Samuel Welbourn

Samuel Welbourn enlisted on or around 12 August 1914 and only served with 9th battalion. After landing at Suvla Bay, the battalion were told to dig and link with the ANZAC's. To begin with the Turkish trenches were lightly held as they thought it impossible to attack the Sari Bari Ridge with its dense scrub, razor edged spurs and deep gorges. The only way through it was by using goat tracks. At 4.45 am on 9th, the battalion moved forward and at first good progress was made but after 100 yards they came under heavy machine gun fire and suffered many casualties. The men continued on towards Hetman Chair and the scrubby undergrowth became a major problem a sit caught fire trapping men and causing others to file along the goat tracks. Eventually the attack stalled close to Hetman Chair, but at 8 am they had a satisfactory line of defence. It was though at a cost of 8 officer and 150 other rank casualties, many of them dead. The Turks counter attacked and got between two companies. The CO, Lieut -Colonel Bosanquet, seeing the problem moved forward with every man he could muster signallers, runners, servants and anyone who cold hold a rifle. They pushed the Turks back and he ordered a move back some 400 yards to a more tenable line. The Commander in Chief would recognise the heroics of the battalion in a later dispatch but it had left the battalion with 300 'fit' men and only one officer not dead or wounded. Samuel was one of the men killed and has no known grave. He is commemorated on the Helles Memorial Gallipoli. John Morse

Helles Memorial Turkey Panel 151 to 153