THE FARM CEMETERY

UK - 17
NZ - 1
UNIT NOT KNOWN - 634

HISTORY

"The Farm " was a stone shepherd's hut on the Western slopes of Chunuk Bair, known to the Turks as "Aghyl" (a sheepfold). It was passed by the troops who occupied Chunuk Bair on 6th-10th August 1915, and reached by some others. On 8th August it was occupied by the 10th Gurkhas, part of the 9th Royal Warwicks, and the Maoris. The 6th East Lancashire Regiment, the 10th Hampshires and the 6th Royal Irish Rifles reached it next day. The 5th Connaught Rangers came up on the 10th August; but the same morning, in consequence of the Turkish attack which cleared Chunuk Bair, the line was withdrawn to Cheshire Ridge.

The cemetery was made in 1919, by gathering in remains from the area around The Farm to the slopes of Conkbayiri and Hill Q.

LOCATION

The cemetery is reached along a steep footpath which runs from the fire-break that starts south of Chunuk Bair Cemetery. You can park at the memorial and walk from there (don't leave any valuables on display). The sign for the cemetery was missing on the fire-break when we were there, so watch for a track on the right. The last lap is down a steeply angled goat track, which is not too bad going down, but hell to come back up! We rated this as the most difficult cemetery, physically, to reach at Gallipoli, and should only be attempted if you are fit. When you get there there are only seven graves, the unknowns not being commemorated as such, but the views towards Suvla are spectacular and it makes the effort worth it.

GRAVES OF INTEREST

Of the seven known casualties (all Special Memorials) four are officers from 9th Worcesters. On 10th August they were holding a position 400m NE of the cemetery, just below the crest of Hill Q, and were hit by a strong Turksih counter-attack which overwhelmed them. The regimental history records;

" At dawn on 10th August, the enemy on the crest line above the position of the 9th Worcesters opened fire and commenced a bombing attack. Great bombs were rolled down to burst in our lines. Then the enemy came over the crest of the ridge in wave after wave of densely packed troops. Firing as rapidly as possible, the 9th Worcesters held their ground meeting and repulsing the enemy's rushes. For some three hours a desperate struggle raged. By 7am Colonel Nunn had been killed. Captain Rolph, mortally wounded, fired his revolver up the slopes as he lay. At last, when nearly all the officers and most of the men were down, the remnant of the 39th Brigade fell back to the more sheltered position in the dead ground at the head of the ravine."

Eight officers died, and according to Soldiers Died in the Great War CD ROM, 112 other ranks fell that day.

Among those known to be buried here are:

- Killed 10th August 1915, aged 50.
- Commanding officer of the battalion.
- Brother of Mrs Ethel Fryer of Isle of Wight.
- Munn had served in the Nile Expedition of 1897, and during the Boer War with the Imperial Yeomanry.

- Killed 10th August 1915.
- Commissioned 1897 and served in the Boer War; awarded DSO and mentioned in despatches.

- Killed 10th August 1915, aged 50.
- Commissioned North Staffordshire Regiment 1885; served in the Sudan 1896 and remained with this regiment until 1914 - then posted to 9th Worcesters.

- Killed 10th August 1915, aged 19.
- From Bath; educated King Edward's School, Bath.