Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

I acknowledge that this 'account' was related to me when I was merely a child and therefore I have nothing but my vivid and unreliable memory to rely upon in respect of its accuracy or veracity.

My grandfather Stanley Twining 1906 (younger brother) related an account of the passing of his older brother James John Twining on the beaches at Gallipoli. I'm unsure if this was in the manner of a 'formal death message' to the family or during an acquaintanceship later in life. I mention this as my Grandfather indicated that he knew and had dealings with the Sergeant concerned later in post-war years, so it could well have been related in years after the Great War.

My grandfather told me that he was personally given this account by the Sergeant in charge of the twenty men (2 sections ?) who manned a rowed landing boat on the morning of the Gallipoli landings. The Sergeant stated that the twenty men battled through the surf and worked strenuously to 'man the oars' on what was an extremely heavy and stout wooden landing boat. As they approached the actual beach landing zone, James (Jim) who was nearer the front of the boat spoke up and pronounced loudly "Come on Lads, just two more pulls and we're at 'em."

At this time a Turkish heavy machine gun opened fire on their boat from the cliffs above and raked the boat with murderous fire. All twenty infantrymen were killed before they set foot on land. The Sergeant was the lone survivor and he was forced to take cover under the bodies of his dead men for hours as there was no other viable option.

My grandfather stated the 'Sergeant' was later promoted to officer rank and was by all accounts pretty much traumatised after his wartime experience.