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'S' Beach and the South Wales Borderers, 25th April 1915

S Beach was situated inside the Dardanelles Straits to the east of Morto Bay. This end of the bay was dominated by cliffs that rose sharply to de Tott’s Battery point. The 2nd Battalion South Wales Borderers were to land here and establish a bridgehead behind the main Turkish lines facing V and W beaches. From it they could threaten or harass the Turkish retreat. 

By 0830, despite a number of problems, S Beach was captured with light British casualties. The South Wales Borderers' commander, Lieutenant Colonel Hugh Casson, was then able to see that the troops at V Beach had failed to make headway into Sedd el Bahr. Believing the Turks between his position and Sedd el Bahr were stronger than they were, the Casson decided to consolidate his position and wait. In his isolated flank position he felt he had no other option available to him.

Peter Hart (IWM) 

Read a fuller account of the landing at S Beach.
View the route taken by the South Wales Borderers in climbing the cliffs of de Totts Battery.  See a general view of Helles and Sedd el Bahr from the Turkish Memorial at de Tott's Battery.	(These short films require QuickTime 4 player in order to view them.)

IWM Q 102543: 'S' Beach. Boats grounded at De Totts. 25th April 1915