T H E C O V E N A N T E R
surrounding the screen remain bare. It is were made over open ground against well
hoped that this article will in some way dug in positions. For each it was their first
go towards rectifying the position. Also, it attack of the war.
may enlighten the reader on the problems 156 Brigade (of which the two Battalions
of preparing and producing documentary formed part) was attached to the 29th
films of military history - even in a case of a Division for an attack at Gully Spur.
film of some, eight minutes’ duration. The Divisional Commander, because of
In 1994, following an earlier series of four the shortage of both suitable guns and
half hour programmes produced for Tyne/ ammunition, had allocated all but a derisory
Tees Television and Yorkshire Television portion of the barrage to fall on a different
on the Battle of the Somme in which I sector to the Brigade front. Both there and
acted as military adviser and presenter, the at Neuve Chapelle, the advance took place
same company was engaged to prepare a in the face of withering machine gun fire
further series on the Gallipoli Campaign - with the same predictable result. 7th and
of 1915/16 for the same organisations and 8th Battalions suffered grievous casualties
also for Scottish ITV. I was pleased to be as 7th was ordered to attack over the
asked to act in the same capacities for the ground on which the dead and wounded
new series of four programmes. The only of its sister battalion were already strewn.
way in which justice could be done to such Thereafter they were able to operate only
a series, was for some of the footage to be as a composite unit, and could muster
shot on the Gallipoli Peninsula. Fortunately, only sufficient rifles to form a weak single
budgetary provision had been made for a battalion. In the 28th June action the
two-week reconnaissance of the battlefield. 8th lost 15 Officers and 234 Other Ranks
As a former Cameronian, I was aware that killed and 10 Officers and 114 other ranks
the Regiments 7th and 8th Battalions - still wounded, while before its back up attack was
using the preferred title of Scottish Rifles - halted, 7th lost 10 Officers and 158 Other
had taken an active, and at times tragic part Ranks killed and 4 Officers and 100 ranks
in the Campaign, I was anxious that the wounded - a shattering blow. Despite the
Regiment should receive full recognition for fact that at the time of the final withdrawal
its deeds, along with those of many other from Cape Helles on 9th January 1916 it
regiments. Both Battalions were involved could muster only about 150 effective rifles,
in an epic assault in their first action on 7/8th was accorded the honour of being
28th June 1915. Considerable preliminary one of the last Regiments to perform the
research was undertaken in regimental and nerve wracking duty of manning the front
other museums in preparation for the recce; line as cover for the retreat.
among these was the Regimental Museum. Our reconnaissance, made by the
It soon became clear from sketch maps producer, his assistant and myself, covered
in the archives, that the location, near all the major battle sites of the Gallipoli
Gully Ravine at Cape Helles, should be campaign. In addition to walking the
identifiable without much difficulty. This battlefields, it included visits to the Turkish
proved to be the case. National Army Museums at Istanbul and at
The attack of 2nd Battalion Scottish Rifles the Gallipoli Peninsula, as well as several
at Neuve Chapelle on the Western Front in of the Turkish forts and other defence
March 1915, probably is the best known positions at the Narrows of the Dardanelles
of the many heroic but tragic assaults of in connection with the Naval actions
the Regiment in World War I. Sometimes, preceding the altered landings. The site of
it tends to overshadow other Regimental the Scottish Rifles’
actions of a similar nature which took place June attack appeared little altered, save
around the same time. Such is the case with for most of it now being under cultivation.
the Gallipoli attack of June 28th 1915. The whereas in 1915 the area had been largely
two actions have many similarities. Both covered in scrubby growth. It was obvious
at Neuve Chapelle and Gully Spur (the site that the location would be ideal for filming,
of the Gallipoli attack) assaults were made and I was able to suggest to the producer
with negligible artillery support, leaving Ed Skelding, that it was a suitable candidate
the enemy trenches virtually undamaged. for inclusion in the appropriate section of
In the case of Neuve Chapelle there had the programme. On returning to U.K., I
been insufficient time for the guns to be mentioned this likelihood to Colonel Hugh
adequately registered, while at Gully Spur MacKay. This resulted in the germination
there was no noticeable support at all. Both of a proposal to attempt to persuade Ed

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