Robert and the Battalion arrived at "C" Beach, Suvla Bay, Gallipoli with the 30th Brigade,10th (Irish) Division on the 07/08/1915 and was reported missing 2 days later after an attack by the Battalion at Chocolate Hill. The Battalion War Diary states - "6th Dublin Fusiliers: Battalion attached to 33rd Brigade (General Maxwell). Moved from beach around 02.20 to Hill 50. "A" Company detached to support the right flank of the Brigade. Battalion ordered to support firing line Ali Bay Chesme point 105-H-8. Officers Killed - Lieutenant Doyle. Wounded believed Killed - Lieutenant Stanton and 2nd Lieutenant McGarry. Wounded and Missing - Major Jennings. Wounded - Captain Luke, Captain Carroll, Lieutenant Martin, 2nd Lieutenant Carter, 2nd Lieutenant Mortimer, 2nd Lieutenant O'Carroll. Missing - Lieutenant Clery. Killed, Missing, Wounded Other Ranks = 259". This is an extract for the Belfast Telegraph 05/02/1916 - "Private Robert Gates, 6th RDF. Missing since August 9th at the Dardanelles. Any information will be thankfully received by his Aunt, Mrs Leech, 6 Queen Victoria St, Belfast". The Battalion would take part in some desperate fighting in the Suvla Bay area, including the advance on to Hill 50 (Green Hill) where the Battalion lost heavily (alongside the 7th Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers) and Kiretch Tepe Sirt. Of the original 1,000 Officers and Men who disembarked with the Battalion in August 1915, only a third of the original cohort were still serving with the Battalion a month later. Nearly 700 had been either killed, wounded or evacuated sick. Of the 125 Officers and men who are recorded as killed, four in every five have no known grave. SEE PHOTOS x 5 FOR THE BATTALION WAR DIARY JULY - SEPTEMBER 1915, PHOTOS x 2 FOR OFFICER CASUALTIES 09/08/1915 and PHOTOS x 26 FOR THE 10th (IRISH) DIVISION AUGUST 1915. Robert's name on the Helles Memorial kindly donated by Mick McCann at the British War Graves website who supply photos FREE OF CHARGE
here. Robert is also remembered on the Coatbridge Technical College, St. John's Church and Coatbridge High Schools Rolls of Honour (see photos). See photos for Robert's Medal Index Card, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his Service Medal and Award Rolls, his name on the Ireland Memorial Records, Robert's name on the Helles Memorial, Robert's Pension Records x 3 and the Royal Dublin Fusiliers Cap Badge. Also see photos x 42 for information on Robert's brother Corporal James Gates M.M. who survived the war. In January 1918 he was in Woolwich Hospital with a severe wound to the leg. Before going to Canada James was employed with William Bain and Company. He enlisted on the 19/09/1914 in Vancouver and was invalided to Canada on the 24/09/1918 and discharged in Vancouver on the 09/10/1919. James was born on the 09/11/1892 and died on the 28/05/1956. Finally, see photos for Newspaper clippings x 2 (Coatbridge Express. 1 mentions brother James) and the 10th (Irish) Division Order of Battle x 14 (the Division Robert was with when he died).
