Battle of Lone Pine

The Battle of Lone Pine (also known as the Battle of Kanlı Sırt) was fought between Australian and Turkish forces during the First World War between 6 and 10 August 1915. Part of the Gallipoli campaign, the battle was part of a diversion to draw Turkish attention away from the main assaults against Sari Bair, Chunuk Bair and Hill 971, which became known as the August Offensive. The Australians, initially at brigade strength, managed to capture the main Turkish trench line from the battalion that was defending the position in the first few hours of the fighting; however, the fighting continued for the next three days as the Turks brought up reinforcements and launched numerous counterattacks in an attempt to recapture the ground they had lost. As the counterattacks intensified the Australians brought up two fresh battalions. Finally, on 9 August the Turks called off any further attempts and by 10 August offensive action ceased, leaving the Australians in control of the position. Nevertheless, despite the Australian victory, the wider August Offensive of which the attack had been a part failed and a situation of stalemate developed around Lone Pine which lasted until the end of the campaign in December 1915 when the Australian troops were evacuated from the peninsula.