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Sikhs
in Gallipoli |
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'In the highest sense of
the word, extreme gallantry has been shown by this fine
Battalion... In spite of the tremendous losses, there
was not a sign of wavering all day. Not an inch of
ground was given up and not a single straggler came
back... The ends of the enemy's trenches leading into
the ravine were found to be blocked with the bodies of
the Sikhs and of the enemy who died fighting at close
quarters, and the glacis slope is thickly dotted with
the bodies of these fine soldiers all lying on their
faces as they fell in their steady advance on the enemy.
The history of the Sikhs affords many instances of their
value as soldiers, but it maybe safely asserted that
nothing finer than grim valor and steady discipline
displayed by them on June 4th has ever been done by
soldiers of the Khalsa. Their devotion to duty and
their splendid loyalty to their orders and to their
leaders make a record their nation should look upon with
pride for many generations.'
General Sir Ian
Hamilton, 3rd Battle of Krithia, Gallipoli, 1915.
The Royal British Legion. |
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| ANZAC day, is a significant day in
the calendar of New Zealander's and Australians, but it also an
important day for Sikhs, as the Sikhs too fought alongside the
Kiwi's and Aussies for the defense of the British Empire.
On multiple fronts throughout the war the Sikhs fighting under
the Indian army fought alongside allied forces to drive out
enemy forces from there territories. ANZAC day is not only a
remembrance of the great war, but for all wars fought by allied
forces throughout the world.
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Sikhs in Gallipoli |
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- Newspaper article from the Grey River Argus 29 November
1915, Page 2. Sikhs, Australians and Gurkhas at
Gallipoli
The
Sikhs
had been brought ashore secretly during the dark hours, and
were bivouacked where the Australians found them early. An
immediate friendship seemed to spring up. and during the day
little mixed groups conversing in the languages in signs and
pantomime found many interests in common.
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Deployment & Preparation
0n the 10th of April the 29th
Brigade was ordered to prepare to move overseas and ten days
later was concentrated in Port Said.
The 14th Sikhs embarked in the transport Dunluce Castle on
the 27th of April and the whole Brigade sailed in convoy the
next day for Gallipoli.
It was an inspiring sight approaching Cape Helles, where
they arrived on the 30th of April.
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Third Battle of Krithia
On the front of the Indian
Brigade the open ground on Gully Spur sloped up north-eastwards
towards two lines of Turkish trenches, known as J10 and J11.
Gully Ravine was about seventy-five yards wide and forty to
fifty feet deep, the lower portion being covered with low scrub.
Gully Spur fell steeply into the ravine and was higher than the
right edge, from which the ground sloped gradually upward and
eastward to a crest 1iine about two hundred yards away.
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Gully Ravine
Towards the end of the month it
was decided to carry out an attack on a narrow front on
Gully Spur. The 29th Division and a brigade of the 52nd
Division advanced on the 28th of June and captured five
lines of enemy trenches. The 14th Sikhs, who were still
very...
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ANZAC - Battle of Sair Bair
The 14th Sikhs embarked in
trawlers on the 5th of August and arrived off Anzac at about 9
o'clock in the evening. The Regiment commenced to disembark at
daybreak, but when about half of it was ashore the enemy shelled
the beaches heavily and disembarkation of the remainder was
delayed until after dark.
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Letters & Quotes from the Great War
'The Sikhs
did not turn even their noses. They were keen for
the fight, and where one man fell, another from behind
stood in his place. And we took pleasure in the
battle...Until now God has preserved us, but there is no
hope for of anyone of us returning to India. This
is no war, but the destruction of the world.'
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