Chair of the Trustees, John Bridges, reports on the Lanman Museum’s latest research:
The Lanman Museum in Framlingham castle has had on display for many years the bell from the SS River Clyde. The ship was symbolic of the disastrous Gallipoli campaign of the First World War. This year the bell has been repositioned in the museum, which initiated a search to find out more about this important artefact and the man who donated it.
Captain Unwin of the gunboat HMS Hussar had the idea to convert SS River Clyde, an old Glasgow-built coal carrier, to land around 2,000 troops on the Gallipoli peninsula. They would leave through openings (sally-ports) cut in the sides of the ship, before reaching the beach via gangways and over a ‘bridge’ of lighters which were to be towed into position.
Able Seaman Frederick Smith from Framlingham was serving on HMS Hussar and was one of a small crew selected by Unwin to beach the River Clyde on 25 April 1915. Troops charged through the sally-ports to be met by sustained rifle and machine-gun fire. Some 400 men were killed or injured in the first ten minutes. The attack was eventually halted and the remainder of the troops were not sent out until after dark.
Great acts of bravery were performed that morning, with four Victoria Crosses being awarded to crew members of the River Clyde, including Captain Unwin. The Turks, along with the terrain and disease, proved to be a formidable foe. Advances were made over the following months, but it eventually became clear that the goals of the campaign could never be met. The Allies suffered over 250,000 casualties of whom 58,000 died.
As a crew member, Smith was at considerable risk as the ship was under steady fire from the enemy, with several large artillery shells striking it. Some passed through the decks, many failed to explode but some did, causing death and mutilation. The bell of the River Clyde is an iconic symbol of the Gallipoli campaign which Fred liberated before returning to HMS Hussar. The bell had been hit by shrapnel and lost its clapper. These scars are clearly visible.
The bell has national significance and visitors to the castle can see it proudly displayed in the Lanman Museum along with the story of Framlingham in the First World War.