Lieutenant Edward Ellis Henty Agony at Anzac: Edward Ellis Henty was the grandson of Stephen Henty, one of the pioneers who settled Portland on the Victorian coast in 1834. Ted Henty enlisted as a lieutenant in the 8th Light Horse on 21 September 1914, having served as an officer with the Light Horse in the militia in Hamilton. Henty died in the charge at the Nek. He was carrying bombs in his haversack, which was hit by a bullet causing the bombs to explode and blow his hip away. Henty was found screaming in agony by Sergeant William Sanderson of the 10th Light Horse. Henty cried ‘I can’t bloody well stand it,’ when men tried to drag him back to the trenches. He was taken back, but died there, and is buried in Ari Burnu Cemetery at Anzac Cove. The Nek was a narrow bridge of land that stretched between Russell’s Top and Baby 700 on the ridgeline above Anzac Cove. The Turkish trenches were higher up on the slopes of Baby 700, allowing an unrestricted field of fire. As part of the diversionary effort for the August offensive, the 8th (Victorian) and 10th (Western Australian) Light Horse Brigades were ordered to attack at the Nek at 4.30 am on 7 August 1915 to support an attack by New Zealand troops on the high points of Chunuk Bair and Baby 700. A naval bombardment ended seven minutes early, and rather than attack there and then, the Light Horse officers delayed until the planned time, giving the Turks time to get back to their machine guns. The first and second waves from the 8th Light Horse Regiment were nearly all casualties. Major John Antill, effectively in command, rejected a call to cancel the attack. The third line, from the 10th Light Horse, went over the top and was also shot down. Cancellation was again suggested, but in the confusion the fourth line also charged and was mowed down before a halt was called. The 8th Light Horse suffered 154 killed and 80 wounded, and the 10th, 80 killed and 58 wounded.
Lieutenant Edward Ellis Henty Agony at Anzac: Edward Ellis Henty was the grandson of Stephen Henty, one of the pioneers who settled Portland on the Victorian coast in 1834. Ted Henty enlisted as a lieutenant in the 8th Light Horse on 21 September 1914, having served as an officer with the Light Horse in the militia in Hamilton. Henty died in the charge at the Nek. He was carrying bombs in his haversack, which was hit by a bullet causing the bombs to explode and blow his hip away. Henty was found screaming in agony by Sergeant William Sanderson of the 10th Light Horse. Henty cried ‘I can’t bloody well stand it,’ when men tried to drag him back to the trenches. He was taken back, but died there, and is buried in Ari Burnu Cemetery at Anzac Cove. The Nek was a narrow bridge of land that stretched between Russell’s Top and Baby 700 on the ridgeline above Anzac Cove. The Turkish trenches were higher up on the slopes of Baby 700, allowing an unrestricted field of fire. As part of the diversionary effort for the August offensive, the 8th (Victorian) and 10th (Western Australian) Light Horse Brigades were ordered to attack at the Nek at 4.30 am on 7 August 1915 to support an attack by New Zealand troops on the high points of Chunuk Bair and Baby 700. A naval bombardment ended seven minutes early, and rather than attack there and then, the Light Horse officers delayed until the planned time, giving the Turks time to get back to their machine guns. The first and second waves from the 8th Light Horse Regiment were nearly all casualties. Major John Antill, effectively in command, rejected a call to cancel the attack. The third line, from the 10th Light Horse, went over the top and was also shot down. Cancellation was again suggested, but in the confusion the fourth line also charged and was mowed down before a halt was called. The 8th Light Horse suffered 154 killed and 80 wounded, and the 10th, 80 killed and 58 wounded.