Loose page diary of Clarence Herbert Dakin, 15 August 1915 - 12 March 1916, Part 1

Heliopolis 15-8-15
Left camp to day Bound for Lemnos. Arrived Alexandria on the morning of the 16^th &
embarked on the SS. Saturnia, 9000 tons 30000 troops on Board & left Alexandria the Same evening &^We of - The M.G.S had our
guns mounted on the Forcastle, & a watch day & night was kept for Submarines. We arrived
in Lemnos on the evening morning of the 19^th. Where we were faced by a wonderful collection of
Boats. Transports, Hospital Ships & Men of War, making a of total of Something like 200
Ships, many of them simply packed with troops. We laid in Lemnos for 2 days then were
tranphipped on the SS Osmanieh ^21.8.15 A Small but very fast boat, which took us to our landing place
at Anzac ^22.8.15 where we were taken ashore in lighters, Two Casualties occured on board
by Stray bullets. We got ashore quickly & marched to the rear of the firing line arrived at
3.a.m. then Slept till morning. From our dugouts in which we Spent the night
could hear the rattle of Rifle fire & the Boom of the big guns from the
Fleet. During the day (Sunday 22) 3 of us had to take our guns & other gear up to our
Brigade Headquarters we had a lot of trouble with the mules, as in places we were
being sniped at by the turks. On Sunday night the whole Battalion moves out
to Headquarters at the rear of the firing line a distance of about 3½ miles from
the gully in which we were Staying we advanced through Saps all the
way & took up our position in a gully where we were all told to
dig ourselves into the hillside we have been here in this gully now
for 4 days expecting every day to have to go into action which is
just in front of us where the 17 18: & 19 Batt are the ground we are
on was occupied by the Turks 10 days ago we have had 14 men hit
by either Snipers or Stray bullets so we have to be careful especially
when we go for water which is some distance down on the Beach
this is a Somewhat exposed position our Batteries are
down here & are firing all day they are I believe giving 
 

Thursday 26.8.15
the turks a bad time Also the gunboats just out in the Bay
they are Sending Shells over us every day & all day into the
Turkish trenches. We see as a rule 2 or 3 of our Aeroplanes every
day, one was just above us to day & a turkish Shell exploded
just behind it. We are getting fed much better now, it was
really bad since the time we left Heliopolis till yesterday
(Wednesday 25 Tuesday 24) we were only having biscuits, tea Sugar & some
bully Beef. But now we get tea. Sugar. 9 loaves bread 11 tins Beef
3 lbs Bacon. 3 lb Jam 2 tins condensed Milk & Some Onions So we are
doing pretty well. It is rather picturesque to lay in our
dugout with a blanket over us for Shade, to see these little
dugouts all over the hills like a rabbit Warren all with
their blankets up for Shelter, the flies are frightful, the worst
I have ever Seen. fire wood is also very Scarce, the water we go
for is very fine, but a lot of trouble a wash is of course out of the
question so we went down & had a Swim in the Bay to day it would
be much better if the Turkish Machine guns would let us Swim in
peace. We have just heard that we have to be ready to move
off to the trenches at 4 oclock (Thursday 26 Wednesday 25) We left our position
a little after 4 p.m just as we were leaving a Turkish Shell (.75) landed
among us wounding about 6 we moved out quickly & took up all our own
gear consisting of Rifle pack equipment rations 200 rounds Ammunition
we also had to carry all our Gun gear, Another & myself were unfortunate
in having to carry the Gun we had to go about 3½ miles the 2 of us
carrying in all 260 lbs is was a terrible journey. We Slept the night
half way up the road to Walkers Ridge A very high hill 
 

Running right down to the waters edge. The following day Thursday
the 26^th we moved up into our position in the trenches along
Walkers Ridge. The Turkish trenches were only a few hundred
yards distant & we were continually being Sniped at
The Spot where we are is Gaba Tepe where the first landing took
place & we have a beautiful view of the Bay where our gunboats &
Hospital Ships etc. are laying. We mounted our guns & had to
do our turn at watch 2 at each gun 2 hours on & 4 off. I was put on at
9 oclock when a big demonstration by our troops was to be made
at a given time a green flare was Sent up into the Air & the
firing commenced I put through 400 rounds in about 20 min. in
bursts of 4 or 5 & all the guns were doing the Same & everyone
was Shooting with their rifles. Such a row I had never heard
As a Machine Gun we were Somewhat exposed & could not sight &
Shoot by periscope as they do with rifles, & all the time we
were firing the Turkish bullets were flying rounds us like 
hailstones, this was Kept up for about ½ an hour it then died down
to the usual desolate rifle fire. The Rifles they use in the trenches
are fixed with periscopes so that your Rifle is perhaps 2 feet above
you & yet you can See to Sight the rifle & pick up Objects
in front of you that is practically all the firing that takes
place is Shooting at one another's periscope when you See
it Showing opposite you.
Friday 27 During the night ^Thursday one of the Turkish guns lobbed a Shell just
on our position the only damage it did was to blow the officers
dugout down. We were most of us improving our dugouts during
the morning These consist of nothing more than a big Shelf 
 

about 6x2x2 hollowed out of the Side of the Saps or trenches [*4*]
leading to our gun position. The Brigadier visited us during
the morning We were just getting nice and comfortable when
we were given the order to Shift again down to a position
called Turks head, about a mile distant, like the rest of the
places very awkward & Steep to get to we got things fixed up
about midday in our new position where we have a much finer
view of the country being able to See away on our left where the
big battle is now going on. This battle commenced about 4
oclock it was a wonderful Sight to see all the Battleships
destroyers & Cruisers all lined up round the Bay & the commence
to Bombard the Turks. We could See it all, right where all
the Shells dropped both High Explosive & Shrapnel the earth
where the turks were Seemed to be Simply blown to pieces.
it was an awful but a grand Sight. The Turks reply from Hill W
& the Surrounding Hills was very ineffective & did very little damage
although the put a number of Shells in the trenches just to our
right wounding Some men. After the Bombardment the infantry
took up the attack & the rifle & Machine gun fire was
enormous. ^Saturday 28.8.15 We were expecting an attack from the Turks last
night but it did not come off Their trenches are only
200 yards in front of us & we can See dead turks laying
about outside the trenches all along here (Walkers Ridge) which is
jus up from the original landing place we are Simply Stationary
neither Side giving away or advancing it is too costly for both
of us Some time ago the 8.. 9. & 10^th L H made an assault with the
Bayonet they were unable to reach the trenches & were cut up
terribly. The 8^th I believe went out 408 Strong & 130 got back Since then
we have simply been holding on here & concentrating on the left
flank where the big battle is now raging the object being to
get through to Hill 971 which dominates the Narrows & all the
surrounding country when we get this it will be a bad time for
the Turk. I have just been watching one of our Despatch riders going
from our position here across to the left flank there is a Stretch
over open country About a mile long which he has to ride through
this is commanded by Snipers Ridge a hill in possesion of the Turks
& just in front of us 300 yds This despatch Rider has to ride through
a hail of bullets All the distance but he Seems to bear a charmed
life in fact while the bullets are dropping round He waves His
hat to them. These Snipers give us a lot of trouble in this part
up to now our people have been unable to locate them