Chapter 57 – Ellis

Many of the details included in this chapter are taken from Uncensored Dardanelles , by Ellis Ashmead-Bartlett. This book was published in 1928 and includes day-by-day diary style details from his own experiences, as well as some post analysis of events. The events of the Anglo-French attack at Cape Helles on 6 to 8May 1915, as witnessed by Ellis Ashmead-Bartlett are covered on pages 84-93. His reflections on 9 May whilst finalising his despatch on board the battleship Implacable are included on page 101. Some of the key details included from this source include:

p. 101 – On 9 May 1915, on board the battleship Implacable , writing of the Cape Helles attack of 6-8 May, Ashmead-Bartlett reflects “It is heartrending work having to write what I know to be untrue, and in the end having to confine myself to giving a descriptive account of the useless slaughter of thousands of my fellow countrymen for the benefit of the public at home, when what I wish to do is to tell the world the blunders that are being daily committed on this blood-stained peninsula. Yet I am helpless. Any word of criticism would be eliminated by the censor and there would be a row with headquarters rending my position more difficult than ever. To-day I feel inclined to stop writing half-truths, to resign and return home. But I am not a free agent. I have my employers to consider and all the expenses they have incurred. Sometimes I feel it my duty to resign, but I know that if I did there would be little chance of the truth ever being known. I have, therefore, decided  to carry on and to await a more favourable moment before definitely exposing those who are responsible for the conduct of the campaign.”

p. 58-59 – Ashmead-Bartlett learned on 29 April 1915, to his dismay, that his censored account of the Anzac landing had not been despatched. He was advised to send his writing by ship to Alexandria or Malta for it to be cabled. Seeing little alternative, he decided to “leave the whole matter in the hands of Allah.”

p. 84 – Ashmead-Bartlett went to shore and visited General Hunter-Weston on 6 May 1915 to discuss the upcoming attack. Hunter-Weston was optimistic, expecting to take Krithia that day and Achi Baba either that day or the following day, and showed Ashmead-Bartlett to a vantage point where he could observe the whole battlefield. Ashmead-Bartlett noted “I quite fail to see on what his optimism is based.”

pp. 84-93 – Ashmead-Bartlett includes a detailed account of the three day battle 6-8 May, as he observed it from his vantage point. Many of these details have been included using Ashmead-Bartlett’s vivid words and images, such as the reference to Achi Baba resembling an old Chinese idol and the Anglo-French forces being the army of the last Crusade.

Ellis Ashmead-Bartlett’s noted in his diary on 29 April 1915, that Lester Lawrence had not submitted any writing to the censor at this time. This diary has been transcribed and can be viewed online at:

https://transcripts.sl.nsw.gov.au/content/item-01-ellis-ashmead-bartlett-diary-1915-1917

In Despatches from the Dardanelles , Ellis Ashmead-Bartlett includes the full wording of his despatch dated 10 May 1915, entitled “Furious attacks on Aki Baba Mountain” (pp. 109-127, Alternative spelling of Achi Baba has been corrected). All extracts included in a different font are taken from this despatch.