An emotive Gallipoli Landings Conspicuous Gallantry Medal recipients Great War Memorial Plaque awarded to Chief Petty Officer R.F. Toy, Howe Battalion, Royal Naval Division who having earlier seen service aboard Sutlej during the aftermath of the Messina Earthquake on 28th December 1908 would be awarded the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal aboard Thistle on 8th May 1912. He would go on to see service during the Great War initially on the Western Front and later taking part in the Gallipoli Landings. It was whilst ashore at Gallipoli near Achi Baba that he would behave with conspicuous gallantry on 6th May 1915 leading his platoon after his Company Commander had been wounded and bringing in Lieutenant-Commander Ford who was wounded under heavy fire. The award of the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal appeared in the London Gazette of 3rd June 1915, however Toy would be killed just three days later on 6th June 1915, and having no known grave is now remembered on the Helles Memorial.
Great War Memorial Plaque; (RICHARD FARLEY TOY)
Condition: Nearly Extremely Fine
Richard Farley Toy was born in Falmouth, and giving his trade as a porter joined for 12 years on 2nd March 1897 having previously served as a Boy 2nd Class, and later Boy 1st Class aboard Curacoa from 7th July 1896, and then later aboard Magnificent from 11th February 1897 being appointed Ordinary Seaman on his eighteenth birthday on 29th November 1898, before quickly being promoted Able Seaman on 29th November 1898. Short periods aboard Cambridge and Hermes would follow before he would ashore with Vivid I, being advanced to Leading Seaman on 13th December 1900.
Transferring to Blenheim on 1st January 1901, he would then be promoted Petty Officer 2nd Class on 10th January 1902 and Petty Officer 1st Class on 1st April 1903. He would later be present aboard Sutlej during the aftermath of the Messina Earthquake which had taken place on 28th December 1908 and would receive a Royal Naval Long Service and Good Conduct Medal whilst serving aboard Thistle on 8th May 1912.
Shortly after the outbreak of the Great War he would join the Howe Battalion, Royal Naval Division with whom he would see service on the Western Front, and would later take part in the landings at Gallipoli.
Now Chief Petty Officer, he would be awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal in the London Gazette of 3rd June 1915 with the citation appearing in the London Gazette of 2nd July 1915:
‘Behaved with conspicuous gallantry on May 6th during operations South of Achi Baba, leading his platoon after his Company Commander had been wounded, and bringing in Lieutenant-Commander Ford (wounded) under heavy fire.’
The landings on the Gallipoli peninsula was effected on April 24th-25th 1915 and may be said to have been completed by the end of the month.
The great Turkish counter-attack which sought to drive the Allies back into the sea began on the night of 1st-2nd May. So determined were the Turks to get to grips with the beachhead that many of their men in the first wave were unarmed other than their bayonets.
The Naval Division in reserve at the time of the counter-attack was quickly pushed forward to reinforce the front line. The first attack was repulsed after fierce fighting and by dawn the enemy were falling back everywhere. It was decided to counter-attack and at 10am the whole British line moved forward. The effort failed, however, and after very heavy casualties, our troops were compelled to retire to their original positions.
The fighting continued for many days after this, with alternating results, during which the Naval Division had its full share of the work. The battle did not fully die down until 10th May , when it could be said that the allied army had firmly established itself on the peninsula.
Richard Farley Toy would be killed on 6th June 1915 and is now remembered on the Helles Memorial. He is noted as the husband of Helena Toy of 25 Berkeley Vale, Falmouth, Cornwall.
