John Robertson Hodge

Killed in Action on the 28/06/1915 at the Battle of Gully Ravine, Cape Helles, Gallipoli

On the 11/05/1915 the Battalion became part of the 156th Brigade, 52nd (Lowland) Division. They sailed from Liverpool on the 24/05/1915, going via Egypt to Gallipoli, arriving there on the 14/06/1915. The Battle of Gully Ravine 28/06/1915 : During the space of June and July a series of attacks were mounted from Helles on the southern tip of the Peninsula. Prominent among these was the Battle of Gully Ravine, fought on the 28/06/1914 along the Aegean spine of the Peninsula in the wake of a moderate French success a week earlier. In the Battle the 29th Division would receive support from two other Brigades, the Indian 29th and 156th Brigade of 52nd (Lowland) Division. Plans for the attack were approved by Helles VIII Corps Commander Aylmer Hunter-Weston, who remained hopeful that the prominent hill feature Achi Baba could be seized, and the attack duly began with the usual preliminary bombardment on the 28th June. Unfortunately for Hunter-Weston the attack conducted by the 156th Brigade, newly-arrived in the sector, went badly. Although they quickly reached Turkish trench lines without effective artillery support, they were subsequently thrown back by the Turks at heavy cost, which included the loss of their Commander Scott-Moncrieffe. FROM THE 8th BATTALION WAR DIARY NEAR GULLY RAVINE : 28th June - "1 machine gun under Lieutenant E. MACLAY was with No.1 Company with orders to advance along with H.Q. up the Bomb Sap. 1 machine gun under 2nd Lieutenant R. HUMBLE was brigaded with Captain PATTISON at the 'Kink' in the firing line. Bombardment commenced & lasted until 11.00. At 10.50 Rapid Artillery, Machine Gun & Rifle fire was opened by the Turks on our front-line trenches. Some casualties were caused by the artillery fire in the support trenches. At 10.30 one platoon of No. 2 Company reinforced No. 3 Company in the firing line. Nos 1 & 3 Companies went over the parapet No.1 closely followed by No. 4 Company. No. 2 Company simultaneously dashed over the support trench parapet & suffered heavy casualties before it reached the firing line. A few men of the Battalion reached the Turkish trench, the remainder were caught by Machine Gun fire from Right front. MAJOR FINDLAY C.O. & the Adjutant advanced with the supporting party up the communication trench & were both shot. Lieutenant STOUT signalling officer also went up this sap & was killed while endeavouring to help Major FINDLAY. Lieutenant G.A.C. MOORE led a bombing party up H.12. on the right & 2nd Lieutenant ROBERTSON up the sap. The M.G. under Lieutenant MACLAY took up a position in the sap & the other gun took up position at the junction of H12 & Firing Line. This gun was under Corporal MILLER as 2nd Lieutenant HUMBLE had been wounded. At this time the Battalion attack was seen to have failed owing to the TURKS Machine Guns not having been adequately shelled. Men began to dribble back to the fire trench. At about 11.30 the long grass between H.12. & our firing line caught fire. This probably accounts for the large number of missing. The ESSEX & HANTS took over our firing line about this time. The Battalion was relieved & spent the night in the Reserve & Support trenches". Casualties for the Battalion from the WITH THE 8th SCOTTISH RIFLES BOOK 22nd - 28th JUNE 1915 : " Third Battle of Krithia - KILLED, MISSING or DIED OF WOUND : 14 OFFICERS and 334 OTHER RANKS. WOUNDED : 11 OFFICERS and 114 OTHER RANKS. John was a member of the Congregational Church. He is also remembered on the Coatbridge Technical College Roll of Honour (see photos). See photos for John's Medal Index Card, his CWGC Grave Registration, his name on the Helles Memorial Panel List, his Service Medal and Award Rolls, his Pension Records x 3 and the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) Cap Badge. Finally, SEE PHOTOS x 20 from the WITH THE 8th SCOTTISH RIFLES (CAMERONIANS) BOOK (Mobilization and Training), PHOTOS x 30 from the WITH THE 8th SCOTTISH RIFLES (CAMERONIANS) BOOK (28th June 1915), PHOTOS x 29 FROM THE 52nd (LOWLAND) DIVISION BOOK 28th JUNE 1916, photos x 12 for the 52nd (Lowland) Division Order of Battle (the Division he was serving with when he died) and SEE PHOTOS x 13 FOR A LIST OF MEN FROM THE BATTALION WHO WERE KILLED DURING THE GREAT WAR (from the With the 8th Scottish Rifles book).