Loose page diary of Clarence Herbert Dakin, 15 August 1915 - 12 March 1916, Part 3

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21.10.15 Cont; Container of Melinite burst it was the closet we had been to our

own big Shells bursting & a fearful mess they made they put about 15 Shells in and
every time we used to watch the explosion then duck quickly to avoid stopping
piece of blowback a few pieces also debris landed in our position
[[?]]r this A Taube flew over our lines & a couple of our machine guns specially
[[unted?]] for Aerial work, opened fire on it, it then turned round & let fly with
[[?]]n machine gun I think with little result at any rate it flew away.
22.10.15. Nothing worth mentioning taken place, it is still very blowy
stormy looking with occasional light Showers. Very little Shooting going on, the
[[?]]-throwers get busy now & again.
23.10.15 Can still hear the heavy firing on the right. The 6in Howitizer just
[[?]] here which has not fired for a month or so has been firing to day there is
monitor lying just out in front of us & has been there all day.
24.10.15. Has been showery weather & still very cloudy & gloomy looking the Turks have just
landed a few Shells round about here without doing any damage guns still firing on the right
25.10.15 Nice Sunny weather to day & the Aeroplanes took advantage of it both Turk & our own
Turk flew over us & all over our Left flank the Artillery on both Sides been doing a little, Turkish Shells
have been coming over about every minute for the last half hour & all have fallen about 100 yds out in the Water
is a peculiar but nearly every morning & especially this morning we noticed all along the Turkish trenches
from 450 to 600 yds. out in front of the trench on the parapet they try to disguise it by putting small branches
of green trees about every 18 inches along they are quite discernable with the naked eye & with our glasses they are
really absurd. A day like to day has withered them all up but in a day or twos time they will replace them.
26.10.15 Had a little more rain during the night We have just been watching some Turkish shooting.
out in front of us at a fairly big boat. the shooting seemed to be a long way off which might
excuse the gunners a little but they put about 26 shells, short, over at the bows then the stern
but it was very erratic eventually the boat got steam up & put off. I did a bit of sniping
this morning, seeing a few turks looking over their trenches I had a man spotting with a
scope & saw me bag my first Turk getting him through the neck or shoulder he therew
up his hands & went down like one shot. the distance was 500 yds. Just now there is a party
of 100 men digging a sap to connect Walkers Ridge No 1 Outpost & Rhododendron without
going on to the beach they are just down in front of all our dugouts.
27.10.15 It has been blowing a gale all day & has been a perfectly awfully dusty & dirty
very rough on the water & all the smaller boats have difficulty in Keeping their moorings a
couple of punts have broken a way & one is washed up on the beach now this morning the
Turks had an Artillery demonstration for nearly an hour & shells were flying about the beach
pretty frequently the Stand to Arms is now from 5.15. am. till daylight & from 6pm till 6.30 pm
28.10.15 Still fairly windy, washed another punt ashore in the night the Seargent borrowed
an Aperature Sight, Martins B.S.A. for S.MLE. Rifle also a magnifying glass fitted near
the forsight & acted as a telescope. We were trying the Elevations on the rifle also
shooting at Turks of which there appears to be a fresh lot as they are more curious
than usual at any rate I managed to bag another one in the Shoulder
making my second Turk. The wind was rather tricky across the Gullies  

10 
29.10.15 We went down to Shrapnell Gully to day & looked through the large grave
yard there. It is a level piece of land about ¾ acre in extent & it is really kept in
wonderful condition, laid out so well & the graves all with their different
headstones, crosses etc. Some are very Artistically finished done in some cases by the
brothers of the dead others have simply a bottle with a piece of paper with the name
inside it is very touching to see some of the graves in fact it is with all of them
we walked down to the beach & passed the Turkish Barbed Wire entanglements
which are very strong, indeed at this point we then came to a smaller Cemetery.
it is here that Col. Braund is buried this is right on the shore & a little further
along is Hell. Spit all along the beach here there is a 5 wire barbed fence
The Artillery on both sides has been active to day, our 120 lb Battery blew the Blockhouse
up on Rhododendron to pieces again pieces of timber were blown about like sticks
30.10.15 Very quit today. Went down & enjoyed a good swim then went over to No.1 out-post
to see 3 old Farm boys, saw Alec Guthrie of the 1^st light Horse He is a Sniper over there
Also saw Jack Holland of the same Regt. had a good look round with a 'scope & the position
is somewhat different to what it appears from our place.
31.10.15 The Turks were very active all last night with their bombs getting about 9 of
our Batt. Some rather seriously they put a few very close to our guns but did not get
either they are fairly powerful bombs being made of a 15 lb steel case filled with
explosive etc. & attached to a stick about 3 feet long it is then fired by a
Catapult & has a fair range they are much more effective than any of their
artillery that I have seen, they shelled a ship this morning laying about
a mile out from the shore they were very close & she only just gout out of the
way in time. Our Seargent has been promoted to Day to Lieut. which means we all go up
1.11.15 Everything very quiet, it is very windy & a tug was blown ashore last
night received a mail today 2 weeks since the last. We bagged a Turkish Machine
gun over on Snipers Ridge 500 yds. we got a good Target right broadside on put A Belt
[*2.11.15*] through our gun at it & blew it to pieces with the scope we could see it falling to pieces
2.11.15 A big mail landed on beach also 20^th Batt comm. goods. Aeroplanes busy over us
&& the Turks firing at them all the time wind dropped & having perfect weather.
3.11.15 Received our goods from the Committee Staff I got 2 parcels. laid 1 gun last night
on to Snipers ridge to a place where the 1^st L.H. say there is a Turkish outpost
the light horse had a party out up the valley & we fired at the position 200 yds.
but the L H were unable to observe anything otherwise everything very quiet
4.11.15 Wind is getting up again & the water is fairly rough. Yesterday we only
has ¼ issue water & to-day ½ issue so there is scarcity of water here.
Another mail sorted & delivered to day but I had no luck. everywhere is vey quiet
5.11.15 We had a little excitement last night I was asleep at the time 9. oclock & had to be
wakened. & get into my boots grab my Rifle & Bayonet & get up to the guns there was
a terrific rifle fire on our right we thought near Popes. Rockets were going
up by the Dozen Red white & green they gave a Splendid light floting for a mile or
more it kept up for about 1½ hours then died out so we went back to bed & heard
this morning that it was a Turk attack on Pine ridge but was repulsed. 
We have had awful news to day, that is that the 20^th Batt has  

to leave Walker’s Ridge & go into reserve in Monash Gully
the 26^th Batt Taking our place, it is really too awful to 
think about, living as we do in the best spot on the
Peninsular, & having such a home, that we are all So happy
in. It won't take us long to get over it & may mean that there
is going to be something doing but it is annoying. An Aeroplane
has just been flying overhead & the Turks are firing at it the empty
Shells dropping just down in front of us a few yards away
6.11.15 We are hearing the most awful reports as to the place
we have to go to being dirty & everything else bad. have had
a number of the 26th M.G.S. over to See their new position
& have been giving our nice dugouts to them the 2 that are
going to occupy our’s think it quite a nice place really.
The Turks were shelling a 3 masted vessell this morning but were
Shooting wild they put would put one nearly in her & the next ½ a nile over.
7.11.15 Everybody is very gloomy as some of them have seen our new home
& it is worse than even expected but we will Know more later.
everything is very quiet round here. there is a monitor out in front
shooting straight overhead in the direction of Maidos. have just been down
to the 1^st L H to see Arthur Salwey before going to Steele’s post.
8.11.15 We have been Shifting our Gear All Day round to Courteneys
Post that is just left of Steeles. it is a rotten hole at best.
We took our guns etc. on mules & had to go right round Anzac & up
Monash Gully. then had to carry All our belongings & guns up
a few hundred steps to the firing line
9.11.15 We have taken over the gun position from the 21^st whom
we relieve & erected our guns which are both secret, there is
practically no room here at present & we are sleeping anywhere
38 of us have relieved 9 & have to sleep where they did the
feeding arrangements are also pretty bad as we are unable to do
our own cooking & have to depend on any makeshift for the present
10.11.15 We are busy to day digging dugouts in a couple of Tunnels
for us to sleep in had a little rain last night & it still looks
pretty gloomy we are still humbugged over our rations & meals.  

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11.11.15 Everything still very quiet. We have bad positions for our guns our B gun being just
a few yards behind our firing line & liable to hit them the guns can only be put up after
dark & dismounted before daybreak just have to guess where it is laid at night the Turkish
Trench being about 40 yds away a gun is in our firing line & a little closer to the enemy just
near the gun there is a Tunnel which runs right out under the Turks there is another
one running out under the German Officers trench. The trenches & saps round here are
really a maze & very easy to get lost. the Saps are very narrow & are underground a lot.
12.11.15 Had to get out of bed again last night at 8.30. One of our mines went off making
a terrific explosion then the Turks opened fire expecting attack it was Soon over, there
was a fair amount of rain in the night & we all got more or less wet. There is a point
Just over the gully by a tree where the Sniper was who Shot Gen. Bridges who was down in the gully
where we draw our water. There is a hole made by a a Turk 6' Shell it went in the Side of one Sap
& came out in another Sap 6 feet away it is just like looking down the barrel of a 6' gun the
grooves are perfect. it is a remarkable thing it penetrates about 6 feet from the ground level &
comes out 2 feet from the ground
13.11.15 The Stand to is now from 5.30 till 6 evening & 6 to 6:30 in the morning. Kitchener is Said to have
landed at Anzac to day also there is a big mail in being Sorted.
14.11.15 Turks Started putting over their broomstick bombs last night put one just down in front
of our dugout & alongside the C. Os dugout one of our Section Slept with feet 6 ft. from explosion earth
was thrown all over us it made a hole 2 ft deep & 4 ft about across. A big mail delivered
15.11.15 Heavy Bombarding on the right by our Ships. we are having very windy disagreeable
weather. everything is very quiet here, nearly every day the Turks put in about 15 Shells
Just near B gun. but except for covering us with dirt & dust it does little damage
16.11.15 Still Bombarding on the right in Some places we are able to See Acha Baba
& it is here that all the Shells land making a great cloud of dust the weather has
picked up a little
17.11.15 Very windy & Stormy again - Turks threw over Some new Bomb the have this
morning we could See them travelling through the air by the lighted fuse.
18.11.15 Everything is upside down owing to a terrific Storm last night which made
the place in a horrible mess. the trenches being ankle deep in a Sticky clay
which clung to Boots in a most loving way. nearly everyone got wet through
& had to go to bed in wet clothes. as Soon as the Storm Started the Turks
commenced a terrific rifle & Gun fire as though. expecting an attack in the dark
they appear to get very nervy on occasions like this. Just come back from the
Beach where we went on a foraging expedition getting from the Indians a 2 lb loaf
for 2/- & 2 tins Milk for 3/-. The Storm has done fearful damage on the Beach
washing away the piers & all the Stores & supplies on the Beach are laying all
ways there is another Small tug ashore & 3 or 4 punts All the road made
round the Beach has been carried away. The is a Taube flying over our lines now.
19.11.15 Rumoured that the lighter with all our Christmas mail home capsized & lost all
our letters. We are on Short rations at present not getting tea every meal this morning all we had
was one Small piece of Bacon & Biscuit no tea. & very cold morning. Turkish Shells dropping
Close to our gun had to dismount it  

12
20.11.15 Very cold weather. Artillery very active on both Sides Beachy Bill been getting
a lot of men & mules at Anzac. went round to the extreme right to the 6^th L.H & Saw
Dick Tomlinson, they are round near Chathams Post. here get a good view of Acha Baba also
Gaba Tepe with the remains of the fort & the little bay where they expected us to land
21.11.15 Very cold weather. & bad food. this morning 1 rasher of Salty Stinking Bacon & no tea
midday tea only. at night we got fresh meat Stew & nothing to drink, it is really awful
to think that we have been established here for so long & we are unable to water & are being
fed worse than in the hot weather they have had Condensers laying on the Beach for
2 months & they have just started to erect them & at the rate they are going we might
get water in plenty by Christmas One has only to reflect on the management of the affair
& he will Soon conclude that the whole system here is rotten to the Core.
22.11.15 Turks very active with their Artillery on the Beach getting men & mules at Anzac every day
Turks attacked the Apex last night & were repulsed. with loss no casualities on our side rather a
gruesome discovery made just in front of us a party on digging out & extending the Batt. Q. M.
Stores came across 5 bodies of our own men. probably just covered over where the fell.
23.11.15 I was told that from the 21^st inst I am a Seargent. we now have 2 Sargents 2 Cpls 4 L Cpls.
the S S. Orange Prince has been Torpedoed with a lot of our Mails Reg. letters
& parcels. very cold weather. Beachy Bill is very constant on the beech every day
24.11.15 Heavy Bombarding on the right. Turks blew up a portion of Quinns last night
doing no damage. they held a demonstration for a while We blew up the German Officers
trench. all of us having to Stand to Arms - while it was done it was not very Successfull
25.11.15 From 6 p.m. last night we have orders not to fire a Shot or to Show a periscope
or move about anywhere where the Turks See us. the 20th Batt. are doing all the
fatigues during the night & everything is being done to allow the Turks to think
that we are evacuating the position. There is Something Afoot as the 25^th Batt.
are down on the Beach with all their gear & are being taken away somewhere
Also Some of our Artillery has gone away. it is a frightfully cold raw day.
26.11.15 Everything is very quiet no movement going on. in the gullies & no Shots being fired
from our side. it is being Strictly enforced the wearing of Gas helmets & respirators. as they expect
gas. very heavy Bombardment on the left last night, & more troops are moving to the left.
27.11.15 A very heavy Thunderstorm last night making the trenches awful it was So Slippery that the
fatigue party were unable to carry our rations up in the night with the result that there was
no tea for breakfast. very heavy Bombardment on the right all day. A great number of Turks
are to be Seen out in front of our parapet a few having been Captured they are repairing their
entanglements & works without any interference from us.
28:11’15 Started Snowing last night & has continued all day it is terribly cold. We have not
had a hot meal today Simply tea each meal & 1 cold rasher of bacon for breakfast it is really
awful men are unable to Stand it, it is worse on account of the Heads having Such fine
meals. we See them having porridge, tinned fish, plum duff made out of our ration of flour
which we never received they also put enough Bread & meat away to last them 2 or 3
days all depriving us of our issue, the men are most discontented we complain with
no effect. So our officer who spoke to the Adjutant & got no satisfaction so we have to make
the best of a bad job & almost starve there is not a healthy man in the Section, but withal these