David McGowan

Killed in Action on the 06/05/1915 at the 2nd Battle of Krithia, Gallipoli

The Battalion were part of the 2nd Brigade, Royal Naval Division. The Division landed at Gallipoli on the 25/04/1915. David enlisted in the Durham Light Infantry at Middlesbrough on the 01/09/1914 and transferred to the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve on the 09/09/1914. David was only 8 weeks with the when he took part in the Defence of Antwerp on the 4th - 10th October 1914 : While the main body of the British Expeditionary Force is now entrenched at the Aisne, a force (mainly of naval troops) is sent to help the Belgian Army defend Antwerp. It proved to be far too little and too late. David was killed when his Battalion attempted to drive the Turks from their positions on the Achi Baba Hill, Gallipoli on the 06/05/1915. The 2nd Battle of Krithia : Following the failure of the 1st Allied attempt to capture the village of Krithia and its prominent hill feature Achi Baba on 28/04/1915 a 2nd attempt was initiated on the 6th May. Having been reinforced in the intervening period (including Australian and New Zealand soldiers from Anzac), the Allied force again attacked north towards Krithia. Once again little progress was made against the Turkish defensive line. A final attempt was made on the 8th May, and while it succeeded in pushing back the Turkish line almost a kilometre, it too was unsuccessful and resulted in heavy casualties. The Battalion suffered over 350 casualties. David gave an interview to the Coatbridge Express in the autumn of 1914. David was a member of Loyal Orange Lodge 133, Coatbridge District 22. See photos for David's name on the embroidered fall which is held within the Lodge. Many thanks to the Lodge who provided the photo. The Lodge was founded on the 08/06/1906 by 11 Ulstermen hence the name The Loyal Sons of Ulster LOL133. Private Samuel Falls and Private William Whan stayed in North Square, were Iron Workers and were also in the same Lodge as David (see Directory for their pages). He is also remembered in the St. Augustine's Parish (book) Roll of Honour. See photos for David's Newspaper clipping, his Naval birth and death Record, his Naval Medal and Award Rolls, his CWGC Grave Registration, his name on the Helles Memorial Panel List, David's former Regiment the Durham Light Infantry Cap Badge and the Hood Battalion Cap Badge.