Allied regional Commander-in-Chief Sir Ian Hamilton planned the Battle of Lone Pine, along with the Battle of Sari Bair, as a diversionary attack to draw Turkish attention away from the Allied landings at Suvla Bay on August 6, 1915, during World War 1.
On August 6, 1915, the 1st Australian Division of 4,600 men, led by Sir William Birdwood, launched an attack on the Turkish-held position at Lone Pine, a short distance above Anzac Cove.
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The Battle
The attack was intended to draw Turkish attention away from the main Allied landings at Suvla Bay, which were also taking place on that day.
The attack began at 5:30 p.m. and quickly developed into a ferocious hand-to-hand assault. The Australians, attacking with the sun at their backs, were astonished to find that the Turkish trenches were covered with logs and earth, making them difficult to penetrate.
The battle raged for five days, and by the time it was over, the Australians had suffered over 2,000 casualties.
However, they also inflicted heavy casualties on the Turks, and they succeeded in drawing Turkish attention away from the landings at Suvla Bay.
The Battle of Lone Pine was a costly victory for the Australians, but it was a significant success in the overall Gallipoli Campaign.
The Australians had shown their courage and determination, and they had helped to pave the way for the eventual Allied withdrawal from Gallipoli.
The Turkish defenders were initially able to inflict heavy casualties on the Australians as the Australians searched for a way to enter the Turkish trenches.
However, the Australians eventually gained access to the Turkish trenches through communication trenches, and they were able to heave off the log covers on the front trench.
This led to a fierce hand-to-hand battle, often in virtual darkness.
The fighting was so close that there was often insufficient room to use bayonets or grenades, so the soldiers fought with fists and bayonet swords.
Within half an hour, the trench line was in Australian hands. The Lone Pine position was secured two days later, after wave after wave of Turkish counter-attacks. The battle lasted for five days in total.
The battle was costly for both sides, with a total of 10,000 casualties (7,000 Turkish, 3,000 Australian). Of these, some 9,000 were fatalities.
Aftermath
The battle of Lone Pine remains notorious to this day. Seven Victoria Crosses were awarded to the Australian force as a consequence of fighting at Lone Pine.
Unfortunately for the Allies, the attack on Lone Pine proved to be less of a diversion than they had hoped.
The Turkish reserves that were drafted in to defend Lone Pine were subsequently able to rush to the Sari Bair range once its importance became clearer.