My Grandfather Alfred Gillibrand who served in the Lancashire Fusiliers wrote a letter that was published in the national press while he was recovering from his wounds at the Dardanelles, i've attached a copy which may be of use to you.

My Grandfather survived the war and lived until a ripe old age in Darwen Lancashire.

Many thanks to Ian Gillibrand for posting this news clipping and photograph. Below is a transcription of the letter:

"AN UNDYING NAME"

Thrilling Letter from Billeted Soldier.

DARDANELLES LANDING DESCRIBED

Pte. A. Gillibrand, of the 1st Lancashire Fusiliers, who was billeted while at Nunenton with Mr. D. Woodward, of the M.R., 12. Midland-road, has just sent the following very interesting letter home from Malta, where he has been lying wounded in hospital, having been struck by bursting shrapnel in the shoulder at the Dardanelles. He says:- "We have experienced an awful time, but I am pleased to say the men of the 29th Division, whom the people of Nuneaton so generously billeted under their hospitable roofs, bave won a name that will never die. The night before we went into action we all went aboard our respective battleships. We were heartily welcomed, and provided with a good sound rabbit dinner, coca, cigarettes, and tobacco, and I can safely say the boys enjoyed it after the food on the transport vessel.

Cleared for Action

We were also provided with a good breakfast on the following morning at 2.30 a.m. Then, of course, everything was cleared away for immediate action. When we got to within four miles of the peninsula we were ordered to get into small rowing boats, which were pulled along by a steam pinnace, each tow, which consisted of four boats, having its own pinnace. We travelled this way util we got about 300 or 400 yards from shore. All this was done under the covering fire of the Navy. Every pinnace then got orders to slip and return to a safe distance. This was the time that our sailors, unarmed as they were, had to bend the oars to get us ashore.

A Murderous Fire

We then met with a murderous fire from maxim and rifle, and at the same time shrapnel was bursting overhead. The fire was too fierce for the men to try and stick in the boats, and men who were hit were falling across the oars or on the sailors, so that it was stopping them from using the oars, and the boats were almost at a standstill. The men were jumping out right and left, some were drowned owing to the deep water, others, in their attempt to get ashore were shot whilst in the water, only to meet the same fate. Those who got on the beach were simply bent down like grass.

The few of us who were left went straight into it with the bayonet, driving the Turks back, and gaining a footing on the ridge. We were quickly reinforced by others, who had made a safe landing. Fierce fighting continued for several days, in which the Turks tried very hard to push us back, but of no avail, and they were now feeling the power of a well-trained army.

A Bayonet Charge.

The Maltese people are doing their very best to show their generosity towards us. They visit us in hospital, bringing cigarettes, note-paper and flowers, and others will arrange for tea-parties and amateur dramatic companies, so you see they are doing their very utmost to entertain us.