the 29th Division
' With his officers and brother Tommies dying and dead around him...The manner in which the man worked out in the open will never be forgotten by those who were fortunate enough to witness it. '
Cosgrove, after his Seregant Major had been killed, led the Munstermen in the successful but fierce attack to take Hill 141. He was hit in the spine and was invalided home to Ireland to a hero's welcome. Cosgrove was the son of a small farmer in County Cork and a s a young man in 1910 had enlisted in the 1st Munster Fusiliers with whom he had seen service like so many other Irishmen in India. A modest man, when recuperating at the family's farm and describing his action, he willingly gave credit to his fellow Munsters.
" The boys that were left with me were as every bit as good as myself and i do wish that they all got some recognition. " He also had a good word to say about the ' Turks ' " We met a brave, honourable foe in the Turks. " Promoted to Sergeant, William saw no further action because of his wound.
Meanwhile, as the below film will show, the Anzacs were fighting for their own foot hold on the beach, landing north of Gaba Tepe.
Meanwhile, as the below film will show, the Anzacs were fighting for their own foot hold on the beach, landing north of Gaba Tepe.
William Cosgrove VC
Left, survivors from the River Clyde storm the village and fort of Sedd-el-Bahr. Fighting was bitter.
These regular Irish soldiers continued to fight in isolated engagements throughout the spring and summer of 1915, and Captain ' Mickey ' Gerald O' Sullivan, 1st Inniskilling Fusiliers, became a legend in the Gallipoli Peninsula. On the 1st and 2nd July he and Corporal ( later Sergeant ) James Somers of the same regiment, both ' wonderful bombers ' won their VC's assisting Gurkhas whose trenches were penetrated by the turks.
O' Sullivan volunteered to lead a party of bomb-throwers to recapture it and:
O' Sullivan volunteered to lead a party of bomb-throwers to recapture it and:
Under a very heavy fire, and in order to throw his bombs with greater effect he got up on the parapet where he was completely exposed to the enemy . . He was finally wounded but not before his inspiring example . . .which resulted in the recapture of the trench.
Gerald O' Sullivam Jaames Somers
Although the empty portion of the trench was subsequently reoccupied by the Turks, which happened frequently, Captain O' Sullivan's gallantry was recognised in his award. Born near Douglas, County Cork, he was the son of the late Lieutenant Colonel George L. O' Sullivan of the 91st Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, an example of the many Irish in Scottish regiments. He spent most of his boyhood in Dublin, and from Sandhurst was gazetted to the Inniskillings in May 1909.
In his section Corporal Somers, of County Cavan, remained on the spot fighting with his rifle until a party brought up much needed bombs. His citation states that he then climbed over into the Turkish trench and bombed the Turks with great effect. Some of his officers had said it was impossible to put the Turks out, but by his coolness and bravery he succeeded in doing so and was promoted Sergeant in the field. Somers was was later gassed and invalided home to Tipperary where he died in May 1918. As in France the fighting in Gallipoli degenerated into stalemate with the high ground still held by the Turks, and the Allies settled on a narrow strip along the coast. After the initial landing at Helles, the 1st Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers suffered 600 casualties out of a total 1,000, that together with the 1st Munster Fusiliers who had suffered similar casualties in just two days of fighting, formed a composite battalion known as the ' Dubsters ' on the 30th April 1915, until fresh drafts arrived to replace those who had been killed or wounded.
In his section Corporal Somers, of County Cavan, remained on the spot fighting with his rifle until a party brought up much needed bombs. His citation states that he then climbed over into the Turkish trench and bombed the Turks with great effect. Some of his officers had said it was impossible to put the Turks out, but by his coolness and bravery he succeeded in doing so and was promoted Sergeant in the field. Somers was was later gassed and invalided home to Tipperary where he died in May 1918. As in France the fighting in Gallipoli degenerated into stalemate with the high ground still held by the Turks, and the Allies settled on a narrow strip along the coast. After the initial landing at Helles, the 1st Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers suffered 600 casualties out of a total 1,000, that together with the 1st Munster Fusiliers who had suffered similar casualties in just two days of fighting, formed a composite battalion known as the ' Dubsters ' on the 30th April 1915, until fresh drafts arrived to replace those who had been killed or wounded.
