On 2 July 1915 the 53rd (Welsh) Division was ordered to refit for service in the Mediterranean. It embarked at Devonport and the transports reached Alexandria between 25 and 30 July before going on to Lemnos between 29 July and 7 August. On the night of 8/9 August the division landed at Suvla Bay on the Gallipoli peninsula, where an assault landing had been made two days before.