Ernest Septimus Flack Private 1st Battalion Essex Regiment

Ernest Septimus Flack Private 1st Btn Essex Regiment. Fought in WW1 at Gallipoli and received the 1914-15 Star, British War, Victory Medal and Silver War Badge.

Ernest Septimus Flack Private 1st Btn Essex Regiment. Fought in WW1 at Gallipoli and received the 1914-15 Star, British War, Victory Medal and Silver War Badge.

The medals of Private 9247 Ernest Septimus Flack 1st Battalion Essex Regiment

Ernest Septimus Flack 1890-1960

Private 1st Battalion Essex Regiment 21st July 1908 – 17th March 1917

Ernest Septimus Flack Private 1st Btn Essex Regiment. Fought in WW1 at Gallipoli and received the 1914-15 Star, British War, Victory Medal and Silver War Badge.

Ernest was born 18th August 1890 in East Hanningfield, Chelmsford, Essex. He was the son of Septimus Henry Flack a bricklayer and Eliza Caroline Flack nee Brenton. He was 1 month short of being 18 years old when he enlisted in the Essex Regiment on 21st July 1908. We find Ernest in the 1901 census at 12 Ernest Road, St. Saviours Parish, West Ham, London, England. The confined and squalid conditions of this area at the turn of the century would have been awful beyond comprehension. Ernest’s mother would die in 1910 aged 43 years old of Chronic Bronchitis and Cardiac Failure. Ernest wanted something different from his life.

The Essex Regiment was previously known as the 44th (East Essex) Regiment of the Foot and has a long and distinguished history in battle including participating in the American War of Independence. Their military history also includes battles in India, China and South Africa. The 44th Regiment’s nickname was the “Two Fours” and the “Little Fighting Fours” after their Regiment’s number.
Sadly, Ernest’s service record, like 60% of WW1 soldier’s military service records, were destroyed during German bombing during WW2 so I must speculate a little about his service career.
We know that when he marries Margaret Fox on 28th September 1910 in Dublin, Ireland he is based at the Curragh Camp in County Kildare. When he was married he may not yet have learnt of the death of his mother. His children include:

The Landing at The Dardenelles

The landing, for the first time, of the British Expeditionary Force at the Dardanelles. The picture, taken from a battleship, shows the procession of boats towed by steam pinnaces. The boats came under the fire of the Turkish guns immediately after they were photographed. [Source: Essex Regiment Museum]

His fighting career begins on 25th April 1915 when the 1st Battalion Essex regiment is part of the landing force at W Beach, Helles, Turkey in the Balkans. This campaign is more famously known as the Dardanelles Campaign or Gallipoli. “C” Company 1st Battalion Essex Regiment route ashore “W” Beach Gallipoli 25th April 1915 [Source: Essex Regiment Museum]  Landing W Beach Gallipoli April 25th 1915 “C” Company 1st Battalion The Essex Regiment [Source: Essex Regiment Museum]  W Beach was one of the three allocated to 29th Division on 25th April 1915, and is arguably the most famous of them all. It was here the 1st Lancashire Fusiliers came ashore, and won ‘six Victoria Crosses before breakfast’. The 29th Division landing force consisted of 12 Battalions who were namely: Border Regiment, 1st Battalion Essex Regiment, Hampshire Regiment, King’s Own Scottish Borderers, 1st Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers, Royal Dublin Fusiliers, Royal Fusiliers – City of London Regiment, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, Royal Munster Fusiliers, 1/5th Royal Scots – Lothian Regiment, South Wales Borderers and the Worcestershire Regiment. The landings were to be made by day because of the restricted size of the beaches, the strong current, and fear of hidden reefs. The small size of the beaches was also the reason why there had to be so many landing places at Helles: S, V, W, X and Y Beaches. W Beach differed from the other beaches used that day, in that it was almost a cove, with an ark of high ground and a long, open beach. German advisors attached to the Turks had helped in the defence of this position, and redoubts had been placed on the heights with inter-locking fields of fire, wire in the shallow water and mines. They considered it almost impregnable from any sort of landing by small boats.
The 1st Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers came ashore in companies. One came from HMS Implacable, the rest being brought in by naval personnel from HMS Euryalus. One platoon of the Anson Battalion was attached to them, and 1st Essex Regiment was to follow. About 50 yards from the beach, the boats were unhitched from the tows and they were rowed in. As the boats got nearer to the shore a tremendous fire was laid down by the Turks, causing heavy casualties. Men jumped out into the water, some drowning under the weight of their gear, others getting caught on the wire.  Despite this some men beat their way through the wire and assaulted the trenches in the area of the beach itself. Meanwhile a second force had landed a little to the north and found part of the beach here sheltered from the devastating fire. Captain Thomas Frankland then took his men forward to the Turkish positions here, and this flank was eliminated. Of the 950 who attacked, 533 were killed, wounded or missing, a casualty rate higher even than the first wave at Anzac had borne. In this brave effort the regiment had won 6 VCs (the regiment was thereafter famous for its “6 VCs before breakfast”), 2 DSOs, 2 MCs and one DCM25. W Beach must have been terrifying, but by mid-morning the 400-odd survivors could look back on what they had accomplished through their sacrifice.  Friendly fire from HMS Euryalus had knocked out one part of Lancashire Fusiliers which had got ashore, but another group had fought their way through the defences and met up with the 2nd Royal Fusiliers on Hill 114. The beach was now carried, and a line established inland. Late in the afternoon the Anson platoon and 1st Essex, and Ernest Septimus Flack, landed to reinforce the dilapidated ranks of 1st Lancashire Fusiliers. Because of the gallantry of the battalion here on 25th April, W Beach was renamed ‘Lancashire Landing’ in their honour, and was thereafter referred to by this name. Much later a ballot took place for gallantry awards, and six men were awarded the Victoria Cross:

  • Captain Cuthbert Bromley
  • Corporal John Grimshaw
  • Private William Kenealy
  • Sergeant Alfred Richards
  • Sergeant Frank Stubbs
  • Captain Richard Willis

Following the initial landings, Lancashire Landing was turned into a small port with piers going out to receive boats traveling to and from the fleet. Troops for the Helles front were brought in here, as were supplies and equipment. Wounded were taken out from the beach, and there were several Advanced Dressing Stations nearby. The banks of the cliffs were terraced, and there were command centres and dugouts here. It was used until the evacuation on 9th January 1916.

Cape Helles stands at the south-westernmost tip of the Gallipoli peninsula. To the north is W Beach, with Tekke Burnu beyond; to the east is V Beach, embraced by Fort No.1 and the Old Fort of Sedd el Bahr. Immediately inland from Cape Helles itself stand the twin peaks of Hill 138 and Guezji Baba, with Hill 114 above W Beach and Hill 141 above V Beach. It was this area and these features that formed the focal point of the 29th Division’s landings at Helles on 25th April.

The 29th Division, containing the last battalion’s of Britain’s pre-war regular army, was ordered to land at Helles and capture the peak of Achi Baba (800 feet), which stood six miles inland, as an initial step towards the campaign’s main objective of the Kilid Bahr Plateau. A Covering Force of the 86th Brigade was to land on three beaches around Cape Helles and Tekke Burnu lettered V, W and X. Two battalions of the 87th Brigade, together with the Plymouth Battalion Royal Marines Light Infantry, were to protect the operation’s flanks by landing at two additional points, S Beach, in the corner of Morto Bay, and Y Beach, along the Aegean coast opposite the village of Krithia. Although the two flank landings were initially successful, they were not exploited and, faced by a determined Turkish defence, the main landings around Cape Helles made only slow progress. It was not until the end of 26th April that a continuous line was established from X Beach to Morto Bay, but by then Y Beach had been abandoned.
 
After the French Division had been moved across the Dardanelles entrance as planned from its temporary landing at Kum Kale, on 28th April a concerted effort was made to advance towards Achi Baba in the First Battle of Krithia. A week later, In the Second Battle of Krithia (6-8 May), a series of attacks were made on the scattered Turkish lines which still lay some distance in front of the village. But little significant progress was made. On 4th June, in the Third Battle of Krithia, a general attack was made along the British and French line with the same frustrating results. Three more concentrated actions against the Kereves Dere (21 June), Gully Ravine (28 June) and Achi Baba Nullah (12-13 July) were more successful. Yet both Krithia and Achi Baba remained firmly in Turkish hands. On 6 August a number of minor operations were undertaken in support of the assault on Sari Bair and the new landing at Suvla Bay. They proved to be the last serious attacks undertaken at Helles. 
As a position, by the middle of May once the line had been advanced away from the immediate area of the beaches, Helles held a number of advantages over Anzac. It was slightly more open, protected on three sides by the sea and had a few places, such as Gully Beach and inside Gully Ravine, which lay out of direct shell and rifle fire. Yet the characteristic conditions of Gallipoli – disease, poor food, decomposing bodies, claustrophobic, overlooked positions – still prevailed. On 9th January 1916, despite having the full force of the Turkish forces on the Peninsula set against it, the position at Cape Helles was finally evacuated. 
For Ernest’s part in these overseas battles he was awarded the 1914-1915 Star and the British War Medal.

1st BATTALION ESSEX REGIMENT

Sheet 50B

ROLL of INDIVIDUALS entitled to the Decoration granted under Army Order 20 of 1919. [1914-15 Star]

Regtl. No.

Rank

Name

Date of Disembarkation

Remarks

9247

Private

FLACK E.S.

25 Apr 1915 (2b) [Balkans – Gallipoli]

Discharged XVI 17 Mar 1917

1914-15 Star Medal Roll

Warley, 21 Nov 1919

ESSEX REGIMENT

112

ROLL of INDIVIDUALS entitled to the Victory Medal and British War Medal granted under Army Order 5 and 301 of 1919.

Regtl. No.

Rank

Name

Record of disposal of decorations

Remarks

9247

Private

FLACK E.S.

9247 Essex Private

 

Victory & British War Medal Roll

Warley, 16 Jan 1920

ROLL of INDIVIDUALS entitled to the “WAR BADGE”

K546 12 May 1917

Regtl No

Rank

Name

Unit

No. of Badge

Enlistment

Discharge

Cause of Discharge

Whether Served Overseas

9247

Private

Flack Ernest Septimus

Essex

178,033

21 Jul 1908

17 May 1917

Sickness

Yes

Silver War Badge Roll

Warley, 9 May 1917 

1st Battalion, The Essex Regiment War Diary

1915

 

 

March

 

His Majesty’s Inspection

12th

 

 

Battalion entrains at Milverton Station, Warwick:

“A” & “B” Companies 8-25 am.

“C” & “D” Companies 8-45 am.

Inspection by His Majesty on main Coventry – Rugby Road.

Return home.

 

1915

 

 

March

 

Warwick, Warwickshire. Part of the 88th Brigade, 29th Division.

21st

 

To Avonmouth and embarked Caledonia.

 

 

 

April

 

 

2nd

 

Arrived Alexandria, Egypt.

6th

 

Disembarked and to Mustapha Camp.

11th

 

Embarked DONGOLA and sailed for Lemnos.

13th

 

Arrived Mudros Harbour.

24th

 

To Cape Helles.

 

1915

 

 

April

 

GALLIPOLI PENINSULAR

25th

9 a.m.

The Battalion less Z Company transhipped from H.T. DONGOLA to a mine sweeper and was conveyed as close to the shore as possible, when they were transferred to boats. The landing was carried out under fire and there were several casualties in the boats which took place on W. beach about 9.30 am.

 

9.30 am.

As soon as the first boats were beached, we received orders to connect between the Royal Fusiliers on right and Lancashire Fusiliers on left and as many as were available were sent to fill this gap, reinforcing as men arrived on the beach.

On reaching the crest it was found that no one was on our right.

 

11.35 am.

A message was received from G.H.Q. to report progress and reasons for not pushing on. Reply was sent, that we were waiting for our left to come up and would then advance.

This was attempted but the advance was held up by very heavy fire and many casualties occurred.

 

12.30

Supported by 4th Worcesters and after bombardment by Navy, which drove out the enemy, the Battalion took Hill 138 and redoubt beyond.

 

7 pm.

Received orders to connect with Worcesters on right & Hampshires on left and entrench position.

Enemy attacked at night & came to close range with a Machine Gun, but inflicted no loss and were driven off.

Casualties during day

2 Officers – Killed

4       “           Wounded 1 since dead.

Other Ranks 15 killed 87 wounded.

[Ernest Septimus Flack may have been one of those wounded]

 

 

 

26th

 

Continued to hold same position.

 

 

 

27th

4 pm.

Advanced in Line 3 Brigades with 175th French Regiment on right and entrenched new position.

 

 

 

28th

8 am.

Advanced in same formation to take up a new position Pt. 236 – Knoll about 700 yds. N.E. of KRITHEA – Pt. 472 – X Coast Line in Sq. 184.R.8

 

9 am.

Met with considerable opposition. The Battalion on the left of the 88th Brigade on reaching a point beyond which they could not advance owing to the right & left of the line being held up entrenched and held till 6 P.M. when it retired to another position in the line with the remainder of the Brigades the right of the line having retired.

The enemy made very good use of their Machine Guns causing heavy casualties.

Casualties – Officers,    Other Ranks,

Killed                   2                    12

Wounded           1                    75

Missing                                      33

 

 

 

29th

 

Remained in position.

 

 

 

30th

 

Remained in position, shelled by enemy causing little damage.

 

 

 

May

 

 

1st

 

Remained in same position, Battalion relieved by 2nd Hants. Regt. in trenches and went into reserve.

 

10.30 P.M.

Enemy attached trenches in force. The Battalion was called out and ordered to retake trenches which has been evacuated and were held by the enemy.

During the advance the Battalion was subjected to heavy fire from the front and also from the rear by parties of the enemy who had broken through 1 Officer and about 40 Turkish prisoners were taken during the advance. X Company under Capt. Pepys found one trench occupied by the enemy and retook it with the bayonet.

The remainder of the Battalion remained in support ready to strengthen any portion of the line.

 

 

 

2nd

4.30 am.

A Counter attack was ordered. This consisted of three companies under Captain Bowen they took a small redoubt killing and capturing some of the enemy, ordered to advance and entrench new position.

This was found impracticable owing to enemy’s heavy shell fire. The old trenches were occupied.

Casualties – Officers.         O.R.

Killed                   2                 12

Wounded            3                 28

Missing                                     5