Loose page diary of Clarence Herbert Dakin, 15 August 1915 - 12 March 1916, Part 2

5
But we are living in Hopes of Bagging him with our gun
We have a fairly easy time here & I have just finished 24 hours
duty Am now off for 24 hours free to wander about or Sleep
just as I please. We had the luck to observe on a hill 2000 yds
away a number of Turks working & throwing up earthworks
So we turned the Gun on them to pick up the range but were
unable to observe it in about 1 hours time one of our guns down on the
Beack in our rear opened fire on this position We were observing
with Telescopes & Saw our gun blow the Hill, Turks & all their work
up into the Air making a fearful mess
Sunday 29.8.15 This morning a German Aeroplane flew over our position
& dropped 2 Bombs about 400 yds in our rear near the beach evidently they
were trying to locate the Battery that had given them Such a time
yesterday at any rate the Bosh bombs were bad misses. We see a good
many Aeroplanes every day mostly our own who do very good work getting
ranges & observing positions. We found out the position of a Sniper
about 700 yds distance on the face of a cliff & 3 of us were firing with our rifles
We made him Shift his periscope but do not Know if we got him
everything is very quiet to day & only a few Shots being fired on both Sides
The Enemy put some more of their 75 Shells up among our trenches on our
right About 100 yds, this morning, done no damage. We are having
perfect weather just now, Bright moonlight nights & Sunny days, but the
flies are Simply terrible, you have to watch you opportunity in putting
food into your mouth or else it will be covered with flies as for tins of Jam
Sugar or anything of that Sort they cover it all. In our little dugout which
is dug into the side of a hill with Sides of Sand bags & covered with
waterproof Sheets, the flies take up about half the room.
Monday 30.8.15 We were called out at 10 oclock last night as we were expecting
an attack but it failed to materialise so we went back to bed. I went round
to the 3^rd Batt. away on our right, found them allright & was told that Sgt.
Horace Walker an old friend had been Killed in the big charge on the 6^th of this month
He is a great loss & will be felt by all who Knew him, I also enquired for Brett Allport
but he was back in Egypt with a Slight wound  As I was coming back along the
beach, Beachy Bill lobbed a Shell about 6 yds away there were fully 50 men about
& all escaped I was covered with dirt & pebbles this Gun causes a lot of trouble
along the beach as our people have been unable to locate it
Tuesday 31.8.15 Last night was very quiet & only a very few Shots fired on either
Side everything very quiet all day
Wednesday 1.9.15 There was a terrific lot of Artillery fire on our left last night which Continued
for Some time there was then an attack by our people It is much cooler to day with a
Strong wind blowing with the result that the flies are not So bad our Big guns are
firing all day principally Shrapnell
Thursday 2.9.15 There was another Attack by our men on the left last night
everything is quiet enough where we are & we get very little firing at the
Turks 
 

6
23.9.15 Owing to a poisened hand I have been unable to do any
writing for 3 weeks. Most of the time has been fairly quiet with occasional
outbursts on either Side. last week they landed on the beach in front of us A
Battery (4 guns) of 6 in Howitzers. 2.4.7 Naval guns, & on our left a battery of 6 in mark VII
guns there are I believe a lot more big guns Still arriving So that there ought
to be Something doing Shortly. Early this week the Turkish Artillery on our left
gave a demonstration it lasted about 30 min in which they must have Sent
along a few hundred Shells, from our position we could See them all Burst
Some out at Sea Some near the Battleships which began to reply. Our people
Seem to be pressing in on the left off [[?]] although [[?]]
Big Supplies of Stores are being stacked up at the foot of this Hill & around
at Anzac, the Small railway line extends now for about a mile & half round the
beach this Saves a lot of mule transport & is much better in every way
they have also 2 big motor lorries carrying Supplies to our left they
only run during the night time as they have to cross ground exposed to
the enemys fire. This is the place where the despatch rider crosses
Sometimes 4 or 5 times a day & although the range is about 850 to 1000
yds. the Turks are Such poor Shots that cannot get him He has been
doing this now for months & they have only got a few [[?]] Shots
fly hundreds of yds away from him & he waves his hat at them
We had our first Casuality yesterday the Turks for the first time
put Some Shrapnell into us, with the result that one of our chaps got two
bullerts in the face, We were both on duty at the time but He was a few
yards from Me bullets were falling all round us, if they drop a few Shells
here every day it will get a few more of us.
25.9.15 We had a demonstration last night at 8pm The Navy & Some of our
Batteries opened fire for 15 minutes or So then the 7^th Brigade over on
Rhodadendron Ridge commenced & it looked very fine to see the Rifle fire
from where we are we also used our guns & helped in the general Effort
everything is still very quiet & very little appears to be doing.
26.9.15 Everything is Still very quiet with very few Shots being fired
our Artillery are Sending over occasional Shells but every where is calm.
9 of us Sent over to Monash Gully to a Machine Gun school for 10 days
27.9.15 The Artillery on both Sides has been very active this morning
The Turks put 200 shells over into Shrapnell Gully that is the next
Gully to us, they did no damage Our 6 in Howitzers were firing all the
time 28.9.15 Our Warships both on the Left & right were firing their
big guns for hours last night. this morning the Turkish guns were
firing at our Artillery this time with high explosive they were doing much
better Shooting, the Sent over 200 Shells in. Just round from where
our School was a Shell landed right into a dugout into which 5 chaps
had Just run it made a terrible mess blowing 4 men to pieces t
other was badly wounded it was   Shock so we went &  
 

28.9.15 Cont 
it & picked up a piece of the Shell covered in blood & cloth
etc. it appeared to be about an 8.4 Shell at any rate is was a big on
& I never want to be nearer to one than that one today previous to this
while we were Sitting down at instruction a Taube Aeroplane flew over
us & dropped a bomb it landed very close to us & Some of the bullets
out of it came in amongst us 29.9.15 Left the Machine gun School & Sent
down Some reserves for M instruction.
30.9.15 Saw a dirigable come out of the big green Shed over at Imbross the
Island Just near by, it rose up & circled a good many times as though
it was on its trial trip. Then one of our Hydroplanes:- they Seem to be
Just an ordinary aeroplane fitted with two big floats; it flew along
parallel to the Turks trenches they were Sending Shells at it all the way
then, An Aeroplane flew right over the enemys position & they were
Shelling it, we counted as many as 20 Shells but they all were
pretty wide of the mark. The Heavy bombardment Still continues on
our right possibly our Ships hammering at the Narrows.
1.10.15 Heavy Bombardment Still continues on the right everything is Still quiet
here practically no Shooting goes on here in the day time except a little
Sniping, at night time it livens up a lot & usually coloured lights & flares
are thrown out by both Sides, also the bomb throwing goes on all night
2.10.15 Cannot hear anything on the right this morning. The Turks appear to
have got a fresh gun up near Chunik Bear with which they Shell the
destroyers when they come in close to Shore to to do Some firing, it was
rather amusing yesterday afternoon we were all Sitting watching the fun
the destroyer came in & commenced firing then Some High explosive landed
very close So She moved a little further Still they came close So She turned
round & made a big circle & came back to where She Started then fired again
this went on for Some time She always just moved just in time for the Shell
to hit where She had just left. these little plays go on nearly every
afternoon & it helps pass away the time nicely.
3.10.15 We can hear the big guns on our right again this morning.
Aeroplanes have been very active flying over the enemy’s lines We are having beautiful
weather at present & a Swim down in the bay in front of us, is much Appreciated
4.10.15 The Turks Artillery very active again this morning Sending over nearly
a 100 Shells around us & on the Ridge they did little damage wounding
Slightly a couple of men & Killing twelve mules down in the gully
5.10.15 Last night word was Sent down for us to Send up men to draw our
portion of Reg Comforts, 2 men Sent up & came back with 3 pkts Peak Frean
fancy biscuits each weighing 4 or 5 drms. & Some pieces of French Chocolate it
would equal About 3d worth also 3 tins of Sardines all this was among
16 men I believe we Should have had more but the Case had been broached
We were also issued to day with poison Gas helmets
6.10.15 Everything is Still very quiet with occasionial Shells from the Cruiser out in the
hich go just over our position & drop into the Turks it is really wonderful all the
Sh  they do & our trenches So close to the enemys yet They never touch us.
battle  laying in Suvla Bay Bombarded the Turkish trenches on Kizlar Dagh 
 

6.10.15 Cont They were using High explosive & made a fearful mess of the Turkish lines
they must have used 100 Shells & big ones too. our firing lines are only about 200 yds
distant over there & the Shooting was excellent; we get a Splendid view from here
on Turks Head; while it lasted it must have been decidedly unpleasant for Mr Turk
7.10.15 Heavy guns Still firing on our right all around here is Still very quit
with our Aeroplanes circling over us the best part of the day. Turks are Still
wandering over in one’s & twos giving themselves up & Saying they are badly fed
& bad treatment generally there have been quite a number done the this up to date.
8.10.15 There was a demonstration by our people over to the right of Quinns Post we could hear it
& word came through on the 'phone that the Turks were attacking & using poisenous gas so we had
to get our helmets in readiness in the morning we heard it was our demonstration our Monitors, Ships
& Shore Batteries have been Shelling a lot to day all along the line, had a few drops of rain during the day.
9.10.15 We had a taste last night of what is to come it was a Storm but the wind worked up to
nearly a gale & Kept most of the rain off. we expected the roof coming off the dugout any minute, the
small schooner, the only thing I have seen the Turks hit with a Shell down in the bay & Sank with
the deck level with the water has been blown over in the night & looks as though her masts are gone
10.10.15 Everything is very quiet this morning the Ships in Suvla Bay were Shelling Hill. W. and
the Turks put Some Shells into 'Happy Valley' that is about 80 yds to our right they did no damage
11.10.15 Wonders will never cease we got paid this morning Allowed to draw up to
30/-, we took it all then went Searching for a Canteen that might be open in a day or
two. It worked up very Stormy looking We had a little then it Cleared away again
12.120.15 Very little doing the heavy guns on the right have not been So noticable
the last few days. We have been on 1/3 & ½ rations of water the past few days
but We got full ration today. We had all the Heads looking at our position today
Sir Iian Hamilton, Generls Birdwood & Holmes & about 15 Senior officers & Staff
13.10.15 One of our planes had to come to earth right in the middle of the Salt Pan we
Could not See if he had been hit as Soon as he landed the Turks Shelled the Plane
making rather a mess of it we could not See the Aviator at all
14.10.15 The Aeroplane has been Shifted during the night. Cold weather now Seems to be
Setting in with these cold winds everything is remarkably quiet
Our Artillery has been blowing lumps off Chunik Baer & Baby 700 using high Explosive
15.10.15 There was plenty of firing & Bomb throwing again last night the Booming on our
right has been very constant to day, we now Keep our guns mounted during the day we drew
each a packet & half of Woodbines presented by Some firm also we had 6 Cap Comforters 10 Cholera
belts 3 prs socks & 3 flamell Shirts among 17 we had to draw for them I drew a cap.
Stand to Arms has been altered to 5 a m till 5:30 a m & 6.30 p m till 7 p.m it is much better
They have now opened up our new firing line in front of us & are now occupying it It
is a most gruesome Sight to walk along it as they have made it under where all the light
horse bodies are laying & just on the parapet of the trench may be Seen legs, heads &
bodies of our men who died in the charge about the beginning of August & are Still there
16.10.15 The Turks have been getting Some of our men over in Monash Gully about 400 yds
behind the firing line with powerful bombs thrown with a Mortar
17.10.15 Showery All day, the Turks have Just landed a few bombs outside our
dugout very close but no damage they are thrown with a trench mortar which is
able to throw up to 500 yds.
18.10.15 Heavy Bombardment continues on the right if rumour is right our Ships will be through
the Narrows in 2 days time. The Turks are I believe Keeping up certain Religious festivities at that
time of the year. At any rate they are quiet enough lately. Mail day to day received letters
Saying our first mail from Egypt had been received. Great flocks of birds go Screeching 
South-wards all day long evidently migrating to warmer climes; where we would like to be going
19.10.15 Every thing is very quiet except the big guns down on our right
20.10.15 the Bombardment on the right has been heavy all day. We have not yet heard any
news as to how they are progressing  It Still continues quiet in our front
21.10.15 We had a treat this morning that was the Shelling of the Neck just in fron
of us, our trench was used as an observation post by the Artillery officer who had a
phone laid on from his Battery down on the beach to our left, all our Section w
up Standing well up over our own trench [[?]] 20 lb Shell 
 

9.10.15 For Some time past we have heard that our comforts &
parcels Sent to us, have been Stolen down on the beach & we can go
down there & buy them from different Chaps, It is quite certain that
a lot of under hand business has been going on, the other day
with those Queen Alexandra Comforts of which we got Such a
ridiculous few we, Should have had biscuits, Jam, chocolate, tinned Milk
& to day a Chap out of this Batt. came along Selling writing
tablets for 6^d each, every tablet had the back torn off
but one One that I Saw on the front cover it had Some rubber Stamps
from Some Depot & God Bless you on it, So I Should Say that it was
Stuff meant to be given to us as presents the Same Chap Said
that he had had Milk, Jam, & Chocolate, but had Sold them all
that is where our Comforts go
8.10.15 Our promotions came out in orders to day Just 9 weeks
After I was appointed L. Corporal