The Battle for Chunuk Bair - The approaches and Bauchop’s Hill

The plan for the capture of Chunuk Bair involved two stages; first the capture of the foothills and then the advance of two columns through the ravines (dares) to seize Chunuk Bair. As a diversion the Australian Forces were to attack Lone Pine in the late afternoon of 6 August. The Australian attack was successful but they paid the price of over 2000 casualties during 4 days of intense fighting. In the course of this fighting New Zealand born Captain Alfred John Shout, later awarded the Victoria Cross, was mortally wounded.

For the attack on Chunuk Bair “the plan of operations provided for two covering forces preceding the main attack by two assaulting columns. The right covering force was to seize Table Top, Old No. 3 Post, and Bauchop's Hill, which commanded the foothills between Sazli Beit Dere, Chailak Dere and Aghyl Dere; on the success of this enterprise would depend the opening up of the ravines mentioned for the advance of the assaulting columns. The left covering force was to move northwards along the beach and seize the ridge known as Damakjelik Bair, about 1,000 yards north of Bauchop's Hill”

In the main the assault started well with with units achieving their objectives but falling behind schedule.

“Simultaneously, the Otago and Canterbury Mounted Rifles Regiments, assisted by the Maori Contingent, moved across the Chailak Dere to the assault of Bauchop's Hill—a confusion of ridges and ravines and enemy entrenchments—and shortly after one o'clock on the morning of the 7th this position was also in our hands. Lieut.-Colonel A. Bauchop, C.M.G., Commanding the Otago Mounted Rifles Regiment, fell mortally wounded in this action; the success gained was largely influenced by his fine leadership and example.” [Excerpts From: Lieut. A. E. Byrne. “Official History of the Otago Regiment, N.Z.E.F. in the Great War 1914-1918.”]