This lead to an operation designed to cut off the Turkish Army from its supplies.

One of the key objectives of this plan was to take Sulva Bay as a strategic winter base.

The landing at Sulva Bay on 6th August 1915 was a success although the push to secure strategically important points nearby were not as successful.

The Essex Battalions all landed at Sulva Bay on 12 August 1915 with the 5th,6th and 7th Essex all moving to the reserve line at the centre of the front line.

The next day they took over the front line and were soon involved in hot fighting.

For the next two weeks the Battalions switched between front line duties and reserve lines on a daily basis.

At the end of August the Battalions were all moved to nearby Anzac where fighting had reached a stalemate and the objective had changed from assault to containing the line

The battalion was engaged in this role until then end of the campaign in December 1915 when they moved on to another conflict at Gaza.

The only offence during this period was for Hill 60 of which the Battalion was closely involved.

By the end of the campaign the enemy had killed 2 Officers and33 other ranks. They had wounded 8 Officers and killed 103 other ranks whereas illness had caused 45 Officers and 1,659 other ranks to be hospitalised.

Private W Pearce died from natural causes during the voyage and was buried in port at Alexandria. B and C Company were taken to Sulva Bay aboard the paddle steamer SS Barry while a A and D Companies, under Major Taylor, were left for other duty at Alexandria.

The Companies, under Captain P H Manbey, were allocated to an observation post where they were under continual shelling.

By 14 August 1915 the Battalion was reunited and supported an attack that was repulsed leading to the first casualties.

Captain John Grave Cowan, Lieutenant Ernest John Hickman and Lieutenant John Macadam plus three other ranks were killed and Lieutenant Dale plus fourteen other ranks were wounded.

On 17th August 1915 a second attack led to the death of Captain Harold Robert Tyler and nine other ranks with the Commander Colonel Hawkins injured.

This led to Major Rimmington Taylor taking over command of the battalion.

There was a redistribution of men in the companies as below

A company commanded by Lieutenant Marshall

B Company commanded by Captain Manbey and 2nd Lieut New

C Company commanded by Captain Morgan Owen  and Lieut F C Donner

D Company commanded by Captain Calthrop  and Lieut Attwood

Asst Adjutant 2nd Lieut Chitty

Over the next few days another 5 men were killed, 12 men wounded and 2 men reported missing.

On arrival battalion strength was 20 officers and 354 other ranks but by the end of September the strength was  reduced to 9 officers and 337 other ranks.

A new Commanding Officers , Lieut-Colonel Edmund James Jameson DSO took over command and brought with him some reinforcements.

On 22 October 1915 a patrol led by 2nd Lieut Newman encountered some Turks and one man was mortally injured. 2nd Lieut Newman went out under heavy fire to recover the injured man and act which earned the praise of the Brigadier.

On the following day Lieut John Morice Maitland Marshall died of wounds received and on 26th October 1915 2nd Lieut Brian James Brett Walch was on patrol when he too received fatal injuries.

By the end of October the Battalion strength was 18 officers and 337 other ranks. The reduction was partly due to enemy action although mostly it was due to illness.

The manpower situation worsened and forced the reorganisation with only 2 companies. A Company under Lieutenant Donner and B Company under Lieutenant Lockwood.

The winter closed in leading to rheumatism ,chills and even a few cases of frostbite but the Turks suffered as badly so the fighting quietened to exchanges of small arms fire. Even the snipers were quieter than normal.

On 13th December 1915 the Battalion embarked at Mudros and were taken to Alexandria where the next stage of the war was about to start for the 4th Essex.