Lot 190
1/7th Manchester’s Gallipoli Campaign Diary
"Behind The Wire" - Medal and Militaria Sale | M25001
Auction: 17 September 2025 at 14:00 BST
Description
The Very Rare and absolutely fascinating Gallipoli and 1920 South Russia Campaign Diary of Private Joseph Turton, 1/7th Battalion The Manchester Regiment, who served in Gallipoli from May to November 1915, being wounded with a Gun Shot Wound Left Buttock on the 6th of August 1915, and who then transferred to the Royal Flying Corps in 1917 and who served in 1920 with the Royal Air Force in South Russia., very fine (1)
The War Diary for the 1/7th Battalion Manchester Regiment from May 1915, when the Battalion landed at ANZAC, to October 1915 is missing. This first hand Diary account therefore is a unique and historic account of the Battalions actions in the months of May to September. No War Diaries are known to exist for this period.
Private Joseph Turton landed in the Mediterranean Theatre of Operations with the Manchester Regiment on the 20th of September 1914. He proceeded to the Gallipoli Peninsula on the 6th of May 1915.
Extracts
May 6th Thurs (1915)
Ham for breakfast, Weather very cold. Heavy swell running. Pass the entrance to the Straits of the Dardanelles and go up Gulf of Saros up to landing place of Australian and New Zealanders. They landed on a small beach overlooked by a cliff and lost heavily. Saw bombardment of Turkish Positions by numerous battleships and Cruisers. About 3- to 40 War Craft. Battleships, Cruisers, destroyers, submarines off Peninsula. Also many transports. Bombardment ceased about 7.30pm when darkness came on. Wireless communication early in the morning for about 3 hours with a passing boat.
May 7th Fri,
Previous night memorable for extreme coldness, men sleep huddled leik the dead. Stairs choked with sleeping men. Leave “IONIAN” in troop-boat for Helles Burnu which we reached at 5pm. Saw French Artillery in operation. Soixante-quinze etc. Saw many wounded, French Colonials. Algerians etc. and British. Hawke Batt, Essex 29th Div. Saw ruined forts of Sedd-el-Bahr on European side and battered buildings and guns innumerable. Warships bombarded Turkish Positions
May 11th Tues 1915
Ordinary Routine up to 5pm, Leave camp at 5.15pm for scene of operations. Reach Base for Front at 10.45pm. a very steep and dangerous ravine where we hear shots going over. Saw stretchers soaked in blood and then learn we are to relieve New Zealand Infantry on left and units of Manchester Brigade on right.
12th May Wed.
A & B Cos 1st line trenches with C & D Cos in support. Very Wet. Lyng cramped up in mud. 1 biscuit with jam all I had all day. No dug-out. Shrapnel and Rifle fire sweeping trenches continually. Incessant at night when Turks like to do the fighting. Snipers very busy. One man Observing and the next standing to all night. New Zealanders in digging trench that we relived them in lost 200 men out of 500.
6th August Contd.
At dusk sent out at 2 minutes notice to re-enforce Worcesters. Our party of 23 men of A Coy with Capt Smedley whom we lose when getting into the open and take the wrong course. Cpl Joyce takes charge of party and assembling us in Indian File instructs us to crawl forward to see who occupies the Trench to our front which is supposed to be held by a party of Worcesters who had obtained a lodgement. When we were crawling in the open the Turks sent up flares which disclosed party and thereupon opened rapid fire on us. Seeing our mistake we got orders to return the trench we were making for was occupied by Turks. Before coming back I was wounded. On getting into our lines I receive orders to go to Casualty Clearing Station at Base.
He transferred to the Royal Flying Corps on the 21st of March 1917 and to the Royal Air Force on the 1st of April 1918. His R.A.F. Service Papers state that he returned from South Russia - on the 19th of July 1920 and was posted to the Rest Camp in Constantinople.
June 28th Mon. 1920
All cars handed over with exception of 1 Crosley Touring Car shipped in RIO NEGRO, viz 1 Ford Touring Car, 1 Box Ford and 1 Crosley Light Tender. Embarked on H.M.T. RIO NEGRO at 5pm.
Jue 29th Tues
Left Sebastopol 6am on RIO NEGRO capacity 1,000 troops. Yellow funnel white Bridge Deck. 1 Top Deck Well Deck and two Bottom Decks.
Joseph Turton is entitled to a 191-15 Trio. Sold with Copy Medal Index Card, Copy Medal Roll, Copy Raf Service Papers, Copy Daily Orders Part II Constantinople Rest Camp, Copy 1/7th Battalion Manchester Regiment War Diary from October to December 1915. Containing a list of all his friends Killed on the Peninsula.
Footnote
