Turkish cartridges, projectiles and clips : Abdel Rahman Bair, Gallipoli

Collection of the remains of Turkish 7.65 x 53 mm Mauser ammunition, consisting of 93 cartridge cases, 28 spent projectiles and 12 rusted clips, together with a small plastic bag containing soil from the area where the items were found. The cartridges are dated between 1324 to 1330, Islamic calendar, (Gregorian calendar circa 1906-1912), with most dated between 1325 and 1329.

These cartridges, projectiles and clips came from ammunition fired by Turkish soldiers in opposition to the Australian 4th Infantry Brigade's unsuccessful attack, on 8 August 1915, along Abdel Rahman Bair to Hill 971 (or Koja Chemen Tepe).

They were found on 4 March 1919 by members of the Australian Historical Mission (AHM). The AHM, led by Official Historian C E W Bean, visited Gallipoli from February to March 1919 to collect items for the nation, to record the area through artworks and photographs, and to explore the battlefields to answer some of the 'riddles of Anzac' for the Australian official history of the war.

Hill 971, the highest point of the Sari Bair Ridge, Gallipoli, was the Brigade's objective as part of the main break-out operations, from ANZAC in early August 1915. The intention was to seize the high ground between Hill 971 and Chunuk Bair in order to secure a drive across the peninsula to capture the forts guarding the Straits. The 4th Brigade, forming part of the left column of the assaulting force, advanced during the night of 6 August but made slow progress due the difficult terrain and by dawn on 7 August was well short of its objective. An assault on the summit attempted on 8 August proved a costly failure.