Battle of Scimitar Hill facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Scimitar Hill
Part of Gallipoli Campaign
Date 21 August 1915 Location Suvla, Gallipoli, Ottoman Empire Result Ottoman victory
Belligerents
British Empire	Ottoman Empire
Commanders and leaders
Beauvoir De Lisle	Mustafa Kemal Bey
Strength
11th and 29th divisions (14,300 men)	12th Division 9th Division (6 Battalions) 6th Division(Reserve, did not engage)
Casualties and losses
5,300	2,600

The Battle of Scimitar Hill was a big fight during World War I. It happened on 21 August 1915, in a place called Gallipoli. This battle was the last major attack by the British in the area known as Suvla. It was also the largest single-day attack by the Allies during the entire Gallipoli Campaign.

The British wanted to push back the Ottoman forces. They also hoped to connect their troops at Suvla with the ANZAC soldiers further south. Sadly, the battle was a costly failure for the British. The fighting was very tough and lasted late into the night.

Why Did the Battle Happen?

The Gallipoli Campaign Begins

The British campaign in the Dardanelles was not going well. Soldiers had landed on 25 April but struggled to move forward. In August 1915, the British tried a new plan. They hoped to gain control from the Ottoman forces.

This new plan was called the Battle of Sari Bair. Two British divisions, part of IX Corps, landed at Suvla on the night of 6 August. At the same time, ANZAC troops tried to break out from their positions.

Scimitar Hill: A Key Location

Scimitar Hill got its name because its top looked like a curved sword. This hill and the nearby W Hills were important. They were part of the Anafarta Spur, which was the southern edge of the Suvla area.

Capturing these hills was a main goal for the British on 7 August. However, the British commander, General Frederick Stopford, was careful. He did not want to advance without strong artillery support. Artillery means big guns that fire shells.

Because of this, the British troops did not move forward right away. By the time they did, they were tired and low on water. They were also constantly under fire from Ottoman snipers and shrapnel. Shrapnel is small metal pieces from exploding shells.

Early Attempts to Take the Hill

On 8 August, a British battalion briefly captured Scimitar Hill. But they then left it. The next day, on 9 August, the British tried to take the hill again. There was fierce fighting, and the hill changed hands several times. In the end, the British were forced off.

More British troops arrived, but the Ottomans held their ground. Any hope of a quick victory at Suvla disappeared. On 10 August, another British division attacked Scimitar Hill. This attack also failed badly. It weakened the division a lot.

The Main Battle of Scimitar Hill

New Commanders and Plans

General Stopford was removed from his command on 15 August. Major-General Beauvoir De Lisle took over temporarily. De Lisle decided not to try another big attack right away. Instead, he wanted to secure the land they already held. He also wanted to connect his troops with the ANZAC forces to the south.

To do this, the British needed to capture Scimitar Hill, the W Hills, and Hill 60.

The Attack Begins

De Lisle planned the attack for 21 August. The 29th Division would attack Scimitar Hill. The 11th Division would attack the W Hills. Other troops, called yeomanry (soldiers who fought on horseback but were now on foot), were kept in reserve.

Before the attack, the British fired many artillery shells. This is called an artillery barrage. It looked impressive, but it did not do much damage. Mist and smoke made it hard for the British to see their targets. But the Ottoman artillery could see everything clearly.

Fierce Fighting and Retreat

The 11th Division's attack on the W Hills failed. They faced strong Ottoman defenses and heavy artillery fire. Meanwhile, some British soldiers from the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers managed to reach the top of Scimitar Hill.

But they were caught between Ottoman fire from the W Hills and from higher up the Anafarta Spur. The Irish soldiers had to retreat from the hill. Shellfire also set the bushes on fire, trapping and burning wounded soldiers.

Around 5:00 p.m., more British troops, the 2nd Mounted Division, were sent in. They marched across a dry salt lake. The air was full of mist and smoke, so they could barely see. The 5,000 men were easy targets for Ottoman shrapnel.

Most of them stopped for cover. But Brigadier-General Lord Longford led his brigade in a charge up Scimitar Hill. Lord Longford was killed, and his troops were also forced off the hill.

This attack on 21 August was the last time the British tried to advance at Suvla. The front line stayed between Green Hill and Scimitar Hill until the British left Gallipoli on 20 December.

What Happened After?

Battle Casualties

In just one day of fighting, the British lost 5,300 soldiers. This was out of 14,300 who took part in the battle.

Victoria Cross Heroes

Only two Victoria Cross medals were given out for bravery at Suvla. Both were for rescuing wounded soldiers at Scimitar Hill.

• One was given to Captain Percy Hansen for his actions on 9 August.
• The other went to Private Frederick Potts after the battle on 21 August.