Improvised sign 'TO "B" DEPOT A.S.C.' : Hell Spit, Gallipoli

Improvised sign made from a piece of rectangular galvanised tin. Painted on the tin in white paint is 'TO / "B" DEPOT / A.S.C.' with an arrow pointing to the proper right. The sign has two holes at the top and the bottom for attachment . There is also a small round hole in the top made by a nail, and three rough shrapnel holes. The sign is warped and bent, especially at the bottom, and has rust patches, where the galvanised layer is no longer present. The edges of the sign have been neatly folded to the back of the sign. The back is heavily rusted (inert).

This sign was found at Hell Spit, at the southern end of Anzac Cove, on 14 February 1919 by members of the Australian Historical Mission. It was found with another sign, which reads 'HELL SPIT' (RELAWM00349). The signs are very similar in materials and execution, so presumably were placed together and may have been made by the same man.

This sign directed soldiers to the Australian Army Service Corps 'B' Depot, located at Brighton Beach, near White's Gully. It was the second depot established in the Anzac area during the campaign. By 30 April 1915, the original depot at Anzac Cove was so congested with supplies that a second depot was established 800 metres further south at Brighton Beach.

Unfortunately, the location of new depot was prone to heavy shelling by Turkish artillery located at Gaba Tepe. Early in May the shelling was so severe, and killed so many mules, that they were removed to a safer location. Despite the danger to men and supplies, the depot remained at Brighton Beach, as one was required in that vicinity. Because it could not be relocated work was undertaken to improve the protection of the depot from shell fire, and most work at the depot was carried out at night.

The shelling continued with varying severity throughout the campaign, and caused casualties and damage to stores. It even caused Brighton Pier, located near the depot, and used for offloading the depot's stores, to be unusable for a time, and the supplies had then to be brought to the depot by road from one of the piers further north.

B Depot remained too dangerous for the mules for a number of months and they were kept in a nullah at Anzac Cove. It was not until near the end of August that a suitably safe location in the vicinity of the depot was found for the animals. It was connected by a telephone line to the depot for easy communication.

In September preparations began for winter. In addition to shelling by the Turks the depot was damaged by a major storm on 17 November. On 18 November the depot was inspected and a decision was made for its immediate removal to another site, just to the rear of the existing depot. In December Anzac was evacuated and the stores at B Depot were left behind or destroyed, and the last of the depot's donkeys and mules were killed.