1915:02 Action At Last

Action at Last

In February the New Zealand Infantry Brigade encountered the Turks who had crossed the Sinai Desert and attacked the Suez Canal. 6/246 Private William Arthur Ham, Canterbury Battalion, was killed - New Zealand's first fatal (battle) casualty.

After the Turkish attack, the "Kiwis" returned to long, hot days of training and boisterous nights in Cairo, especially the Wazzir District.

By this time the British had come up with a plan (originating from Winston Churchill, First Lord of the Admiralty), aimed at forcing Turkey to surrender, bring relief to Russia and to draw the Balkan countries into the war on the side of the Allies.

The British Empire's Plan.... a fleet of the Empire's naval ships would batter their way down the Dardanelles' Straits and capture the Turkish capital of Constantinople (modern day Istanbul).

PeriodWWIDateFebruary 1915

Soldiers of the Wellington Infantry Battalion relax while a soldier keeps watch across the Suez Canal.

The grave of 6/246 Private William Arthur Ham, died of wounds received in repelling the Turkish attack on the Suez Canal, 5 February 1915. The first New Zealander to be killed in action.