The Vanishing of the 1/5th Battalion Norfolk Regiment: A Myth Revisited
- Dr Iain M Lightfoot
- Sep 24
- 4 min read
Updated: Nov 10
Every so often in the paranormal world, a story resurfaces, dressed up as a fresh narrative with supposed evidence. People tell it with such conviction that many listeners accept it at face value. Humans are, after all, programmed to believe in confident truths while also being capable of deception—a dangerous combination!
One of those enduring tales is the supposed “vanishing” of the 1/5th Battalion Norfolk Regiment during the Gallipoli campaign of World War I.
The Legend of the Vanishing Battalion
The legend goes like this: on 12th August 1915, around 800 men of the Norfolk Regiment advanced into heavy fighting near Suvla Bay. According to myth, they marched forward, disappeared into a strange cloud, and were never seen again. Some say they were swallowed by the mist. Others, decades later, even claimed they were abducted by aliens.
This story has everything: war, tragedy, mystery, and the supernatural. It’s no surprise it keeps resurfacing on podcasts, in books, and on television. But what is the evidence?
The Making of the Norfolk Regiment’s Myth
The “vanishing into a cloud” tale didn’t originate in 1915. It gained traction fifty years later when a New Zealand veteran gave an interview in 1965. He claimed he had witnessed a British regiment march into a mist that lifted and floated away. This fed into an already fertile imagination, aided by Sir Ian Hamilton’s wartime dispatch, which reported:
‘...but the Colonel, with sixteen officers and 250 men, still kept pushing on, driving the enemy before them… Nothing more was ever seen or heard of any of them. They charged into the forest and were lost to sight or sound. Not one of them ever came back.’
Newspapers quickly picked up the language of disappearance. By 1916, headlines were already referring to “Sandringham men disappearing.” Over the years, theories developed that they were executed by the Turks, taken by flying saucers, or spirited away by some unknown force.
It’s a gripping tale, but history, as usual, is a little less romantic.
The Reality of Gallipoli
Recent research paints a clearer picture of what happened on that hot August day at Kuchuck Anafarta Ova. The key points are:
The battalion wasn’t strictly a “Sandringham Battalion.” It drew men from across North Norfolk. The so-called Sandringham Company had merged into “King’s Company” months earlier.
The men did not all disappear at once. They advanced under withering fire, fragmented, and were cut down in stages.
Survivors’ accounts describe machine guns tearing into the men as they bunched up in exposed terrain. Some managed to reach vineyards and cottages, even joining their Colonel for a final rallying cry before being overwhelmed.
Private Sidney Pooley later wrote:
“I did not see anything of the missing officers after I got lost… I certainly did not see them charge into a wood. We could only come to the conclusion that they had advanced too far, had been captured or killed by the enemy.”
In other words, there was confusion, slaughter, and capture—smoke but no supernatural mist.
The truth finally emerged when the battalion’s chaplain, Reverend Pierrepoint Edwards, revisited the ground in 1919. He reported finding the remains of 180 men scattered across fields, vineyards, and a local farm. Many had fallen where they stood, while others had been hastily thrown into a ravine by a local.
Reflection and Learning
Whether you’re delving into paranormal phenomena or revisiting history, the principle remains the same:
Check the sources. Who’s telling the story, and when?
Look at contemporary evidence. Newspaper reports from 1915 tell a very different story than those told decades later.
Ask what is most credible. Extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof.
DO NOT get swept up in the moment and certainty of others' conviction.
The Norfolk Regiment did not vanish into a cloud. They died bravely, advancing too far into enemy territory under impossible odds. The myth is compelling, but the truth is no less powerful.
The Importance of Historical Accuracy
In an age where misinformation spreads rapidly, it is essential to uphold historical accuracy. The story of the 1/5th Battalion Norfolk Regiment serves as a reminder of the sacrifices made during war. It is crucial to honour these sacrifices with the truth rather than embellish them with myths.
The 1/5th Battalion Norfolk Regiment did not vanish. They fought valiantly, they fell, and their sacrifice deserves to be remembered for what it was: bravery in the face of certain death.
For me, this case shows why research and an open mind truly matter. It’s easy to take a legend at face value, especially when it’s delivered passionately on a podcast or wrapped up in a TV special. It is imperative to weigh the evidence and listen carefully. Often, we find a story that honours the real human experience far more than a myth ever could.
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