Cemetery Index Number G1. 14.

Skew Bridge Cemetery is 2 kilometres North-East of Sedd el Bahr, between the roads to Krithia and Kilid Bahr. It was named from a wooden "skew" bridge carrying the Krithia road across the Dere, about 45 metres away on the West. It is just behind the centre of the line occupied by the Allied forces, across the toe of the Peninsula, on the 27th April, 1915. It was made after the Second Battle of Krithia (6th -8th May), and used throughout the occupation: but the original cemetery contained only 53 graves (Plot I, less row E). The remainder of the graves were brought after the Armistice from the small cemeteries known as Orchard Gully, R.N.D., Backhouse Post and Romanos Well, or (in the last three rows of Plot III) from the battlefields.

The cemetery now covers an area of 2,193 square metres, and it contains the graves of 124 dead from the United Kingdom, five from Australia, two from New Zealand, one from India, and 345 whose unit in our forces could not be ascertained. The majority of the graves are probably those of sailors and Marines of the Royal Naval Division. The unnamed graves number 351, and special memorials record the names of 125 men from the United Kingdom and four from Australia, known or believed to be buried among them.

The Register records particulars of 477 British and Dominion burials.

"Believed to be buried in this cemetery
23664 Private R. Lightbody, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
10 November 1915"

The Register Of The Graves

"V" Beach Cemetery, Helles

Cemetery Index Number G1. 15.

The landing at "V" Beach, in the early morning of the 25th April, 1915, was to be made by boats containing three companies of the first Royal Dublin Fusiliers, followed by the collier "River Clyde" with the rest of the Dublins, the first Royal Munster Fusiliers, half the second Hampshire Regiment, and other troops. The place was very strongly fortified, and during the 25th the landing was partially carried out at the cost of very heavy casualties. On the morning of the 26th, Colonel Doughty-Wylie and Captain Walford, who were killed during the fight, had led the survivors on the beach to the capture of Sedd el Bahr village and the Old Castle above it.

On the evening of the 26th, the main body of the French Corps began to land at "V" Beach, and after the advance on the 27th the front line was nearly three kilometres beyond it. It was used as the French base during the summer.

The cemetery was begun and ended, so far as the burials in 1915 are concerned, during April and May; but after the Armistice 13 graves were concentrated into Row O. It covers an area of 2,045 square metres, and it contains the graves of 500 sailors and soldiers from the United Kingdom. The unnamed graves are 480 in number, but special memorials are erected to 196 officers and men (nearly all belonging to the units which landed on the 25th April), known or believed to be buried among them.

The Register records particulars of 216 British burials.

*Sir Ian Hamilton's Despatch of the 20th May, 1915

The Register Of The Graves

An extract from "The London Gazette" No. 29202, dated 22nd June, 1915, records the following:-"On 26th April, 1915, subsequent to a landing having been effected on the beach at a point on the Gallipoli Peninsula, during which both Brigadier-General and Brigade Major had been killed, Lieutenant-Colonel Doughty-Wylie and Captain Walford organised and led an attack through and on both sides of the village of Sedd el Bahr on the Old Castle at the top of the hill inland. The enemy's position was very strongly held and entrenched, and defended with concealed machine guns and pom-poms. It was mainly due to the initiative, skill and great gallantry of these two officers that the attack was a complete success. Both were killed in the moment of victory". O.I.

SEDDEL-BAHR MILITARY GRAVE
Index Number GI.15A

Isolated Grave

The grave of Colonel Doughty-Wylie stands, under two cypresses, immediately north of Seddel el Bahr, opposite the point at which the "River Clyde" came ashore. He is buried where he fell, close to the old fort to which he led the attack.

An extract from "The London Gazette", No. 29292, dated 23rd June, 1915, records the following:-"On 26th April, 1915, subsequent to a landing having been effected on the beach at a point on the Gallipoli Peninsula, during which both Brigadier-General and Brigade Major had been killed, Lieutenant-Colonel Doughty-Wylie and Captain Walford organised and led an attack through and on both sides of the village of Sedd el Bahr on the Old Castle at the top of the hill inland. The enemy's position was very strongly held and entrenched, and defended with concealed machine guns and pom-poms. It was mainly due to the initiative, skill and great gallantry of these two officers that the attack was a complete success. Both were killed in the moment of victory".