The Despatch of General Sir Ian Hamilton, Commander in Chief of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force. Printed in the Third Supplement to the London Gazette of 27 March 1916. The Despatch dealt with additions and corrections to the Third Despatch.
To the Secretary of State for War, War Office, London, S.W.
1, Hyde Park Gardens, W ., March 10th, 1916.
My Lord, –
I have the honour to submit herewith a supplement to my despatch of 11th December, 1915. Your Lordship may remember that I was unable to set seriously to work upon this despatch until after my return home at the end of October 1915, and that, when I did so, I was hampered by my separation from my late General Headquarters. My main difficulty lay in the lack of properly authenticated facts relating to the actions and identities of some of the units which had borne the brunt of the fighting. In the Suvla Bay area especially so many senior commandershad gone under in one way or another that it seemed as if the story must be left half told. But now, since my despatch has been studied by many who were themselves engaged, fresh light has been thrown upon several episodes hitherto obscure. I have sifted the evidence, and have satisfied myself that full justice has not been done to certain individuals and units. I hope, therefore, these corrigenda and addenda may be permitted to appear.
Page 289. Substitute ” 127th ” for ” 129th ” in line 10 from end of page.
Page 292. Substitute the words ” First New Zealand Battery under Major McGilp ” for the words ” Second New Zealand Battery under Major Sykes.”
Page 296. Substitute the words ” 6th Royal Irish Rifles ” for the words ” 10th Hampshire Regiment.”
Page 300. Brigadier – General .Hill’s 31st Brigade consisted of the 5th Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, the 6th Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, the 5th Royal Irish Fusiliers, and the 6th Royal Irish Fusiliers, plus the 6th Royal Dublin Fusiliers and the 7th Royal Dublin Fusiliers which were temporarily attached thereto. Of these battalions the 5th Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers joined General Mahon, and were, therefore, not present during the fighting at Chocolate Hill. In addition to units already singled out for commendation, the 5th Royal Irish Fusiliers and the 7th Royal Dublin Fusiliers deserve special mention for the energy and boldness which characterised their attack. Page 302. In the attack on Hill 70, on the 9th August, the 6th Royal Irish Fusiliers and the 6th Royal Dublin Fusiliers of the 31st Brigade (both attached to the 32nd Brigade for this day’s operations) rendered distinguished service. Page 306. The 9th Battalion Sherwood Foresters had constantly maintained stout hearts and a soldierly spirit in despite of the heavy losses they had suffered when carrying out their costly duty of closing the big gap between the left of the Anzac troops and Chocolate Hill from the 8th to 14th August. On the 21st August this same Battalion, together with the 6th Battalion Border Regiment, displayed a vigorous initiative combined with very steady discipline during the attack on Ismail Oglu Tepe.
Since the publication of my despatch of the 11th December the late Commanders of the 11th Division and 9th Corps have drawn my attention to the good work done by the following officers: – Brigadier-General R. P. Maxwell, commanding the 33rd Brigade. He evinced coolness as well as energy throughout the heavy fighting of August, and stuck to his duty afterwards until, through sickness, he was literally unable to stand. Brigadier-General H. Haggard, commanding the 32nd Brigade. He was severely wounded on the 7th of August, but not before he had had time to give sure proof of leadership and daring.
[There follows a list of men mentioned and corrections to a previous such list]
I have the honour to be. Your Lordship’s most obedient servant, Ian Hamilton, General. Late Commander-in-Chief Mediterranean Expeditionary Force.