Pope commanded one of three posts well forward on a protruding spur in the centre of the Australian line. The post he and his men occupied was considered crucial and his orders were to hold it at all costs. During an attack, Pope’s post was quickly surrounded by a much larger German force. Pope sent a runner back to get more ammunition but the resupplying force was blocked. When all hope was gone Pope still ordered his men to hang on. Pope and his men were killed in front of their post, in close proximity to eighty German dead.