Anzac-Suvla sectors of Gallipoli, Aug-Dec 1915

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This map shows the Allied front line in the Anzac-Suvla sector of Gallipoli between August and December 1915.

During the Sari Bair Offensive, British forces established a new beachhead at Suvla Bay, 8 km north of Anzac Cove. Two divisions from IX Corps successfully landed there on 6-7 August, but though Ottoman resistance was limited, made no attempt to seize the commanding heights inland. When they finally moved forward, hastily deployed Ottoman reinforcements stopped them in their tracks.

Desperate to break the stalemate at Suvla, the British launched a new offensive aimed at taking the Anafarta Ridge, including Hill 112 and Scimitar Hill (indicated by the top two red arrows). The Suvla forces were supported by an attack from Anzac Cove against Hill 60 (indicated by the bottom red arrow), a small piece of high ground between the two Allied-held areas. A composite force of New Zealand, Australian, British and Gurkha troops — dubbed ‘Cox’s Force’ after its commander, Major-General Herbert Cox — made the assault on Hill 60.

Ottoman divisions defending the area (indicated by the green boxes) easily repelled the attacks at Suvla and Hill 60 on 21 August. New Zealand mounted riflemen managed to capture part of Hill 60, but none of the other forces got as far; more than two-thirds of the 3000 men involved in the attack became casualties. Another attempt to clear the hill on 27 August also ended in failure.

Hill 60 was the last major Allied attack at Gallipoli. In late November, the authorities in London reluctantly agreed to evacuate Suvla and Anzac. The troops were withdrawn between 15 and 20 December. British and French forces remained at Helles until 8-9 January 1916.