At the start of the August offensive, the Turkish garrison at Lone Pine consisted of two battalions of the 47th Regiment. At least 500 men held the front-line trenches, with another 500 in close support. When the Australian infantry attack commenced, about half of the Turkish troops had been killed or wounded by the preceding artillery bombardment. The 1st Battalion of the 57th Regiment, which had only just been relieved on the day of the attack, was ordered to move to Lone Pine to reinforce the position.
