The 29th Division known as the ' Incomparable ' Division, was a First World War regular army infantry Division formed in Early 1915 by combining various units that had been acting as garrisons about the British Empire. Under the command of General Aylmer Hunter-Weston, the division fought throughout the Battle of Gallipoli, including the original landings at Cape Helles. From 1916 to the end of the war the division fought on the Western Front in France.
There appears to be many different figures for casualties suffered by the British army whilst at Gallipoli but it would be safe to say that those suffered by the 29th Division were high and ran into several thousand. The number of Victoria Crosses won by members of the division was 27 ( 12 at Gallipoli )
There appears to be many different figures for casualties suffered by the British army whilst at Gallipoli but it would be safe to say that those suffered by the 29th Division were high and ran into several thousand. The number of Victoria Crosses won by members of the division was 27 ( 12 at Gallipoli )
the 29th division
Unit History ( Gallipoli )
The 29th Division served on the Gallipoli peninsula for the duration of the ill-fated campaign. It made the first landings in April 1915 and was among the last to leave in January 1916. The division suffered through the worst of the fighting at Cape Helles before being moved to fight on the Suvla front as well.
On the morning of 25th April 1915 the Battle of Gallipoli began when battalions from the division's 86th and 87th Brigades landed at five beaches around Cape Helles at the tip of the peninsula. Three of the landings, faced little or no opposition but were not exploited. The two main landings at V and W Beaches on either side of the cape, met with fierce Turkish resistance and the landing battalions were decimated.
The original objectives of the first day of the campaign had been the villagr of Krithia and the nearby hill of Achi Baba. The first concerted attempt to capture these was made by the division three days after the landings on the 28th April. In this First Battle of Krithia an advance up the peninsula was made but the division was halted short of its objectives and suffered around 3,000 casualties. The attack was resumed on the 6th May with the launch of the Second Battle of Krithia. On the occasion the 88th Brigade attacked along Fig Tree Spur and after two days of fighting without significant progress, it was relieved by the New Zealand Infantry Brigade.
On the 4th June the 88th Brigade was once more required to make an advance along Fig Tree Spur in the Third Battle of Krithia. The division finally saw successful fighting at Helles during the Battle of Gully Ravine on the 28th June, when the 86th Brigade managed to advance along Gully Spur. As a prelude to the
launch of the August Offensive, a diversion was carried out at Helles on 6th August to prevent the Turks withdrawing troops. In what beacme known as the Battle of Krithia Vineyard, the 88th Brigade made another costly and futile attack along the exposed Krithia Spur. At Suvla, the Battle of Scimitar Hill on 21st August was the final push of the failed August Offensive. The 29th Division had been moved from Helles to Suvla to participate. The 87th Brigade was briefly able to capture the summit of the hill but was soon forced to retreat. The division was evacuated from Gallipoli, were it went to Egypt before being sent to France. The division comprised three infantry brigades which at various times contained the following battalions:
On the morning of 25th April 1915 the Battle of Gallipoli began when battalions from the division's 86th and 87th Brigades landed at five beaches around Cape Helles at the tip of the peninsula. Three of the landings, faced little or no opposition but were not exploited. The two main landings at V and W Beaches on either side of the cape, met with fierce Turkish resistance and the landing battalions were decimated.
The original objectives of the first day of the campaign had been the villagr of Krithia and the nearby hill of Achi Baba. The first concerted attempt to capture these was made by the division three days after the landings on the 28th April. In this First Battle of Krithia an advance up the peninsula was made but the division was halted short of its objectives and suffered around 3,000 casualties. The attack was resumed on the 6th May with the launch of the Second Battle of Krithia. On the occasion the 88th Brigade attacked along Fig Tree Spur and after two days of fighting without significant progress, it was relieved by the New Zealand Infantry Brigade.
On the 4th June the 88th Brigade was once more required to make an advance along Fig Tree Spur in the Third Battle of Krithia. The division finally saw successful fighting at Helles during the Battle of Gully Ravine on the 28th June, when the 86th Brigade managed to advance along Gully Spur. As a prelude to the
launch of the August Offensive, a diversion was carried out at Helles on 6th August to prevent the Turks withdrawing troops. In what beacme known as the Battle of Krithia Vineyard, the 88th Brigade made another costly and futile attack along the exposed Krithia Spur. At Suvla, the Battle of Scimitar Hill on 21st August was the final push of the failed August Offensive. The 29th Division had been moved from Helles to Suvla to participate. The 87th Brigade was briefly able to capture the summit of the hill but was soon forced to retreat. The division was evacuated from Gallipoli, were it went to Egypt before being sent to France. The division comprised three infantry brigades which at various times contained the following battalions:
86th Brigade:
1st Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers.
1st Battalion, Royal Munster Fusiliers ( until April 1916 )
1st Battalion, Royal Dublin Fusiliers.
1st Battalion, Royal Guernsey Light Infantry ( from October 1917 until April 1918 )
2nd Battalion, Royal Fusiliers.
2/3rd ( City of London ) Battalion, The London Regiment ( until January 1916 )
16th Battalion, ( Public Schools Battalion ) The Middlesex Regiment ( from April 1916 )
disbanded February 1918 )
1st Battalion, Royal Munster Fusiliers ( until April 1916 )
1st Battalion, Royal Dublin Fusiliers.
1st Battalion, Royal Guernsey Light Infantry ( from October 1917 until April 1918 )
2nd Battalion, Royal Fusiliers.
2/3rd ( City of London ) Battalion, The London Regiment ( until January 1916 )
16th Battalion, ( Public Schools Battalion ) The Middlesex Regiment ( from April 1916 )
disbanded February 1918 )
87th Brigade:
1st Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers
1st Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
1st Battalion, The Border Regiment
2nd Battalion, South Wales Borderers.
1st Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
1st Battalion, The Border Regiment
2nd Battalion, South Wales Borderers.
88th Brigade:
1st Battalion, The Essex Regiment
1st Battalion, The Newfoundland Regiment
1/5th Battalion, The Royal Scots Regiment ( until July 1916 )
2nd Battalion, The Royal Hampshire Regiment
2nd Battalion, The Leinster Regiment ( Joined April 1918 )
2/1st ( City of London ) Battalion, The London Regiment ( until January 1916 )
4th Battalion, The Worcester Regiment.
1st Battalion, The Newfoundland Regiment
1/5th Battalion, The Royal Scots Regiment ( until July 1916 )
2nd Battalion, The Royal Hampshire Regiment
2nd Battalion, The Leinster Regiment ( Joined April 1918 )
2/1st ( City of London ) Battalion, The London Regiment ( until January 1916 )
4th Battalion, The Worcester Regiment.
BATTLES: Gallipoli: Landing at Cape Helles: First Battle of Krithia: Second Battle of Krithia: Third Battle of Krithia: Battle of Gully Ravine: Battle of Sari Bair: Battle of Krithia Vineyard: Battle of Scimitar Hill.
Battle of the Somme ( 1916 ) Third Battle of Ypres: Battle of Cambrai.
Battle of the Somme ( 1916 ) Third Battle of Ypres: Battle of Cambrai.
landing at cape helles
The landing at Cape Helles was part of the amphibious invasion of the Gallipoli Peninsula by British and French forces on April 25th, 1915. Helles at the foot of the peninsula, was the main landing area. With the support of the guns of the Royal Navy, a British Division was to advance 6 miles along the peninsula on the first day and seize the heights of Achi Baba. From there they would go on to capture the forts that guarded the straights of the Dardanelles. Another landing was made to the north at Gaba Tepe by the Australian and the New Zealand Army Corps ( ANZAC )
The Dardanelles Fleet
The Helles landing was mismanaged by the British Commander, Major General Aylmer Hunter-Weston. The two main beaches became bloodbaths, despite the meagre defences, while the landings at other sites were not exploited. Although the British managed to get a foothold ashore, their palns were in disarray. For the next two months they would stage a number of costly battles in an attempt to reach the objectives that they had intended to take on the first day. In each battle they would inch closer but they never managed to get there.
The military commanders of the Ottoman Empire was well aware that a land assault on the Daedanelles was being planned. A combined French and British Naval task force had carried out a series of attacks. Particular difficulty had been experienced by the force in sweeping the straits of naval mines because of gunfire from Ottoman forts and well-concealed mobile howitzer batteries.
The military commanders of the Ottoman Empire was well aware that a land assault on the Daedanelles was being planned. A combined French and British Naval task force had carried out a series of attacks. Particular difficulty had been experienced by the force in sweeping the straits of naval mines because of gunfire from Ottoman forts and well-concealed mobile howitzer batteries.
