Battle of Gallipoli with special thanks to correspondent Thomas Burnell

The eight month campaign in Gallipoli was fought by Commonwealth and French forces in an attempt to  force Turkey out of the first world war, relieve the deadlock of the Western Front in France and Belgium, and  open a supply route to Russia through the Dardanelles and the Black Sea.  The Allies landed on the peninsula on 25-26 April 1915; the 29th Division at Cape Helles in the south and the Australian and New Zealand Corps north of Gaba Tepe on the west coast, an area soon known as Anzac.  On 6 August, further landings were made at Suvla, just north of Anzac, and the climax of the campaign came in early August when simultaneous assaults were launched on all three fronts. However, the difficult terrain and stiff Turkish resistance soon led to the stalemate of trench warfare. From the end of August, no further serious action was fought and the lines remained unchanged. The peninsula was successfully evacuated in December and early January 1916.      The Helles Memorial serves the dual function of Commonwealth battle memorial for the whole Gallipoli campaign and place of commemoration for many of those Commonwealth servicemen who died there and have no known grave. The United Kingdom and Indian forces named on the memorial died in operations throughout the peninsula, the Australians at Helles. There are also panels for those who died or were buried at sea in Gallipoli waters. The memorial bears more than 21,000 names. There are four other Memorials to the Missing at Gallipoli.  The Lone Pine, Hill 60, and Chunuk Bair Memorials commemorate Australian and New Zealanders at Anzac.    The Twelve Tree Copse Memorial commemorates the New Zealanders at Helles.    Naval casualties of the United Kingdom lost or buried at sea are recorded on their respective Memorials at Portsmouth, Plymouth and Chatham, in the United Kingdom.     Dowlings at Gallipoli

1   Private Ernest Dowling,  2nd Battalion, Hampshire Regiment. Number 6100,  Born in Romsey in Hampshire, England, enlisted there also. Killed in Action (KIA) in Gallipoli on Friday 4 June 1915 . Age 32 . Husband of Mary Elizabeth Naylor (formerly Dowling), of 3, Newton Lane, Romsey, Hants.   Cemetery: HELLES MEMORIAL Turkey  Grave or Reference Panel Number: Panel 125-134 or 223-226 228-229 & 328 Location: The Helles Memorial stands on the tip of the Gallipoli Peninsula. It takes the form of an obelisk over 30 metres high that can be seen by ships passing through the Dardanelles. Additionally, according to Medal Tracker Page 33 of Medal News Magazine June/July 1998, Ernest had been awarded the 1914 trio of medals.    2  Private Claude Vivian Dowling, born 1893 in Dubbo, New South Wales, Australia; Enlisted on 03 November 1914, in Liverpool, New South Wales, Australia.  Initially served with the 3rd Battalion AIF and later the 55th Battalion.   Saw service at Gallipoli and on 04 October 1916 was awarded a military medal for bravery in the field.  Claude was promoted on 16 March 1917to L/Sergeant but was killed in action (KIA) less than a month later on 14 April 1917 in France.  He is buried at the Beaumetz Cross Roads Military Cemetery, France. [click here for more on Claude Vivian Dowling's ancestors]

If you know more about these ancestors please contact me.  A picture will be very welcome.  Information on other Dowlings in WWI that is either in the public domain or that close relatives are willing for me to share is always wanted. Back to Top