A Collection of Medals for the Gallipoli Campaign

Three: Private G. Drinkwater, Lancashire Fusiliers, who was killed in action at Gallipoli whilst attempting to capture and hold the strategically important high peak of Ismail Oglu Tepe on 21 August 1915

1914-15 Star (13882 Pte. G. Drinkwater. Lan: Fus:); British War and Victory Medals (13882 Pte. G. Drinkwater. Lan. Fus.) nearly extremely fine (3) £140-£180

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals for the Gallipoli Campaign.

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George Drinkwater was born in Ashton-under-Lyne in 1897, and attested for the Lancashire Fusiliers at Salford, Lancashire. Posted to the 9th Battalion, he landed at Gallipoli on 11 July 1915 and was killed in action on 21 August 1915 during the attack on Ismail Oglu Tepe. Advancing in the heat of the afternoon sun across 450 yards of open ground towards the Turkish front line, the attack proved an initial success - the men consolidating their gains by digging in with the Turk’s own trenching tools. However it wasn’t long before Turkish counter attacks began to make headway:
‘... the battalion held on to its gains for 19 hours, there being no response to repeated requests for support. With just 100 men, no officers or warrant officers, a withdrawal to the start line was eventually forced.’ (British Regiments at Gallipoli, by Roy Westlake refers).

He has no known grave and is commemorated upon the Helles Memorial, Turkey.