaks of the' invaluable, service Tendered by Rear'Adinirals R. Wemyss, C. Thursby, and S,' Nicholson, iirid especially recommends a surgeon, two lieutenants, a boatswain, . and ten midshipmen; • All these midshipmen have been awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. In a Gazette it is announced that there have been awards of sixteen Dis-tinguished-Service Orders, twenty Distinguished Service Crosses, and a large ■ number of' medals, ; while several seamen are commended. PRESS COMMENTS. ■ TRIBUTES TO THE COLONIALS. (Rec. August 17, 10.30, p.m.) London, August 17. Vice-Admiral De Roebeck's references to. the Australians. and New Zealanders a;re being given prominence in the, news- , papers. "The Times"-says: "The real interest of Admiral'De Roebeck's story aro the allusions to acts of individual gallantry with which the whole conflict in the, Dardanelles teemed. The details give just a glimpse, only a glimpse, of . the character of the Dardanelles operations, where every man who fought'on sea or land deserves the name of hero. The publication of the dispatch is a timely sequel to the announcement of the fresh landing northward of the Anzac zone, where the Australians 'and New Zealauders aro fighting with so much desperate valour and determination. It is evidently possilbo from-this new vantage point to work round through easier country to the north- , ward of the Sari Balir heights." -