News from the Front - 26th April 2023
The weekly newsletter from from 1914-1918 - The First World War.
News from the Front exists to share great stories and interesting historical aspects of the First World War.
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One anniversary
28th April 1915 - The first battle of Krithia
Following the first landings on the Gallipoli peninsula on the 24th April, where landings were made at Cape Helles, at Ari Baba (ANZAC Cove), and in a diversionary attack at Kumkale on the other side of the Dardanelles.
The initial landings at Cape Helles took place in the face of a vigorous defence from the Turks and, over the next few days, the British tried to push out of their initial beachheads. On the 27th of April 1915 at about 1600h, a force of 14,000 soldiers pushed north, off the beachhead. Then at 2200h Major-General Hunter-Weston issued his orders for the advance on the 28th.
Aware that his men were unlikely to be able to take their objectives of the village of Krithia and the high ground of Achi Baba in one go, he planned to take Krithia by executing a wheeling motion that switched his men from their current east/west deployment below Krithia to a north-south line that include Krithia. This was a complicated manoeuvre that required his right flank to hold steady while the left flank advanced and swung to the east. It didn’t help that Hunter-Weston’s orders were a bit sketchy due to staff work difficulties, lack of knowledge about the terrain and ignorance of the enemy disposition that lay ahead. Meanwhile, the Turks were busy rushing reinforcements forward to occupy the British objectives, rapidly reinforcing whatever natural cover they could find.
On the 28th at 0800h, the First Battle of Krithia began. The plan of advance, with multiple units wheeling to the right whilst under fire, would have been a difficult manoeuvre at the best of times, but now, with exhausted troops attacking uphill through land riven by large gullies, it was impossible. On the right of the line, the simplest part of the manoeuvre, fell apart when the French (who were supposed to stay still and anchor the line) advanced to deal with Turkish positions that they feared would be able to enfilade the British units to their left and subsequently lost contact with the British. All along the line, the advance became confused as the terrain and Turkish defenders channelled troops away from the planned wheeling action and into a more confused general advance. As the Turk positions were encountered, the grand plan tended to be forgotten and the Turks in front tended to become the objective. Repeated along the line, the action ground to a halt.
The view from the other side of the trenches wasn’t much better and the possibility of a general withdrawal beyond Achi Baba to other defensible positions was discussed. However, once the decision was made that the heights should be held, and with them their ability to dominate Cape Helles, the defences were stiffened, and no further Allied progress was made. The First Battle of Krithia had cost around 3000 British and French casualties and had achieved little, worse still the Turkish forces and their defensive positions were getting stronger all the time.
One news story
Stobs Camp has national importance
The last surviving prisoner of war camp that was used to house German prisoners during the Great War has been officially recognised as having national importance. Stobs Camp, in Hawick, Scotland, was built in 1902 as was used as an army training centre, with firing ranges and practice trenches. The camp was used throughout the war, initially to house interned German citizens and later for captured German servicemen.
A report on a US Embassy visit on the 4th of February 1916 recorded that 4,616 prisoners were held in the camp; 1,829 were soldiers, 504 sailors and 2,283 civilians. The majority were German, with a couple of hundred Austrians, three Turks and a single Bulgarian.
The camp was split into four fenced compounds, each with an exercise yard, surrounded by a heavy triple barbed wire fence and with sentry posts around the perimeter. Surrounded by inhospitable moorland, mostly away from transport routes, and neighboured by an Army camp, it was reasonably escape proof and, in fact, there are only records of a few escapes, and no records of anyone succeeding in making a “home run” and returning home.
Dara Parsons, the Head of Designations at Historic Environment Scotland, said, "It gives us a unique insight into the experience of those involved in these conflicts; those that served in the British military, civilian internees and prisoners of war. Designating a site as a scheduled monument is a way through which we can recognise and celebrate what makes this heritage special, along with ensuring it’s protected for future generations.”
One from the archives
Captain Fryatt, “Interesting sidelights on War Hero’s death”
This week’s one from the archives is a small pamphlet printed to explore the events that led to, the death of, and the burial Captain Charles Fryatt. You may have heard of Edith Cavell, the nurse who was shot as a spy, but are less likely to have heard of Fryatt who had the misfortune to be the second civilian to be executed by the Germans. Let’s fix that!
Captain Charles Fryatt was a British merchant seaman who was court martial by the Imperial German Navy in 1915 for his actions against a German U-boat. On 3rd March 1915, Fryatt's ship, the SS Wrexham, was attacked by a German U-boat, and after a 40 nautical mile chase, managed to reach Rotterdam. The crew had thrashed their ship so hard during the pursuit, achieving a speed of 16 knots (2 knots faster than the ship’s rated top speed), that they burnt out the ship’s funnels. In recognition of this feat, Fryatt was presented with a gold watch by the Great Eastern Railway.
On the 28th March 1915, Fryatt was again in command of a ship, this time the SS Brussels, when he was ordered to stop by U-33, which has surfaced to attack. He ordered full steam ahead and tried to ram the U-33, which crash-dived. Fryatt's actions were in line with Winston Churchill's orders not to take prisoners when it came to U-boats engaged in unrestricted submarine warfare. In his report, Fryatt, with a measure of understatement said “He hoisted two flags for me to stop, but I did not like the idea of giving my ship up to him so I decided to ram him.” Fryatt was able to add to his gold watch collection as the Admiralty awarded Fryatt another one in recognition of his bravery.
On 23 June 1916 the SS Brussels loaded with food and Belgian refugees, sailed from the Hook of Holland, heading to England. The German navy was ready and the ship was intercepted by five German destroyers who captured the vessel, escorting her into Zeebrugge and, later, Bruges.
It seems that Fryatt was initially entertained by the Germans, but on discovery of his gold watch with its inscription celebrating his actions, decided that he was a franc-tireur (literally, a “free shooter” or a guerrilla). Fryatt was court-martialled 27th July 1916 and sentenced to death. The execution was carried out later that evening which Fryatt’s body being buried in a small cemetery outside Bruges. Fryatt was just 43 years old and left a wife and seven children behind.
The following notice was issued confirming his execution.
"NOTICE. The English captain of a merchant ship, Charles Fryatt, of Southampton, though he did not belong to the armed forces of the enemy, attempted on March 28th, 1915, to destroy a German submarine by running it down. For this he has been condemned to death by judgment this day of the Field Court Martial of the Naval Corps, and has been executed. A ruthless deed has thus been avenged, belatedly but just. Signed VON SCHRÖDER, Admiral Commandant of the Naval Corps, Bruges, July 27th, 1916."
Reaction was swift and widespread with protests in Trafalgar Square, the British Prime Minister, H.H. Asquith making a statement in parliament and the chairman of the Great Eastern Railway, Fryatt's employer, condemning his murder. The press in the United States (a key constituency for both German and British propaganda) came down against the German’s actions; The New York Times published a story calling it a "deliberate murder". In 1917, his story was even turned into a film called "The Murder of Captain Fryatt".
Fryatt’s widow was awarded a pension of £250 a year in recognition of her husband’s sacrifice and a memorial tablet was placed in Liverpool Street Railway Station. After the war, Fryatt’s body was exhumed and given a state funeral (an honour also given to Cavell). At the funeral, Government, Admiralty and Great Eastern Railway representatives attended, alongside many merchant seamen, fishermen and widows of merchant seamen who had lost their lives during the war.
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