HELLES MEMORIAL

UK - 18,985
AIF - 248
INDIAN - 1,530

HISTORY

The Helles Memorial serves the dual function of Commonwealth battle memorial for the whole Gallipoli campaign and place of commemoration for many of those Commonwealth servicemen who died there and have no known grave. The United Kingdom and Indian forces named on the memorial died in operations throughout the peninsula, the Australians at Helles. There are also panels for those who died or were buried at sea in Gallipoli waters. The memorial bears more than 21,000 names. There are four other Memorials to the Missing at Gallipoli. The Lone Pine, Hill 60, and Chunuk Bair Memorials commemorate Australian and New Zealanders at Anzac. The Twelve Tree Copse Memorial commemorates the New Zealanders at Helles. Naval casualties of the United Kingdom lost or buried at sea are recorded on their respective Memorials at Portsmouth, Plymouth and Chatham, in the United Kingdom.

The main inscription on the memorial reads:

"The Helles Memorial is both the memorial to the Gallipoli Campaign and to the 20,763 men who fell in that campaign and whose graves are unknown or who were lost or buried at sea in Gallipoli waters. Inscribed on it are the names of all the ships that took part in the campaign and the titles of the army formations and units which served on the Peninsula together with the names of 18,985 sailors, soldiers and marines from the United Kingdom, 248 soldiers from Australia, and 1,530 soldiers of the Indian Army."

Designed by Sir John Burnet, the Helles Memorial was completed in 1924 and is built of rough stone from Ilgardere. The largest number of names are from the Lancashire Fusiliers (1,357 commemorations) on Panels 58-72, and the Manchester Regiment (1,215 commemorations) on Panels 158-170.

LOCATION

The Memorial stands on the tip of the Peninsula and is in the form of an obelisk over 30 metres high that can be seen by ships passing through the Dardanelles.

MEMORIAL PLAN

Click on the image below for a detail plan of the Helles Memorial panels; useful for visiting and tracking down names.

VICTORIA CROSS WINNERS

- Drowned 13th August 1915, aged 36. He was onboard HMT 'Royal Edward' when it was sunk.
- Son of the late Sir John Bromley, C.B., and of Lady Bromley, of Sutton Corner, Seaford, Sussex.
- VC citation London Gazette 15th March 1917:

" On the 25th April, 1915, headquarters and three companies of the 1st Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers in effecting a landing on the Gallipoli Peninsula to the West of Cape Helles, were met by very deadly fire from hidden machine guns, which caused a great number of casualties. The survivors, however, rushed up to and cut the wire entanglements, notwithstanding the terrific fire from the enemy, and after overcoming supreme difficulties, the cliffs were gained and the position maintained. Amongst the many very gallant officers and men engaged in this most hazardous undertaking, Captain Bromley, Serjeant Stubbs, and Corporal Grimshaw have been selected by their comrades as having performed the most single acts of bravery and devotion to duty."

- Killed 21st August 1915, 
- First commissioned 1892; served Boer War: VC, mentioned in despatches, wounded.
- 10th Bart. Son of the late Sir Peniston Milbanke, D.L., J.P. and Elizabeth Milbanke; husband of Leila Milbanke, of 19, Manchester Square, London. Served with the 10th Hussars in the South African War.
- VC citation from the London Gazette:

" On the 5th January 1900, during a reconnaissance near Colesberg, (S. Africa), Sir John Milbanke, when retiring under fire with a small patrol of the 10th Hussars, notwithstanding the fact that he had just been severely wounded in the thigh, rode back to the assistance of one of the men whose pony was exhausted, and who was under fire from the Boers who had dismounted. Sir John Milbanke took the man up on his own horse under a most galling fire and brought him safely back to camp."

- Killed 21st August 1915, aged 26.
- VC citation London Gazette 1st September 1915:

" For most conspicuous bravery during operations South-West of Krithia, on the Gallipoli Peninsula. On the night of the 1st/2nd July, 1915, when it was essential that a portion of a trench which had been lost should be regained, Captain O'Sullivan, although not belonging to the troops at this point, volunteered to lead a party of bomb throwers to effect the recapture. He advanced in the open under a very heavy fire, and, in order to throw his bombs with greater effect, got up on the parapet where he was completely exposed to the fire of the enemy occupying the trench. He was finally wounded, but not before his inspiring example had led on his party to make further efforts, which resulted in the recapture of the trench. On the night of 18th/19th June, 1915. Captain O'Sullivan saved a critical situation in the same locality by his great personal gallantry and good leading."

- Killed 25th April 1915, aged 27.
- VC citation London Gazette 15th March 1917:

" On the 25th April, 1915, headquarters and three companies of the 1st Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers, in effecting a landing on the Gallipoli Peninsula to the West of Cape Helles, were met by very deadly fire from hidden machine guns, which caused a great number of casualties. The survivors, however, rushed up to and cut the wire entanglements, notwithstanding the terrific fire from the enemy, and after overcoming supreme difficulties, the cliffs were gained and the position maintained. Amongst the many very gallant officers and men engaged in this most hazardous undertaking, Captain Bromley, Serjeant Stubbs, and Corporal Grimshaw have been selected by their comrades as having performed the most signal acts of bravery and devotion to duty."

- Killed 6th May 1915, aged 24.
- Son of Rev. Dr. Tisdall, D.D. (Vicar of Deal), and his wife, Marian L. Tisdall, of St. George's Vicarage, Deal, Kent. Scholar of Trinity College, Cambridge; B.A. (Double First Class Classical Honours); Chancellor's Gold Medallist, Cambridge; First Class Clerk, Civil Service (Treasury).
- VC citation London Gazette 31st March 1916:

" During the landing from the S.S. " River Clyde " at V Beach, in the Gallipoli Peninsula, on the 25th April, 1915, Sub. Lieut. Tisdall, hearing wounded men on the beach calling for assistance, jumped into the water, and, pushing a boat in front of him, went to their rescue. He was, however, obliged to obtain help, and took with him on two trips, Ldg. Smn. Malia; and on other trips, Ch. P.O. Perring and Ldg. Smn. Curtis and Parkinson. In all, Sub. Lieut. Tisdall made four or five trips between the ship and the shore, and was thus responsible for rescuing several wounded men under heavy and accurate fire. Owing to the fact that Sub. Lieut. Tisdall and the platoon under his orders were on detached service at the time, and that this officer was killed in action on the 6th May, it has only now been possible to obtain complete information as to the individuals who took part in this gallant act. Of these, Ldg. Smn. Fred Curtis, DEV/1899/C, has been missing since the 4th June, 1915."

NAMES OF INTEREST

- Brigadier General Henry Edward Napier, cmdg. 88th Brigade, 29th Division.
Killed 25th April 1915, aged 53. He was first commissioned in 1882 and served in the Boer War.
- Brigadier General Anthony Baldwin, cmdg. 38th Brigade, 13th (Western) Division.
Killed at Chunuk Bair 10th August 1915. First commissioned 1884; served in the Boer War.

- Died of wounds 1st November 1915, aged 28. Buried at sea.
- Brother of war poet Siegfried Sassoon.

- Killed at Suvla, 11th August 1915, aged 46.
- Lived Croft Castle, Kingsland, Herefordshire. This is now a National Trust property, and his photograph and WW1 medals are on display here. There is a memorial to him in the family chapel.

©Paul Reed 2001-2006