Battered bugle: Pine Ridge, Gallipoli

Australian Army battered and shrapnel damaged brass bugle. The left side of the horn is squashed and gashed. There is a shrapnel hole in the left side at the bottom and at the back. Shrapnel or a bullet that has come from the rear has torn the the bell. The maker's name and a broad arrow symbol are impressed in the top of the horn near the front.

This battered bugle was found in 1921 on Pine Ridge above Legge's Valley, Gallipoli, at map reference, Kurija Dere 1/20000, Square 68 C 5 by Lieutenant Colonel Cyril Emerson Hughes, Inspector of Works for the Imperial War Graves Commission. It was found with the bones of men in an advance area where some of the 6th Battalion, AIF had fought, attempting to hold back the Turks on 25 April 1915. As dusk approached that day, the Turks advanced and overtook their positions. None of these men were heard from again and none were taken prisoner.

No fighting occurred in this area after 25 April during the Gallipoli campaign and it was not until 1919 that the bodies of the men killed that day were found. Some were located in small groups along the length Pine Ridge, others were found in front, far down the slope. About 400 metres down the ridge on a knob overlooking Legge Valley another group was found. A last group was found at the back of the ridge, their remains covering the gully from top to bottom. While there may have been the remains of men from other units there, the patches and brass numerals still identifiable, indicated these had been men of the 6th Battalion.