Phillip's Top
Central Anzac sector. Near the bottom and on the southern side of Shrapnel Valley was a
low ridge called 'The Razorback' which, running up towards the firing line, became known
as Phillip's Top, after Major Phillips, of the Australian Field Artillery.
Pilav Tepe
Northern Anzac sector. Turkish name
for the Table Top, meaning 'Rice Hill'. See Table Top.
Pimple, The (1)
Central Anzac sector. Salient in the
Australian line just opposite the Turkish Lone Pine trenches; this became the Lone Pine
salient.
Pimple, The (2)
Suvla sector. One of the higher
small peaks of the Kiretch Tepe range, north of Suvla Plain. See Kiretch Tepe.
Pine Ridge
Central / Southern Anzac
sector. Turkish position. The large, inland ridge running southwest from the Lone Pine
Plateau, along which the modern road leads up from the museum to Lone Pine. It was the
scene of fierce fighting on the first day, but afterwards was never again approached by
Anzac troops. In 1919 the Imperial War Graves Registration unit found the skeletons of
soldiers in Australian uniform still lying out on this ridge, and in one of the gullies on
its western side.
Pink Farm
Helles sector. A position named
after the colour of the soil, near a Turkish farm, some distance inland, east of
Gully Beach. After the British advance in this sector it rapidly became a casualty
clearing station and a supply base, especially for the mining activities in this sector.
Now also the site of Pink Farm Cemetery.
Plugge's Plateau
Anzac sector. A steep Plateau near
the beach of Anzac Cove, just behind Ari Burnu. From its south side, it is accessible via
MacLagan's Ridge, at its north side it is connected to Russell's Top by the very narrow
Razor's Edge. Plugge's Plateau was the first height stormed by the covering force,
immediately after they had landed on 25th April. Together with Russell's Top, it was later
often referred to as 'the First Ridge'
Point Rosenthal
Southern Anzac sector. On the
ridge below Bolton's Hill. Named after Colonel C. Rosenthal, commander of the 1st
Australian Artillery Brigade.
Pope's Hill
Central Anzac sector. A long,
razor-backed hill forming an isolated post between two gullies which form the head of
Monash Gully. On its right were the Turkish positions of Dead Man's Ridge, The Bloody
Angle and The Chessboard, and on its left a deep canyon which separated it from the Anzac
positions on Russell's Top. Named after Colonel Pope, commander of the 16th Battalion,
A.I.F.
Poppy Valley
Southern Anzac sector. Turkish
territory between Bolton's / Harris Ridge and Holly Ridge, commencing in the 'Wheatfield'
in the north, and extending southward, ending in the Valley of Despair.
Queensland Point
Central Anzac sector, Anzac Cove. The lower part of MacLagan's Ridge, which resolves
itself into Hell Spit. The Queensland Infantry (9th Battalion) landed here on April 25th.
Quinn's Post
(Turk. : Bomba Sirt)
Anzac sector. The most northerly of
the three posts, the others being Steele's and Courtney's, which clung to the eastern edge
of Monash Valley. Situated on the crest of the second ridge, it faced Turkish positions
that at some points were only metres away. It was, like the other posts, originally just a
series of disconnected rifle-pits dug during the first day of fighting, and gradually
deepened and expanded to form a network of trenches. As it was the target for constant
concentrated bombing by the Turks, who called the place 'Bomba Sirt', it was one of the
most dangerous positions in the Anzac lines throughout the campaign. It was named after
Captain Hugh Quinn, who as the commander of C company of the 15th Battalion, took over the
post on 29th April and was killed there a month later. The official Australian war
historian states that 'Men passing the fork of Monash Valley, and seeing and hearing the
bombs bursting up at Quinn's, used to glance at the place (as one of them said) "as a
man looks at a haunted house." ' (Bean Vol. 2 p.91)
Racecourse, The
Central Anzac sector. A
trench at Quinn's Post that got its name from the fact that it used to attract Turkish
bombs when anyone passing through it made even the slightest noise. Only after screens of
wire netting had been put up, did the situation become safer.
Reserve Gully
Central
Anzac sector. A 'rest' gully in the low ground between Plugge's Plateau and The Sphinx. It
eventually became unsafe, being periodically searched by the guns from the 'W' Hills to
the north.
Rest Gully
Central Anzac sector. Sometimes
also known as 'Canterbury Gully'. A gully that branches away northward from Shrapnel
valley, between Plugge's Plateau and Russell's Top. Its closed end is formed by the spur
of the Razor's Edge which joins Plugge's Plateau with Russell's Top.
Rhododendron
Spur or Ridge
Northern Anzac sector. A
prominent spur running westwards off Chunuk Bair, between the Chailak Dere to the north,
and the Sazli Beit Dere to the south. The point on the spur nearest Chunuk Bair was known
as 'The Apex'. This was the main route along which the New Zealanders and British units
attacked and for a time held the summit of Chunuk Bair during the August offensive, before
eventually being forced back to the Apex.
Rognon, Le
French Helles sector. A
French position on the western slope of the Kereviz Dere.
Rose Hill
Northern Anzac sector. A northern underfeature of Bauchop's Hill, below Little Table Top
and above Hotchkiss Valley. Guns placed here defended the no-man's land between the
Turkish position of 'The Blockhouse' and the Anzac position at The Apex, on Rhododendron
Ridge. Major Rose was a New Zealand machine gunner in charge of the 4th Australian
Infantry Brigade machine guns.
Russell's Top
The elevated ground, a
small plateau really, between the Nek in the north and Plugge's Plateau in the south, to
which it is connected by the Razor's Edge. Offsprings of Russel's Top are Walker's Ridge
which runs down to the beach, and the impressive sandstone formations of which the Sphinx
is the most famous one.
Ryrie's Post
Southern Anzac sector. A southern extension of Tasmania Post on Holly Ridge, established
by the 7th Light Horse Regiment, AIF in mid-July. Named after the commander of the 2nd
Light Horse Brigade, Colonel G. Ryrie.
Salt Lake
Suvla sector. The salt
lake just behind Suvla bay, and connected to the sea by 'the Cut', a narrow channel. In
summer it dries up and can be crossed on foot.
Sandbag
Ridge
Suvla sector. A salient in the new Anzac line near Hill 100.
Sari Bair
Anzac sector. The
'Second ridge'. See there.
Sari Tarla
Turkish (Yellow
Field) for The Farm. See there
Sazli Beit Dere
Northern Anzac sector. A large valley containing a watercourse, dry in summer, originating
in the slopes of Chunuk Bair, and entering the sea near Fisherman's Hut.
S Beach
Helles sector.
Part of Morto Bay. See there
Scimitar Hill (Turk. : Yusufçuktepe)
Suvla sector. Also
known as Hill 70, Green Knoll or Burnt Hill and known to the Turks as Yusufçuktepe or
Yusuftepe. As it guarded the approaches to Küçükanafarta, one of the objectives of the
Suvla landings, the hill was assaulted on 8th, 9th, 10th and 21st August. Although it was
occupied, for a very short time during every attack, the allied forces were on every
occasion driven back by fierce fire from the neighbouring heights. During the actions of
9th and 21st August, the shrub that covered the hill caught fire and burned a number of
British soldiers, many of whom had been wounded before. The attack of 21st August, later
known as the Battle of Scimitar Hill, was the biggest operation of the Gallipoli campaign
in terms of numbers. It cost the British 5300 casualties.
Scrubby Knoll
Anzac sector. A
rise on Gun Ridge (3rd Ridge) where Kemal Ataturk established his headquarters on 25th
April, and never moved them again for the rest of the campaign. From this point, one gets
a wide view of the frontline, from the posts on 2nd ridge to Lone Pine on the 400 plateau.
The place got its name from the vegetation on it, the Turks call it Kemalyeri (Kemal's
Place). On 25th April, two small Australian groups of which Loutit was a member, got as
far as the 3rd Ridge, but were then driven back. This was the furthest point reached
inland by any Australian unit. From here the Narrows can clearly be seen.
Second ridge
Anzac sector. The range
of hills, from Hill 971 (Kocaçimentepe) in the north, over the Q hills, Chunuk Bair
(Conkbayiri), Battleship hill and Baby 700, and from there via the eastern side of Monash
valley and the 400 plateau to Bolton's Ridge, where it peters out in the sea. It was
mistakenly called the Sari Bair range, after the Turkish 'Sari Bayir' (yellow hill)
that was used for the Sphinx. This Second Ridge was the main objective at the first
day of the landing, but none of the higher hills were captured and held during the
campaign.
Shahin Sirta
Northern Anzac sector.
Turkish for Rhododendron Ridge, meaning 'Falcon Spur'. See Rhododendron Ridge.
Shell Green
Southern Anzac
sector. A flat stretch of ground, on the western flank of Bolton's Ridge, some 500 m north
of the southernmost Anzac position at Chatham's Post. Although it was not completely
sheltered from Turkish fire, it was used for sports matches, but it was also the place
where two cemeteries were begun during the campaign, that were in 1919 joined to a single
bigger one.
Shrapnel Valley
Anzac sector. The deep
valley between Anzac Cove and Monash Valley. As it was the main artery
for all traffic to the frontline, it got its name from the fact that it was frequently
under Turkish shrapnel fire. Its three forks give access to three important parts
of the Anzac position : a left one leads into Rest Gully, a right one goes to Bridges'
Road and so to the 400 Plateau and the central one leads into Monash Valley.
Silt Spur
Anzac sector. A
small spur running from the 400 Plateau, at the southern side of Lone Pine. It got its
name from the soil from mining activities that was dumped there.
Skew Bridge
Helles sector. The location
that got its name from an old wooden bridge, none too horizontal, over the Kanli Dere in
the British sector north of Morto Bay. After the 2nd Battle of Krithia, the place became
one of the main wartime cemeteries in the region.
Sniper's Crevice
Northern Anzac sector. One of the early
names given to part of the prominent feature known as 'The Sphinx'.
Sniper's Nest
Northern Anzac sector. Turkish
position on a scrubby hill about 1000 metres
inland from the sea, half-way down a razor-backed ridge running off Baby 700, from which
snipers made the beach north of Ari Burnu unsafe for bathing or traffic. Though shelled by
warships and artillery and machine-gunned by the Light Horse from Table Top, the position
was held until the evacuation.
Sniper's Ridge
Southern Anzac sector. Turkish position. A long ridge running southward from the Lone Pine
Plateau. immediately opposite and inland from Silt Spur. The southern end was known as
'The Knife Edge' and faced Bolton's Ridge and Holly Ridge.
Sniper's Slope
Northern Anzac sector. Turkish position. The lower part of the seaward side of Baby 700.
Till the end of the campaign it was covered with thick scrub, and almost untrenched.
Softa Tepe
Suvla sector. Turkish
for 'Fanatic Hill'. See Hill 10.
Sphinx, The
A peculiar knife-edge spur jutting out seawards from Walker's Ridge. During the early days
it was known by many names such as the Sphinx, The Knife Edge, The Cathedral and The
Sniper's Crevice. until it was entered on the map as The Sphinx. A legend has it that from
a crevice a sniper picked off men for the first few days, until shot, but there seems to
have been no foundation to this. Known to the Turks as 'Sari Bair' (Yellow Slope), this
name was transferred to the entire Koja Chemen Tepe Ridge by the British War Office. To
this day it remains probably the most distinctive and easily-recognisable feature of the
entire Anzac sector.
Steele's Post
Anzac sector. The
southernmost one of the three posts,
together with Quinn's and Courtney's, along the eastern side of Monash Valley. It
was -inaccurately- named after Major Thomas Steel of the 14th Batt. who took over the
position on 27th April. Together with the two other posts, it was the scene of busy mining
activity during the second half of the campaign.
Straits, The
(Turk. : Chanakkale Bogazi)
Other name for the
Dardanelles. See there.
Table Top
(Turk. : Pilav Tepe)
Anzac sector. A hill near the
head of the Sazlidere, that got its name from its distinctive shape. For the greater part
of the campaign in Turkish possession, it was captured by the Wellington Rgt. during the
attack of 6th August.
Tasmania Post
Southern Anzac sector.
A position south of the 400 Plateau, just north of Ryrie's Post.
Taylor's gap
Anzac sector. Also known as
'Taylor's Hollow', named after Lieut. Taylor of the 10th Mounted Rifles who did a lot of
reconnaissance in the vicinity. It is a narrow entrance to the Agil Dere, which lies North
of it. During the night of 6th August, the left assaulting column was directed
through it, which resulted in a disastrous congestion.
Teke Koyu
Helles sector. Turkish for
'Goat's cove', their name for W beach. See there.
Third Ridge, The
(Turk. : Topçuluk Sirt)
Another name for Gun
ridge. See there.
Topçuluk Sirt
Anzac Sector. Turkish for
'Artillery Ridge', known to the Anzac forces as the 'Third Ridge' or Gun ridge.
See there.
Twelve Tree Copse
Helles sector. A
British position on Fir Tree Spur, east of Gully Ravine. It was named after a copse of
trees that rapidly disappeared under the shell fire or was used for cooking fires of the
infantry. This part of the front was the scene of fierce fighting on two occasions :
during the British advance of 28th April, and later again when on 8th May, during the 2nd
Battle of Krithia, the New-Zealanders made their famous, but suicidal attack across the
'Daisy Patch'. Nu Twelve Tree Copse is the site of the cemetery of that name.
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