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'X' Beach 

The landing at X Beach was the smallest of the three main landings at Helles. The 'beach' was a small, narrow margin of sand about 200 yards long which stood at the base of steep cliffs around 100 feet high positioned almost a mile up the Aegean coast. As an unlikely landing site it was held by a small picquet of just 12 Turks.

The assault was carried out by the 2nd Battalion Royal Fusiliers who were given two principal objectives. After securing the beach and the cliff top, they were firstly to assault and take Hill 114 and secondly protect the northeastern flank of the covering force by establishing an outpost line to the north of and immediately inland from X Beach.

The landing was covered by an ingenious bombardment executed by HMS Implacable which maintained its fire until the moment the troops reached the shore. Although the initial assault went smoothly, once at the top of the cliffs the Royal Fusiliers soon encountered the Turks' local Helles reserve, positioned directly inland from them, and it was not until 11.00 that Hill 114 was secured.

Nigel Steel (IWM)

IWM: Q 13220: HMS Implacable off Gallipoli - in the foreground a trawler transports troops to the shore

IWM: Q 14857: 'X' Beach: the road constructed leading up from the beach; 2nd Field Ambulance encampment at top of cliff. November 1916.