Diary No.2 of Rupert Major Downes, 15 May - 25 September 1915 - Part 1

Conflict:
First World War, 1914–18
Subject:
  • Documents and letters
Status:
Finalised
Accession number:
AWM2017.6.200
Difficulty:

Page 1 / 11

DIA 1515125 No.2. 2519125
Lieut Col. Am Downe Light Horse Field ambulance 9 AmSownes Plea Mrs. pelvento batton Ad unt South Yarrd Melbowin distratia inssent St Dsp forttmak & ict hi Mardary. Personal War Diary 15.5.15. Left Helispohe racecowill camp at 7.4 opmn diemounted in fullmarching order with bapte Andereon, Oave, Aberdeen, Beannes and 66 other ranke of bearer & tem durecone excluding one Sergt Steward and one Lergt, clelk. and 6wayon orderly Marched to Palare de Kubbeh, loaded contente of L G.S. wagone medical sioree) seft for Alexanderia as 11 Lopmn. arriving 5.30 am. on 165.15 at docke. Dreentrained embarked at 2.30 pm on X2 8S &9th LH. Menomince with Rde AG. 8t r Signal Troop & Rde Toram, Otago M.R. and a number of Enperial & Anstralian detayle returning - 1553 i all Pulled out sanchored in harbour about 8.15 pm.
17515 Cailedat daybreat for Gallipoli. Weather fine, sa calm Barryingwounded Drill, patignee & remaphorel. Decuure to officerd & MCos. Ly00 in evening 18.515. Weathercalm & fine Paseed aecoyne in morning with General Bridge on her who had died at 5 am nighte shaded at night 19.5.15. Arrived of & Oape Helles at 1hm and anchored in view of Seddal Kakr ruine, bax of 29 - dircion, numeroul traneporte + war veceele. Watched acroplane reconnareeance + shelling of them, shelling of Britieh left by Turke & of Turkeby warchipe and our batteries, stationarry balloon ruine of humkale gunot town, troope resting in havine on hor
t pary vrawlere & landing at Awzas bov Gallipoli pemycnia at 4.25hi. $ sef most of boggage onbeachI gntdoye yours went to bivonac groung among 8th SH. Jdugin 22.5.15. Oontinned digging in a few shraphel bureting in ourvicinsty Reported arrival to AOme. WY &a division ( Col. Maunders to which we ver orunit attached. Tatigne + carrying wankal. Nained steadily in morning 23.5.15. Fatignee & carrying wound for wnit. Shelling quiet for we Reported that Haly hae winedall 24.5.15. Slight but coninnoneran inmorning. Winnetice from 9.20 to 4.30pmn to bury dear. Heavy firig in early night + few shalpnelove our gally from E Side in evening
25515. Rained offson for afternoon with flooding of dny oute, Truumph sunk by submatine. 265. Shelled in morning Movedstores from beach to 10th CH. dugents. Shelled our valley in afternoon & Ikilled & 6 wounded in W.N.R. 27.5. Went through etrenched of 9th L Gartrell & Beannish in morning Surm ipin some freek priconers o) brought in 285. 1o see adms & pleasing Hoepitet keple in shelpin morning. Heavy aping an earily morning Smpers woanded our anther preter & Killer 1of N. W.H. Lunck it 3th Wstrenches. Heavy foring at wight sterneon Levening 5.1145 29.5 ainc post taten vetaken our valley nearely shelled in afterno 5 -30 shells & 1 killel & 2 wounded in W.N.R. went up to treaches for
night but very ginet there 3p. 5.15. Hapt. Aberdeen relieved bapt McLean W.M.B.) as so D outpoe in early am. where we were being attacked Returned & sprained Luble baft. have cA section bearers & hes. went to no 1 outpoet at 1.30 under ordere of AD.MS. Capt. Andereon & Ssgr. Ellingworth o, slightly wounded & exploding carbridge. cturned to lince at 595 a.m. bast. have returned's detaile at 3.30 to report that no 1 outhoet had not asked for him & had not received meceage from me out that No 2 outposs wanted him. Oridered him to wait tilldard in comm- trench before crossing valleys to No Zoutpost on Razorbar Received order from AOmC. ad 40p
to be ready to move off at momente notice alth stretchers & portable eguipment. Sentweesage to Capt. Have ts tray at end of communicating trench until ertered to move by Brigadier or AdmS. Aleomeceagers Brigates WyR to inform fim that that wae co Both at 622 315. Vapt. Oave returned 1 am. without anycasnaltiee. Attach had reculted in N.G. loeing No 3 outpoet trench but remoirng all wounded except one Very quiet day as regarde firing went over to blearing Hoepital inmorning I returned there for lunch & most of afternoon. Had bathe & caught cold shelling in evening & NL cienalties 1.6.15. Tulday. Stood to arme again et 3.30. am. shelling all morning inter- mittently o several N.Z. caenelties.
Twim in afternoon 2.6.15. Went up ridge at back of our valley cfock to have look at country then down to blearing Hospital Up to Walpere ridge in afternoon a Jock to 8- trenches for expected allantt which did not come off. nipers very bad in evening. 36.15. got letter from Dorce of 2410 Imhere bad. earing hospital in afternoon & Jock & bave for swrin & to see Aberdeen after. 46.15. Upontsridge S. Firsatmnd day to watch hewy bombardment at Hape Hellee roaped &read for resd Hray 15 p15 Saturday Heary rifte &hel fize going on all might: numerou May Shrapnel fewrrfe Pullete in our valley
10 Clearing hospital for bothe iaf clock 6.6.15. went out to hospitalshipeiation lock & hatlunch and afternoon tea there & bol. & Dongan Bird -abath too. aberdeen eft for Thoropplysnjoyableday. Mudros 7.6.15. Vave & Deannchbut to Sicilian stayed in, read & did Turkichall day Heavy shelling in morning Skrakuel &3 Eyhtinchchellem our valley Wentuponevening Yock to see $ in therprest cam 8.6.15 Loafef about all ain. Alexwhite much for afternoon. Went thim rock & Kegnych to blearing hospital for Sm. Yarbell round it evening Very w bullets & no shelling. 9 1 To H. Arepitel to see Sy. Bearkeby other round to right plank & 121 Dick
below where shelling was taking place shipe off Rape tipe Canetritunpocition could beseen c glaseel some 15 milee away shelling on both cideelivened up dlot about opmn. when wee upanchired & steamed for Lemnor arriving onteide M dros harbor where we anchored at 9.45p.M. 20.5.15. Oamernts harbor incide boom in early morning and later inmorning came into main harbe & anchored there where stayed all day annd a number of Frepch Wratich warships + transporte 21.5.15. Received ordere at 7.15 to empark on destroyere + trawlere to proceed to Kapa tepe Left ship at 11.30 unto T.B.D. Wolvezine & arrived off Rapa Tipe at 3.45 transhipping into
champague there & Law over his tren fed about invalley all aft. Feve fartrell & crowd 10. 6.15. Cave for trip to hospitalship Sictis sid nothing but loaf inmorning Iwim at Ol. hosp. Dock, Gastrells Holletin afternoon. Shelled while there. ool that Gorter & Mar Hearne walked back c w. 11.6.15. Reading in morning indugont. Took bol White Jock Dieble & Campbell o see 12th Battn trenches. Met Tate Suthelen who came backto pledcue & bol. Kyan Went back & former inevening to beach. 2.6.15. Mail of 20. 415 arrived i am. & of £5.15 in afternoon - a great event. Twemn o lock at Olearing H. Vol. Sturdee & tearne to dinner in evening Sunday 3.6.15. Greekelections. To see bol Mantersin am who was out & to b.H. Wroterreadafter

DIARY. NO.2. 
15/5/15 - 25/9/15

 

Lieut Col. A.M. Downes 
3rd Light Horse Field 
Ambulance 
A.I.F. 
  
Please 
Return to Mrs R.M. Downes  
Catton 
Punt Rd 
South Yarra 
Melbourne 
Australia 
In event of death 
& give to O.C. 3rd L.H.F.A. first to make 
extract in War Diary. 
  
War & Personal Diary 
15.5.15 Left Heliopolis racecourse 
camp at 7.45p.m. dismounted in 
full marching order with Capts. 
Anderson, Cave, Aberdeen, Beamish 
and 66 other ranks of bearer & tent 
divisions excluding one Sergt. Steward 
and one Sergt. clerk. and 6 wagon orderlies 
Marched to Palais de Kubbeh, loaded 
contents of 2 G. S. wagons (medical 
stores.) Left for Alexandria at 
11.20p.m. arriving 5.30 a.m. on 
16.5.15 at docks. Disentrained. 
Embarked at 2.30 pm on X2 L.S 
Menominee with Bde. H.Q. 8th & 9th  L.H. 
3rd Signal Troop & Bde Train, Otago M.R. 
and a number of Imperial & Australia 
details returning - 1553 in all 
Pulled out & anchored in harbour 
about 8.15 pm.

 

17.5.15 Sailed at daybreak for 
Gallipoli. Weather fine sea calm. 
Carrying wounded drill, fatigues 
&  semaphores. Lecture to officers 
& N.C.Os. by C.O. in evening. 
18.5.15 Weather calm & fine. Passed 
Gascoyne in morning with General 
Bridges on her who had died at 5 a.m. 
Lights shaded at night. 
19.5.15. Arrived off Cape Helles at 1 p.m. 
and anchored in view Seddul Bahr 
ruins, base of 29th division, numerous 
transports & war vessels. Watched 
aeroplane reconnaissances & shelling 
of them, & shelling of British left by 
Turks & of Turks by warships and 
our batteries, stationary balloon, 
ruins of Kum Kale guns & town, 
troops resting in ravine on shore

 

trawlers barges & landing at Anzac Cove 
Gallipoli peninsula at 4.25 p.m. 
Left most of baggage on beach & 
went to bivouac ground Light Horse Gully among 
8th L.H.& dug in. 
22.5.15 Continued digging in a few 
shrapnel bursting in our vicinity 
Reported arrival to A.D.M.S. N.Z & A. 
division (Col. Maunders) to which we were 
attached. Fatigues & carrying for unit 
wounded. Rained steadily in morning 
23.5.15. Fatigues & carrying wounded
for unit. Shelling quiet for us.  
Reported that Italy has joined allies 
24.5.15. Slight but continuous rain 
in morning. Armistice from 9.20 to 
4.30 pm to bury dead. Heavy firing 
in early night a few shrapnel over 
our gully from E. Side in evening

 

25.5.15 Rained off and on for afternoon 
with flooding of dug outs. Triumph 
sunk by submarine. 
26.5 Shelled in morning. Moved stores from 
beach to 10th L.H. dugouts. Shelled our 
valley in afternoon c̄ 1 killed & 6 wounded in 
W.M.R 
27.5 Went through trenches of 9th L.H c̄ 
Gartrell & Beamish in morning. Swim in p.m. 
Some Greek prisoners (5) brought in 
28.5 To see A.D.M.S. & Clearing Hospital people in 
morning. Heavy sniping shelling in early morning 
Snipers wounded our interpreter & killed 1 of 
W.M.R. Lunch in 8th L.H. trenches. Heavy 
firing at night 
29.5 Quinn's post taken lost & retaken. 
Our valley heavily shelled in afternoon 
25 - 30 shells c̄ 1 killed  2 wounded 
in W.M.R. Went up to trenches for

 

night but very quiet there 
30.5.15 Capt Aberdeen relieved 
Capt. McLean (W.M.R.) at old No 2 outpost 
in early a.m. where we were being 
attacked. Returned c̄ sprained ankle. 
Capt. Cave c̄ A section bearers & 1 N.C.O. 
went to No 1 outpost at 1.30 p.m. under 
orders of A.D.M.S. Capt. Anderson & 
S.Sgt. Ellingworth v. slightly wounded 
c̄ ? exploding cartridge. 
Returned to lines at 5 15 a.m. 
Capt. Cave returned s̄ details at 3.35 
to report that No 1 Outpost had not 
asked for him & had not received message 
from me but that No 2 outpost wanted 
him. Ordered him to wait till dark 
in commn trench before crossing 
valleys to No 2 outpost on Razorback. 
Received order from A.D.M.S. at 5.40 p.m.

 

to be ready to move off at moments 
notice with stretchers & portable equipment. 
Sent message to Capt. Cave to stay at 
end of communicating trench until 
ordered to move by Brigadier or A.D.M.S. 
Also message to Brigadiers N.Z.M.R. to 
inform him that that was so. Both at 6.20 p.m. 
31.5 Capt. Cave returned 1 a.m. without 
any casualties. Attack had resulted 
in N.Z. losing No 3 outpost trench 
but removing all wounded except one. 
Very quiet day as regards firing. Went 
over to Clearing Hospital in morning 
& returned there for lunch & most of
afternoon. Had bathe & caught cold. 
Shelling in evening c̄ N.Z. casualties 
1.6.15. Tuesday. Stood to arms again at 
3.30.a.m. Shelling all morning intermittently 
c̄ several N.Z. casualties.

 

Swim in afternoon. 
2.6.15. Went up ridge at back of our 
valley c̄ Jock to have a look at country 
then down to Clearing Hospital. 
Up to Walkers ridge in afternoon c̄ 
Jock to 8th trenches for expected 
assault which did not come off. 
Snipers very bad in evening. 
3.6.15. Got letter from Doris of 7.4.15 
Snipers bad. Clearing hospital in 
afternoon c̄ Jock & Cave for swim & to 
see Aberdeen after. 
4.6.15. Up onto ridge S. of us at mid 
day to watch heavy bombardment 
of Cape Helles. Loafed & read for rest 
of day. 
5.6.15. Saturday. Heavy rifle & shell 
fire going on all night. Numerous 
stray shrapnel & few rifle bullets 
in our valley.

 

To Clearing hospital for bathe in aft. 
c̄ Jock. 
6.6.15. Went out to hospital ship Sicilia 
c̄ Jock & had lunch and afternoon tea 
there c̄ Col. & Dougan Bird - a bath too. 
Thoroughly enjoyable day. Aberdeen left for Mudros. 
7.6.15. Cave & Beamish out to Sicilia. 
Stayed in, read & did Turkish all day. 
Heavy shelling in morning. Shrapnel 
& 3 eight inch shells in our valley. 
Went up in evening c̄ Jock to see 8th 
in their rest camp. 
8.6.15. Loafed about all a.m. Alec White 
to lunch & for afternoon. Went c̄ him 
Jock & Beamish to Clearing hospital for 
swim. Gartrell round in evening. Very 
few bullets & no shelling. 
9.6.15. To Cl. Hospital to see Sgt. Beardsley 
off & then round to right flank & 12th 
Battn c̄ Corbin, Dicks, & Hay. Had some

 

below where shelling was taking place. 
Ships off Kape Tepe (Australian position) 
could be seen c̄ glasses some 15 miles 
away. Shelling on both sides livened 
up a lot about 6 p.m. when we 
up anchored & steamed for Lemnos 
arriving outside Mudros harbor 
where we anchored at 9.45 p.m. 
20.5.15. Came into harbor inside 
boom in early morning and later 
in morning came into main harbor 
& anchored there where stayed all 
day amid a number of French & 
British warships & transports 
21.5.15. Received orders at 7.15 to 
embark on destroyer & trawlers 
to proceed to Kapa Tepe. Left ship at 
11.30 onto T.B.D. Wolverine & arrived off 
Kapa Tepe at 3.45 transhipping into

 

champagne there & saw over his trenches. 
Loafed about in valley all aft. & evening 
c̄ Gartrell & crowd. 
10.6.15. Cave for trip to hospital ship Sicilia. 
Did nothing but loaf in morning. Swim 
at Cl. hosp. c̄ Jock, Gartrell & Follett in 
afternoon. Shelled while there. Col & Capt 
Sturdee & Mjr Hearne walked back c̄ us. 
11.6.15. Reading in morning in dugout. 
Took Col. White, Jock, Dieble & Campbell up 
to see 12th Battn trenches. Met Tate Sutherland 
who came back to feed c̄ with us, & Col. Ryan. 
Went back c̄ former in evening to beach. 
12.6.15. Mail of 20.4.15 arrived in a.m. & of 
4.5.15 in afternoon - a great event. 
Swim c̄ Jock  at Clearing H. Col. Sturdee & 
Hearne to dinner in evening. 
Sunday) 
13.6.15. Greek elections. To see Col. Manders in 
a.m. who was out & to C.H. Wrote & read after. 

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Jacqueline KennedyJacqueline Kennedy
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