EXERCISE BUGLE 3 – GALLIPOLI
Cpl Lucy Saad
At the beginning of September , WO2 Karl Ray Central Staff led the soldier battlefield study Ex BUGLE 3 to Gallipoli . BUGLE 3 was an opportunity for soldiers of all ranks to understand the importance of good leadership in the face of adversity and – in the case of the campaign in question - poor planning . By retracing the steps that the British , French and ANZAC troops took during that fateful campaign , the BUGLE 3 company were able to identify exactly what went wrong and how , in order to identify lessons which they could later apply to their own leadership .
Thanks to the expert knowledge of Mr Dudley Giles and local tour guide Aysham , the campaign was brought to life through a series of ‘ stands ’ – each of which provided an insight into a different element of the campaign .
The first day started with the group stood on the sea front at Eceabat , watching the multitude of shipping pass through the narrow Dardanelles . A topographical map showed the terrain of the peninsula and immediately the G2 cohort launched straight into analysis mode , studying the ground , and evaluating how this would affect operations . Whilst the panoramic view from Achi Baba , set before the group was undoubtedly breathtaking , it also highlighted the reason for the Ottoman success against the allied troops ; something that many had not previously considered .
There was a lot of scenic walking throughout the battlefield tour , and those eager for the extra physical challenge climbed the same route that ANZAC troops took to Plugg ’ s Plateau . Doing it in moderate heat during the day was challenging enough ; imagine doing same route at night , with no clear trails and carrying heavy kit . Unfortunately , the stunning ( albeit terrifying ) thunder and lightning prevented the group from attempting a 40-minute walk up Shrapnel Valley .
A memorial service at the Lancashire Landing Cemetery was held by Padre Rendell with WO1 Upham , WO1 Demir and LCpl Clark . The laying of the ARRC wreath by LCpl Uddin signalled the end of the Gallipoli part of the tour .
However , all was not completely over . There was one final stop at the Harbiye military museum in Istanbul where a Turkish military band performed and demonstrated their drill . The display was fascinating to watch and , just to prove that it is not just a British thing , one of the standard bearers nearly fainted . This did not diminish the harrowing war cry at the end of the set that would be enough to terrify any enemy of Turkiye .
The Gallipoli campaign during WWI provided examples of both poor leadership and inspiring leadership . No matter your rank , role , or trade
there will always be a time to step up . One such example came from naval intelligence Lt Col Doughty Wylie whose bravery and efforts rallied the men to seize the Old Fort on the high ground from V Beach after losing their commander .
Another example was that of an officer gallantly choosing to be the last to leave during the evacuation . However , forgetting his luggage and insisting on taking soldiers with him to retrieve it is not particularly good leadership … particularly when the luggage is in a cave of supplies that has been rigged to blow up moments before you leave !
The Gallipoli Campaign of 1915 may have been a failure , but Ex BUGLE 3 was very much a success .
@ HQARRC Allied Rapid Reaction Corps the imjin WINTER 2023 5