The Landing at Anzac

Observation Post, Volume 1, Issue 31, 18 December 1942, Page 4

The Landing at Anzac

. x (Continued). I PROVISION EOK ( ’ CONCEALMENT ! As the disembarkation of the fresh troops would extend over several mgnis, some method had to be devised of securely concealing the newcomers during the tew days which would elapse betore the opening of the battle. ■ Terraces and shelters were accordingly dug on the hillsides, and in these they lay hidden alike from the enemy aircraft and scouts on the heights. Great supplies of food were landed and ammunition in such quantities as the resources of the force were capable of furnishing. WATER The provision of an adequate supply of water was the. most difficult of all problems, its solution calling for the most careful forethought and calculation so that no contingency might be unprovided for, and nothing left to chance. Little ever • stood between Anzac and thirst, so dependent had it always been on the sea-borne supplies of tepid but welcome water;, "but in the battles that were to be fought on the sun-baked heights, water would be as indispensable almost as ammunition. Dependence ■on regular daily supplies involving too great a risk, a reservoir of great tanks was formed on the hillside above the beach. A system of pipe-lines and supply tanks was created, and the water from the barges, after being pumped by hand into tanks standing on the beach, was lifted up to the reservoir by a stationary engine brought from Egypt. There were delays and mishaps of course, but anything that could riot be supplied was improvised, and every obstacle was overcome -by the fertile resource of minds which had been trained to cope with many desperate situations. ' * TROOPS ARRIVE At last the long-expected reinforcements began to arrive. Throughout the night of August 3rd, 4th, and sth, they swarmed on to the beach from the crowded boats and barges that drew silently in and out of the night, and as they landed, were guided away to their concealed bivouacs to wait the opening of the battle. The troops now at the disposal of General Birdwood amounted in round numbers to 37,000 rifles and 72 guns, with support from two cruisers, four monitors, and two destroyers. This force was divided into two main positions. To the Australian Division, strengthened by the attachment of the Ist and 3rd, Light Horse Brigades and two battalions of the 40th Brigade, was entrusted the. task . of holding the existing Anzac position, and of making the frontal assaults which w.ere to divert the 1 enemy attention and draw his reserves from the quarter in which the main blow was to be struck. The remainder of the force was to carry out the attack on the Sari Bair Ridge. .

ARTILLERY SUPPORT The artillery support in the operations was so planned as to make the most effective use of the very small number of guns available on shore. These numbered only 72 of all classes. In addition to the 18-pounders of the Australian and New Zealand Field Artillery, and the one New Zealand 4.5 in. howitzer battery, there were the 10-pounder guns of the Indian Mountain Artillery, five batteries of sin. howitzers, three 6in. howitzers, and the solitary .4.7 in. naval gun on the right flank. There were in addition, of ’ourse,’the guns of the fleet, but their .effective value was limited, and they r could' not be used, for the close support of attacking troops. In view of the great issues at stake, and the terribly difficult nature of the operations upon which the army was about to embark, it must be said that in material, whether in numbers or guns or in supplies of shells, the artillery at Anzac was pitifully inadequate. THE ATTACK AT LONE PINE

The New Zealand batteries played a very prominent part in paving the way for the frontal attacks which were made by the Australian Division on August 6th and 7th, ' and particularly valuable was their support to the Ist Brigade of ’Australians in their heroic and altogether successful attack at Lone Pine. During the 4th, sth, and 6th of August, the works on , the enemy’s left and left centre were subjected to a slow bombardment; the Ist and 4th Batteries bombarding the Lone Pine trenches,' which were provided with strong overhead cover, and well protected by barbed wire . entanglements. The Ist Battery was given the task of destroying the wire, and j wirenetting, as experience showed in France, calls not only for accuracy, of fire, but for a large expenditure of ammunition. Though this latter was impossible, the battery .commander himself satisfactorily accomplished 'the tack. Every round had to be conserved, so using one gun only, and observing from the forward trenches in the vicinity, he carefully and methodically prepared the way for the attack. (To be continued.) ~