New book shines light on Isle of Wight Rifles' Gallipoli campaign

Islander Graeme Brookes scoured the County Press archives as part of his research, and the book covers not only the campaign itself, but also information on each man who boarded the Aquitania and sailed to Gallipoli.

A section is even available on the Isle of Wight Family History Society’s website, for anyone keen to research their relatives who served.

The society’s chair, Geoff Alan, has also updated the website’s war service database to reflect Graeme’s research.

The Rifles formed part of the 163rd Brigade, who set sail from Liverpool on the Aquitania on the night of July 30/31, 1915.

The attack began on August 6, the day the rifles arrived at the island of Lemnos.

CQMS William Charles Cooper. (Image: Contributed) They entered the conflict on August 10, landing at Suvla Bay, and were in reserve for the first couple of days.

In total, 120 Isle of Wight Riflemen were killed at Gallipoli, 81 on the first day of action on August 12.

Gallipoli saw around 58,000 allied soldiers and 87,000 Ottoman Turkish soldiers killed, with around 300,000 men, from both sides, seriously wounded.

Reginald James Brooks-Butt's medals. (Image: Contributed) Graeme’s grandfather, Reginald James Brooks-Butt, served with the Isle of Wight Rifles at Gallipoli as Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC) attached.

He came from Sandown and joined the battalion in September 1914, with his cousins George Henry Cooper, William Charles Cooper, Frank Butcher and Charlie White.

George was also RAMC attached, and William, his brother, was in ‘C’ Company with the battalion at Gallipoli.

Will Cooper's grave. (Image: Contributed) George Cooper's grave. (Image: Contributed) Charlie White died of dysentery, which he caught at Gallipoli. He is buried at Pieta Military Cemetery in Malta.

George Henry Cooper caught tuberculosis during the Spring offensive in 1918 and never truly recovered.

In March 1921, he died at the Royal National Hospital in Ventnor and was buried at Sandown Church.

Charlie White's grave. (Image: Contributed) William Charles Cooper survived the war but caught influenza and pneumonia in December 1918.

He died in Egypt and was buried at Cairo War Memorial Cemetery.

Graeme Brookes' book. (Image: Contributed)