Battle for Baby 700

40°14′46″N 26°16′40″E / 40.24611°N 26.27778°E / 40.24611; 26.27778

Battle for Baby 700
Part of the Gallipoli Campaign
Baby 700 as viewed from The Nek
Date 2/3 May 1915 Location Gallipoli Peninsula Result Ottoman victory
Belligerents
British Empire	Ottoman Empire
Commanders and leaders
Alexander Godley	Mustafa Kemal
Units involved
New Zealand and Australian Division 1st Royal Naval Brigade	19th Division
Strength
3,000 men	1,500 men
Casualties and losses
~ 1,000

The battle for Baby 700 (2/3 May 1915), was an engagement fought during the Gallipoli Campaign of the First World War, between the forces of the British Empire and the Ottoman Empire.^{[nb 1]}

On 25 April 1915, the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC), conducted an amphibious landing on the Gallipoli Peninsula. The landing at Anzac Cove was supposed to capture Baby 700, on the third ridge from the Aegean coast on the first day, but Turkish opposition being stronger than expected foiled their plans and they were forced to form a defensive perimeter on the second ridge. Having successfully defended against a Turkish counter-attack on 27 April, they realised it would strengthen their position if they captured Baby 700. The operation was given to the New Zealand and Australian Division, their then strongest formation, supported by the 1st Royal Naval Brigade.

The attack proved a costly failure for the British Empire forces, after the New Zealand troops on the left flank were delayed, resulting in the main assault by the Australians becoming pinned down. A British force was brought up to help reinforce the position, but ultimately, they too were pushed back, leaving a single Australian battalion alone in the forward position. This battalion was subsequently withdrawn under darkness on the evening of 3 May, and the Turks regained the position. For several months a period of stalemate ensued. This lasted until August 1915, when, in conjunction with the Landing at Suvla, the area was attacked again. This time it met with limited success, but the deception raids notably at The Nek and Lone Pine resulted in severe casualties.

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