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The Third Battle of Krithia, 4th June 1915

After the failure of the Second Battle of Krithia, 6-8 May, Major-General Aylmer Hunter-Weston, commanding 29^th Division, and tactically in charge of the Helles front, was still confident of success if an early attack was launched.
His opinions carried much weight with General Sir Ian Hamilton and GHQ and he was encouraged to maintain 'a ceaseless initiative' against the Turkish positions in front of Krithia and Achi Baba. British units received much-needed reinforcements in May and on 24 May Hunter-Weston was formally appointed commander of the British forces on the Helles front as GOC VIII Corps.

Meanwhile, the replacement of General d'Amade by General Gouraud as commander of the French forces on the peninsula resulted in the latter's willing co-operation in plans for the renewal of the offensive at Helles.

On 31 May Hamilton sanctioned plans to fight a general action in the Helles zone. However, this was to be an attack with strictly limited objectives NOT aimed at capturing Achi Baba in one day.

The Third Battle of Krithia was fought on 4 June and was the first of the campaign to take place under trench warfare conditions. Imagination and initiative were used in planning the operation, but despite early successes (particularly by the 42^nd (East Lancashire) Division), the attack eventually failed, only minor territorial advances being made at heavy cost in casualties.

Although in some quarters it was argued that a further attack on the following day might have achieved a major breakthrough, it was Turkish counter-attacks that were almost successful in breaking the British front. It was only with considerable difficulty and with great determination by certain British units - particularly the Territorials of the 42^nd Division - that these counter-attacks were defeated and the Helles front returned to trench deadlock.

Bryn Hammond (IWM)

(IWM: Q 70701: Men of the King's Own Scottish Borderers go over the top, Third Battle of Krithia, 4 June 1915)