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Auction: 20001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - conducted behind closed doors
Lot: 852

(x) Three: Corporal H. G. Carpenter, Royal Fusiliers, who was killed in action on the first day of the Gallipoli landings attempting to capture Hill 114 and consolidate 'X' Beach

1914-15 Star (L-11944 Cpl. H. Carpenter R.Fus:); British War and Victory Medals (L-11944 Cpl. H. G. Carpenter. R. Fus.), good very fine (3)


Herbert George Carpenter was born on 31 May 1887 at St Lawrence, Ventnor, the son of William Carpenter, an agricultural labourer and cowman of Vestry Cottage, St Lawrence, Ventnor, Isle of Wight. Enlisting at Sandown, Carpenter served as a Corporal in the 2nd Battalion, Royal Fusiliers, and was killed in action sometime during the landing on 'X' Beach, Cape Helles, and the attack on Hill 114 on 25 April 1915.

'X' Beach: The Implacable landing

The landing place of the 2nd Battalion was a small natural amphitheatre with a narrow floor of sand about 200 yards long, lying on the north-west face of the peninsula. The men rowed in as rapidly as possible until their boats grounded, whereupon they jumped into the sea and waded ashore, often up to their necks in the water. Having reached the shore the troops scrambled up a crumbling 100 foot high cliff largely unopposed, Turkish resistance being quashed by the skilful covering fire of Implacable and Dublin. After successfully directing naval fire upon a half-battery of Turkish guns, the Fusiliers attempted to carry Tekke Hill (Hill 114) at the point of the bayonet. They reached the summit and took 60 prisoners, but by 3pm a series of ferocious Turkish counter-attacks had all but cut off the men of the 2nd on the peak. A lack of planning and briefing on the part of local commanders meant that the initial success was not exploited and the single battalion was now stretched to full capacity.

At this critical juncture, the Commanding Officer, Colonel H. E. B. Newenham - himself wounded - called in reinforcements and the dangerously extended line was consolidated by men of the Border Regiment and 1st Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. By nightfall, the surviving Royal Fusiliers lay exhausted and scattered around the edge of the clifftop, the Battalion being reduced to half strength.

For his leadership in capturing Hill 114, H. E. B. Newenham was granted a well-deserved C.B. The capture of the hill turned the tide on 'W' Beach, and, with the linking of 'X and 'W' Beaches created a feasible, if precarious, foothold on the peninsula. Colonel Newenham was evacuated soon thereafter and had a leg amputated. Carpenter is commemorated upon the Helles Memorial.


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Sold for
£300

Starting price
£130