Huns: the English liked to refer to the Germans as "Huns" at the time of the Great War, on the basis that (a) they behaved like the Huns when they ravaged Europe, and (b) they were descended from them. Irish nationalists returned the favour, for the same reasons.

Sud el Bar - a contemporary spelling:

Barnsley Royal Marines WWI


PLY 610/S L/Cpl. Chas. Harold BENFELL (No.4 Coy. Plymouth/2RM Gallipoli 1915) Demobilised 13/6/19.


Harold Benfell was one of three Barnsley lads who enlisted with Jack at Manchester 10/11/14.


Harold's account of the action at Sedd-ul-Bahr 4/3/15, from the Barnsley Chronicle, front page 10/6/16:- "On March 4th 1915, our company landed on the Gallipoli Peninsular to demolish the forts and I was one of the first to put a foot on the shore. I led the way to the entrance to the forts at Sud-el-Bar and within ten minutes of the time I received two bullets - one through the top left pocket and another under my right arm. For a second I stood gazing around to see where the man was that fired but he was concealed quite safe in some little place made for the purpose. Previous to that I signalled back to the OC that all was quite clear, the place seeming to be forsaken and quite dead; but we found it very much alive. More bullets came across and I made my way inside the forts for cover, though very little was to be found. I was followed there by two other men out of my section and we considered ourselves cut off from all communication. An hour passed away before we could get out of this place and the three of us lay there on the ruined wall which had been blown down by our ship's gun. The bullets were whizzing around us and I can assure you we had a very warm time and a lively experience. We were just cooling down when a line of heads was observed above a mound 25 yards in the rear. We three thought our time had come when just at the critical moment good luck favoured us, for instead of it being the enemy it turned out to be the remainder of our platoon, and the relief was too great for words! We managed to get back safely."