| 1st July, 1915 Thursday |
| A couple of nights ago the Turks
erected a sand-bag emplacement in front of our line on Pope's Hill.
The Colonel didn't appreciate this move as it gave them an
opportunity to snipe down the back of the hill at our bivouacs. So
he rang up one DAVIS (Artillery) who got his 'how is its' to work
with good results. |
| A strange officer appeared at
Quinn's Post a couple of days ago. Dressed in brand new Australian
uniform and 1½ rows of decorations. The fact that these decorations
were wrongly arranged led to enquiries and seem just about
established that he was a German spy. A message came to our Colonel
saying that the Turks appeared to be massing for an attack on the
right of our position. Of course we took every precaution, but also
the Colonel made enquiries as to where it came from. It was traced
to the 8th Battalion, and it was learned that it was this officer of
the decorations who handed it in. The object , apparently was to get
out outpost to fire and disclose its position. |
We released a sheaf of papers
(newspapers apparently) from a box kite this morning.
Lost four men last night, Sergeant TIMBALL shot dead. We are now
more than a Squadron short. Our Regiment is gradually getting
smaller. |
Tuesday's Attack:-
Simultaneously to the attack on Pope's Hill and the attempt to break
into the gully the Turks charged the 3rd Light Horse Brigade. Nine
Turks managed to get into our trenches and were immediately
bayoneted. They lost 250 or 300 here. Enver Pasha is said to have
been here in person and ordered that we must be driven into the sea.
|
| 2nd July, 1915 Friday |
Rotten baccy this week. Mouldy and
smells like rotten straw. Tins labelled Limerick. Can't understand,
however, there can be a sale for such muck. Australians would never
buy it. Same with the jam and bacon we get. The poorest Australians
would turn their noses up at some of it. Which carries out my
contention that Australians live far better than the English.
|
| 3rd July, 1915 Saturday |
The weather has been a trifle
stormy lately, washing away some of the landing stages and beaching
pinnaces and lighters. So that a lot of wreckage and seaweed lies
about. Taking advantage of this, I got a bag full of wood along the
beach this afternoon.
We are working 24 hours on and 24 hours off now. |
Drew rations in the afternoon. Got
tobacco, (get cigarettes and baccy every Saturday) but it is mouldy
stuff and everyone is growling. Owing to a lot of barcoo rot being
prevalent at Anzac and vegetables I care our allowance of jam has
been increased to ½ tin per man.
Got a letter from Nell, and she asks, do I know Phes Claude Burford
and Stanley Lambert, Signaller Lt. Skipworth and Lieutenant Joseph
Brooks. She says young Graham has joined the 27th Infantry. |
Losses:-
Mossop's Troop, no.4, B Squadron, now has only six men on strength.
|
| 4th July, 1915 Sunday |
| Tried to cook some beans for
dinner. After wasting wood galore I gave it up in disgust and
chucked them away. They persisted in remaining like bullets. |
| At breakfast time I saw a man drop,
shot through the head, into his pots and pans, while cooking his
snack. Unpleasant sight at one's breakfast time. Killed him I hear. |
| On the last three mornings howitzer
shells (5 inch) have been shrieking over our heads into a Turkish
redoubt just opposite. We can see them dart over our heads and they
burst quite close, just over the other side of our position. The
force of the explosive (lyddite I believe) shakes the hill and after
the explosion (a terrific rip and tearing crash) you can hear a
wailing, sort of a purr, like a lost soul on the move. That is
caused by the base of the shell and sometimes we can hear it
travelling through the air for six or seven seconds. |
| The last two nights have been wet.
I am on duty tonight on the lateral phone. Message to Popes says
that enemy submarine has been seen and that we are to report
anything we see. |
Later:-
An empty French transport has been sunk by one of the enemy's
submarines. Six lives lost. Just before dinner today a big explosion
was noted in the vicinity of Atchi Babba. This evening we got a
press through which explained it. We imagined that perhaps we had
blown the hill up. It appears that a Turkish shell had exploded a
stack of French shells. No lives lost. Going on duty at 10.00 p.m. I
heard that we were going to explode a mine. The 1st Australian
Division were going to. To be near the "German Officer's
Trench" at 2330 hours. It went off at 2230 hours (naval time)
however. Fine sight and caused a vigorous burst of firing.
While on the phone, a New Zealand officer using the line at the
time, heard him state he saw a minesweeper towing a battered
submarine into Imbros. Just before sundown the Turks treated us to a
spectacular display in the shape of a heavy howitzer bombardment.
Their shells could easily be seen dropping. They fired about 20
shots altogether, the first being over pitched. Each shot gradually
crept closer until the object of the bombardment (Army Service
Depot) was reached. Her last four shots landed in and around, and
the last shot of all plomped fair in the centre. The only damage
done was to two cases of jam. We were hoping it would be bully beef.
Then she closed up imagining her mission performed. The bursting
shells filled the valley with blue smoke and each shell had a smoke
effect different from the last. We are getting used to these 'Jack
Johnsons' and quite enjoy the sight. Must have been an eight inch
shell but I do not believe they were very powerful.
|
| 5th July 1915 Monday |
| The Turks started early this
morning and vigorously bombarded Quinn's and Courtney's. After
breakfast they had another howitzer bombardment. This time from the
beach with (reputedly) 11 inch shells. I hear they killed 4 men. |
A dozen mine sweepers are at
present hard at work between here and Imbros. They are drawn up in
two lines (5.00 p.m.) about 5 O'clock we saw a strange commotion out
there and the only explanation I can think of at present is that
they settled a submarine. A long trail of smoke or steam seemed to
be rising from and moving along the water among them. This trail of
steam extended for quite 300 or 400 yards. We will hear about it
later I suppose.
|
Our howitzers are hard at it at
present upsetting the Turks work on their U-trench in front of
Pope's. The exploding lyddite rattles and re-echoes up and down the
valley with successions of thunderous crashes. During this mornings
bombardment several pieces of shell hurtled into our bivouacs. One
jagged piece kicked up earth a couple of yards from me while I was
busy frying our spuds and onions.
|
| 6th July 1915 Tuesday |
Saw a 6 inch 30 cwt B.L Howitzer on
the beach last night. She had arrived from Malta and was pretty
ancient, having been born in 1902. Our engineers are terracing and
erecting bomb proof shelters along the back of this hill now in a
similar fashion as Courtney's and Quinn's have been improved.
Quinn's has the additional bomb protection of wire netting fences. A
submarine was sighted off our anchorage yesterday. Have not heard
the explanation of the commotion among the trawlers yesterday.
|
I saw a lot of Maori soldiers on
the beach. They have been here some days now. The spy who was shot
for signalling to the enemy was named Wilmott, from FX. Another was
caught a day or two ago. Belonged to the 10th, came from Quorn.
Hancock, editor Mercury, German Club mufte. Open arrest. Lt. Col
what he told S.M. disappeared arrival.
|
| 7th July Wednesday |
| Finished our week in the trenches
and the 3rd Regiment go into the supports. Which means plenty of
fatigue and outpost duties for the Squadrons. Since being bivouaced
here last, this position has been connected by phone. A line runs
through us from M.H. (Pope's Post) to N.T. (Hinton's Post) where the
outpost has a phone. We call this place 'Vinney's Road' and it is
the gully between Pope's Post and Walker's Ridge. The two squadrons
(2nd Light Horse) have shifted into Pope's. |
| Peninsular Press:- says that between
June 28th and July 2nd, the Turkish casualties were estimated on
good authority as 5.000 dead and 15,000 wounded. |
Another attack of diahorrea today.
Very weak and eat nothing all day, barring a biscuit. For about a
fortnight I have had these attacks periodically. Every 3 or 4 days.
|
| 8th July 1915 Thursday |
| Each man in the Regiment received a
package from the Overseas Club today containing 50 Kitchener
cigarettes and ¼ pound of smoking mixture. Inside was a postcard
already addressed with the donators name. G. DORITZER Esq. c/o F H
OLIVER Esq. Inkerman Sugar Mill, Carstairs Lower Burderin,
Queensland - on mine. |
| Last night we made another
demonstration to draw the enemy's fire. It was pretty successful.
Enabling us to locate a lot of their machine guns. vigorous cheering
was a feature of the demonstration. |
We still hear rumours regarding
enemy submarines. The latest I hear is that one or two have been run
down and accounts indicate that the peculiar disturbance we noted
among the trawlers a day or two ago was the capturing of one of
these troublesome craft.
The howitzers bombardment of our trenches near Steele's and
Courtney's during the last three nights accounted for over 40 of our
men.
|
| 9th July 1915 Friday |
Swim in evening, glorious. Things
very quiet.
|
| 10th July 1915 Saturday |
Sanders went away to the hospital ship this
morning. Gastric or something. Lot of this stomach trouble about and
our Doc sends a contingent away with it every day of late. This
leaves us 9 men on Headquarters, not counting Sergeant and Corporal
who do nothing.
Little doing in the way of scrapping in the last day or so. |
| 11th July 1915 Sunday |
| Just finished, at noon, my 24 hour
shift on the phone. In charge with Lance Jack MORTIMER and Bill
BOYER under me. we are the intermediate station between Pope's Post
and Hinton's Post (outposts). The latter phone is worked by the
Squadron Signallers. Took the sanitary diary down to our divisional
ADMS this morning and gathered enough wreckage on the beach to last
some days. Don't go much on the brushwood the other chaps use a lot.
Its not so convenient although it gives off a fine heat. |
| At 5.00 a.m. this morning we drew
fresh meat from /depot. Enough for 2 meals. Glorious. About the
third time we have had fresh stuff. |
At 6.00 a.m. Captain Green held a
Communion on Vinney's Road. I think about a dozen from various
Regiments attended. At 10.00 Lieutenant Colonel Derrington got to
work and also dished out eatables. At 10.30 a.m. Captain Green had
another Holy Communion. Attendance about 30 to the latter services.
|
Went down to the beach for a dip
with Bill B. and saw a Naval 4.7 gun hidden under a pile of boxes
and tarpaulins. With carriage and cradle the gun weighs over 6 tons
and the barrel must be nearly 16 feet or more in length.
|
| About tea time we had a heated
debate as to what a series of rapid explosions up above us were. Mac
and Otto of course dogmatically stated that a Turkish Pom-pom was at
work. On the beach we saw the cause. A big man-o-war had been firing
broadsides with her smaller guns. we were hearing the exploding
shells coming in at the rate of 5 at a time and exploding almost
simultaneously. They were probably landing on what we call the
'chess board'. |
Letters from Home:-
Dated, 25.5.15. Summary. Bread 5d per loaf. Chaff 6/3d per bag in
City.
"Mark is thinking of enlisting now and I think he is going to
enlist on Monday week and drive one of the Ambulance motor
cars.", says little cousin Norman. Nell's letter talks about
nothing but visit to people I don't know and motor and buggy drives.
Little Nell sends me a quaint little note. June the 1st from Mum,
'News has just arrived of L.H. casualties, a letter of mine was
printed in Bunyip. Clive is now 21years, but has not yet arrived in
Adelaide. He is now earning 3 Pounds 15 shillings per week. Rumpus
and riot at Port Adelaide owing to disloyal German shop keepers. Dad
wondering if I am in Turkey. Dad says Nell seems interested in
Private W.W. JENKINS of 27th Infantry (Ho! Ho! He! He!) |
June 2nd they have heard of Major
FULTON being wounded. Very interesting letter from Miss HARWOOD (S.A.)
of Nuriootpa in reply to a card I sent her.
|
| 12th July 1915 Monday |
We are getting Lime juice 4 times
per week now. The Doc is becoming alarmed at the size of our morning
sick parade.
9.00 a.m. something is in the wind this morning. General livening up
in the rifle and machine gun fire and vigorous artillery duel. Last
night the Turks at about dusk, heavily bombarded Courtneys and
Steele's with big howitzers. We passed several stretchers with
mangled men on them coming back to bivouac. Orders circulate the
story of a poor wretches ignominious death at the southern section.
Private DAVIS, Royal Munster Fusiliers at the latter end of May was
court martialed on the charge of showing cowardice before the enemy.
He was sentenced to death but was reprieved and sentenced to 10
years penal servitude to be performed at the end of the war. If he
did something meritorious he stood a chance of being pardoned.
However, a day or two later he quitted his post on sentry duty
without permission and after being, again court martialed was
sentenced to death, which sentence was duly executed at 5.00 a.m. on
the 2nd June. |
| Orders also give a diagram of a
French aeroplane which in shape is much the same as the German type.
The distinctive sign under the wings, however is :- |
| **drawing**, |
| centre red inner circle white and
outer circle blue. |
4.00 p.m., have just returned from
a dip in the briney and had two narrow escapes from enemy shells.
Came from Kaba Tepe way, and both hit the path on the water's edge.
Both appeared to me to be shrapnel bursting by concussion and
otherwise small. Concussion shells made holes about 20 feet in
diameter. Too dangerous this time to be ignored and the beach was
soon cleared of bathers and fatigue men. Only two short were forced
and within ten minutes from the last everybody was back again and
business proceeded as usual. The commotion this morning appears to
have been caused by the capture of a Turkish trench. Must be located
some distance to the left of Courtney's Post from it. It must be an
important capture. I hear that the Turks are very active and are
........ forcing with the intention of recapturing it tonight.
|
| 13th July 1915 Tuesday |
| The latest is. Time of 'standing to
arms' is altered from 3.00 a.m. to 3.30 a.m. Every man to parade
with full kit, and is to be inspected. We go down with haversacks,
water bottles, packs, bandoleers etc. and the Sergeant Major
inspects and calls the roll. Hitherto we used to usually devise
means to be well asleep again shortly after. But now we have to
stand to arms in real dinkum style. Usually until 4.00 a.m.
Yesterday morning instead of going back to bed I went down to the
well and filled our water jar. |
Exceptionally heavy bombardment of
our trenches on Courtney's this morning and again this evening.
Howitzers.
|
Robbie, who is running from the
Brigade to the Regiment, is the latest addition to the Hospital. He
left for the beach this morning. Heavy food, bad cooking and
insufficient exercise I attribute most of these gastronomic troubles
to.
|
| News received today that German
South West Africa has surrended to Botha. |
| Four killed, 2 missing and 15
wounded tonight's toll on Courtney's. Thats only for this evenings
bombardment. I'm positive I saw the trunk portion of one of the poor
devils missing, hurtling through the air. |
On duty today 24 hours ending at
noon tomorrow.
Regarding the rally we had at 9.00 a.m. yesterday. Only the usual
sortie from all accounts and we do not continue to hold the trench.
Hard to get the strength of these little skirmishes. Everyone has a
different account
|
| 14th July 1915 Wednesday |
| At 6.00 a.m. I was surprised to see
a body of men with shiny bandoliers and clean uniforms approaching
up the gully. Reinforcements for the 2nd Light Horse and 1st Light
Horse. Brought quite a feeling of pleasure, for it showed us that
the rest of the World is not so far away after all. About 200 in
all, I think, for the two Regiments. I hear, on good authority, that
the reinforcements (the 5th I believe) for our Regiment were sent
back to Australia because they tipped the Colonel in charge of their
boat into the cold sea at Port Said or Suez. Seems pretty authentic. |
| The News of the day however, is
Regimental Sergeant Major McFARLANE has been promoted to 2nd
Lieutenant, and is Mr. McFARLANE from now on. Quarter Master
Sergeant KENYON who was next in seniority but preferred to stick to
his own job. So COXALL is now R.S.M. Corporal REID in charge of B
Squadron Signallers is now Sergeant in charge of H.Q. signallers.
Several other changes among the Officers which I am noting at the
back of the diary.* |
| Saw some arrangements we are to use
in case we have any gases from the Turks. Copper cylinder goes on
man's back, like a pack. Attached is about 4 feet of hose ending in
a brass pipe of about 3 feet with a spray at the end. When the gases
begin to come over the contents of the cylinder is sprayed about
neutralising the effect of the gas. |
* Promotions among Officers and Non-Coms |
Major BARRETT Officer in Command B
Squadron to be 2nd in charge of Regiment, vice Major FULTON.
Sergeant Major McFARLANE R.S.M. to be Lieutenant.
Lieutenant Lance LEWIS to be Captain LEWIS temporary in charge A
Squadron.
Lieutenant Joe BROOKS to be Captain BROOKS and 2nd in charge B
Squadron.
Lieutenant ROWELL, Reinforcements Officer to take charge of troop.
Honorary Captain BELL, DSO, to be Captain BELL and o/c C Squadron.
Major Bull PRIESTLY is temporary 2nd in charge Regiment.
Major BARRETT is temporary in charge Regiment
Lieutenant
|
| 15th July 1915 Thursday |
Am a battler now. Several changes
have been made in personnel signallers. Owing to vacancies in H.Q.
and Squadrons, LOMAX and MARSHALL have returned from Signal Troop
and been added to H.Q. Staff. Vacancies in Squadrons . C Squadron
Corporal JONES shot. B Squadron, JACOBS gone to hospital with
gastronomic troubles and Corporal REID transferred to H.Q. as
Sergeant. A Squadron, Corporal HUTTON in hospital with knee trouble.
H.Q., Teddie LOWNDES shot dead, SANDERS in hospital with gastric
trouble. Sergeant Major COXALL promoted to R.S.M. Signallers at
Brigade as Regimental guides. ROBINSON in hospital with gastric
trouble, I think, and BOOTH is wounded. So that Lance Corporal
MORTIMER is transferred to B Squadron and I believe takes charge as
I hear rumours that Bob GARDINER wants to be transferred to a troop,
not being able to tolerate the Lance Jack. Alex CHAMBERS is
transferred to A Squadron and joins Dick MILLER and HOCKING.
|
| 16th July 1915 Friday |
Hell under shell fire this morning.
Swimming on beach and noticed a boat load of soldiers coming in from
transport. Took it that the Turks would have a shot at them so
called Smithie and Boyer and made shorewards and commenced dressing.
And no sooner had we got under the shelter of a stranded barge that
it commenced. One of the fellows a yard or so away got a pellet
through the heel of his boot. It was raining shrapnel for a few
minutes. We were glad when the showers ceased and we obtained a
chance to make ourselves scarce.
|
| 17th July Saturday |
| Alex CHALMERS who was transferred to
A Squadron has not gone away sick. I was told that over 50 a day are
leaving the beach with this complaint. One hundred and fifty left on
Friday. Sort of chronic diohrea which leads to dysentery if not
attended. CHERRY (Signal Troop) is anxious now to get back on Head
Quarters. |
Rumoured that Bulgaria had declared
war. Also that a new Division has landed near the Salt Lake and are
meeting with little opposition. I doubt this.
|
| One of the signal men has been court
martialled and sentenced to 28 days for writing in a letter that an
English Officer had said that the Australians are lions led by
asses. He endorsed this by saying, "Them's my sentiments." |
Our parade state is now 306.
4.00 p.m. It seems to be a pretty persistent rumour that another
landing has been effected yesterday, somewhere the other side of the
Salt Lake. Sixteen transports were seen moving in the vicinity.
|
| 18th July 1915 Sunday |
The beach has been catching it
properly today. Caught twenty or more, and killed eight.
I am trying the two meal per day racket. Seeing whether it is best
adopted to the circumstances we are living under. After the 'stand
to arms parade' is dismissed I go back to bunk and get out about
9.30 a.m. for breaker. Only drink of tea at midday and tea between
4.00 p.m. and 5.00 p.m. |
Some nick-names of Turkish Guns
which habitually harass the beach, Beachy Bill, Lonely Liz, Anafarta
(from direction of Anafarta Bay), Folkstone Lees original nickname
of our landing place.
More Royal Field Artillery landing here, 5 inch Howitzers, Kent I
believe. Shell cases from tremendous height landed in our gully
today. Turks firing at areoplanes over head. Could hear the cases
coming through the air and ducked.
|
| 19th July 1915 Monday |
| Eighty eight of the 3rd Light Horse
inoculated against cholera today. Injection made over left breast.
Hear of little after affects. |
| Presents distributed among troops,
something to do with Queen Mary. Presented by Queen personally, or a
fund bearing that name. We drew, only four among a dozen of us and I
was unlucky. Flints and tobacco pouch and comb. |
| "Lemnonites" still raging,
parade state now only 294 and Major BARRETT and Lieutenant MOSSOP
are the last officers to go away to recuperate. |
Turkish airplane dropped a couple of
bombs on the beach. No damage done.
On duty today, heavy gun boat fire a couple of miles away during the
night. Although we could not possibly see the guns from here each
time she fired the explosions made like and flickering of lightening
in the dark gullies. |
Respirator alarm on the posts
before day break. Every man to have his respirator on inside 30
seconds.
|
| 20th July 1915 Tuesday |
| Had respirators superseded by bell
shaped respirator which goes right over the head and tucks in under
tunic. Helmet respirator. Has a mica glass window and the whole is
saturated with a soda solution. Looks very grotesque. |
Witnessed amusing episode early
this morning. BIDMEAD, water policeman, was woke up during the night
by a 2nd Light Horse Machine Gun Section man who wanted him to undo
tap and let him fill 20 or 30 water bottles. Blagaurded him because
he refused. BIDMEAD demanded the man's name in the morning and
'stand to arms', M.G.S. refused so Biddie went and got his rifle and
bayonet. Man didn't take it seriously at first, but when Bid made a
charge and a terrific lunge at him he did and proceeded peacefully
to the guard.
At 4.00 p.m. just been inoculated. A dab of iodine, the doc takes a
pinch of flesh and its over.
|
| 21st July 1915 Wednesday |
| Third Light Horse relieved the First
Light Horse in trenches on Pope's Post today. Special Force Orders,
says we are to expect a desperate attack at any time now. The enemy
have received 100,000 reinforcements. |
| Great activity in respect to gas
helmets. At 'stand to arms' parade this morning (4.00 a.m. now) we
had a "gas alarm". Every man appeared in his Gas Hood.
These have to be carried at all times now and must be constantly
with us. |
Sergeant Reid sent Eddies and my
name into Brigade today in response to their request also our rates
of sending, (30 words).
|
Much speculation as to what was in
the wind. Telegraphists have to stand by one of the phones in case
the heavy firing necessitates all messages being sent by buzzer key.
So that as soon as the expected attack arrives I will have to stand
by, being the only operator on H.Q.
|
The tucker is getting monotonous.
We are becoming regular sick of the sight of jam, cheese and bacon
and bully beef. If we could get a few spuds it would not be so bad
but they have been scarce for weeks. We can get a few eggs from the
beach by paying 2/6 or 3/- per dozen and also tinned milk at 2/- a
tin. And from Indians we get a sort of meal, which makes porridge.
But these things take a bit of getting.
|
| My only expenditure so far is 6d on
cigarette papers. We are expecting the Turks to attack on the 23rd
which is the Turkish Constitution Day. We are all eager for it to
come off. Things are becoming very monotonous and the men are
getting stale. |
| 22nd July 1915 Thursday |
| Great preparations for an attack
tomorrow. We stand at arms at midnight and again at 3.00 a.m.
getting in full stock of bombs ammunition, additional entanglements
being erected. Phone box made sound proof. All water requirements to
be seen to tonight as no man to leave post tomorrow, etc. etc. |
| On duty today until noon tomorrow. |
| 23rd July 1915 Friday |
| Turks opened up a heavy fusillade at
2.00 a.m., otherwise everything very peaceful. One or two mines
exploded. |
Beautiful scene looking out over
water on the setting moon. A destroyer or two prowling about out
there. One is using a searchlight and further out another fires a
few shots over our heads into the Turks at intervals and there were
a few star shells in evidence. Was glad when I went off duty at
12.00. Another attack of diohrea and feeling very weak and washed
out.
We are working the station with four men and do it in 2 hour shifts,
two men at a time. As the two men who are sleeping have to be called
out to do any running one doesn't get much sleep. I got hardly 2
hours.
|
| 24th July 1915 Saturday |
| The anticipated attack did not come
off. We stood to arms from about 12.30 p.m. until 4.00 a.m. but the
night passed off a repetition of the previous night. I hear,
however, that the enemy attacked the French and got "what
ho" |
| Later:- hear that the enemy made a
half hearted attack on the Staffords and lost some two or three
hundred. |
| Paid 2/- for a tin of condensed
milk. |
| 25th July 1915 Sunday |
The yarns goes that a Turk gave
himself up and says that the enemy are preparing for a big offensive
to have come off this morning. But it didn't. We stood to arms for
about half an hour before moon (which is nearly full) went down to
the approach of dawn, ie. 2.30 to about 3.45 a.m.
|
| Got some fresh beef this morning and
with Worchester Sauce and tea with condensed milk with it. I had a
glorious breakfast, chiped tatties too. |
| 26th July 1915 Monday |
| Licker SMITH gone to hospital ship,
sick tonight. So that Corporal Blue has to go on duty or at least
"volunteered" for it in his place. Trumpeter CLARKE who
was doing duty on the phones in C Squadron is also crook and
accompanied Licker. I think the Doctor calls it
"gastritis". Our daily state must be pretty low. A week
ago it was only 280 and the men have been going away in droves. |
| The expected attack has not come off
and the standing at arms racket had ceased, barring the usual at
dawn. |
We have been putting up plenty of
entanglements and netting lately, using French concertina
entanglements now.
|
| 27th July 1915 Tuesday |
Trumpeter INWOOD the next signaller
to go away ill. I have been pretty bad myself this last two days.
Quite upset. Paraded before Doctor MAINWARING this morning and he
gave me 3 small tablets. No appetite, sick feeling, weakness and
bowels and stomach out of order.
|
Five men arrived from Egypt last
night to reinforce the Machine Gun Section. We will want some
reinforcements on Head Quarters if this drain goes on. Three men
gone in 2 days. The reinforcements report that out horses are in
splendid condition. Niggers do all the mucking and the neddies are
under roofs.
|
-Evacuated Sick Off ANZAC-
|
| 28th July 1915 Wednesday |
| After being a day "off
duty" Doctor gave me a "ticket for Lemnos". Was sick
in his surgery which put the acid on it. Didn't want to send me
until then. |
| With just my personal belongings I
went down to the clearing station on the beach, where I was labelled
with a white ticket addressed to the minesweeper. At about 10.00
p.m. the pocket boat came and took us (about 100) wounded and sick
to the hospital ship TSS REWA an Indian transport. We slept on
mattresses on promenade deck after being again overhauled by a medic
and given some medicine. Supper for anyone who wanted it. Ah!
Splendid on board. After our spell at Anzac I began to feel better
straight away. During the night I saw a monitor putting some shells
onto the 'chess board' with the aid of the search light. |
| LEMNOS |
| 29th July 1915 Thursday |
| After trying to eat a little
breakfast we got aboard a pinnace from the "Cornwallis"
and went aboard the Fleet sweeper "Claxton" with about 250
sick and wounded. Seen by another Doctor. Arrived at Mundros the
capital of Lemnos. Worse cases of sickness transferred to a hospital
ship in the harbour and we were landed on the shore. |
The British Red Cross Society have a
booth there and were "supplying refreshments to sick and
wounded."
Passed before another Doctor and were taken off and put in a marquee
for the night. |
| 30th July 1915 Friday |
| Saw Doctor this morning and put me
on milk diet and bismuth and soda before meals. Milk diet consists
of porridge (thin) and milk (condensed) for breaker and rice and
milk for dinner. Milk for tea. |
| 31st July 1915 Saturday |
| .......
no entry ...... |
