Loose page diary of Clarence Herbert Dakin, 15 August 1915 - 12 March 1916, Part 5

16
15.12.15
We are having at present most disgusting weather
A heavy north wind sprang up during the night & dust is blown
everywhere the guns being in a fearful condition it is also
very cold. The Goorkas I believe all went away last night leaving
a terrible quantity of stuff on the Beach. All our gear & stuff.
was carried down to the Beach last night. The Turks
must have had an Idea as to what is going on for last night
Beachy Bill was pouring Kero in along the beach.
Just Rumoured that the Turks have taken in the Barbed Wire in
front of their trenches. My. Friend - Crid. has just come back
from the Beach loaded with as much as He can carry, having got
flannells. Tapioca Arrowroot. Corn. Flour. Oatmeal. Army Rations & other
nice things. there was an unlimited supply down there. He tells me
that there are Tons & Tons of Wollen clothing & all this tinned stuff.
that we have not been able to get for the love of money only the
lucky few having them. it is disgraceful when one thinks
about it all this stuff coming to light now & a while back
we were next door to starving One of our chaps brought up a
Sack full of B.D.V. cigarettes. I am told that nearly all the
Woollen goods down there are comforts that have never been
issued it shows a lack of management somewhere. at any
rate we are now able to live on the best for the short time we
are likely to be here. Just come over a sandbag of Stuff with
Handkerchiefs marked W. Banyan they came from Leura I distributed
it all among the Section. it is difficult to get the men
to take the stuff now as everything is so plentiful 

17
16.12.15
Heavy artillery Booming on the right. also some firing
going on from Suvla Bay. I believe they have been evacuating
over there for weeks past. I also heard today that troops
were being kept over there to hold Choclate Hill & the
surrounding country. I went down to No 1 outpost & saw
Arthur Salway & Jack Holland, & had a yarn with them they
are ready packed to move off at any moment.
I went down to the Beach to get a F.S. cap but they were
all given away. they are getting rid of a lot of stuff. on to the
lighters & destroying a lot more. Rum is spilt all over
the beach hundreds of jars being broken. Turks put some
more 8.2. Shells on Russells top killing 2 men. I was told
that the Harbour at Imbros is packed with large Transports
& Men of War of all descriptions
17.12.15 Had a few showers of rain during the night the
wind has unfortunately swung round to the South West
although not strong enough at present to Hinder embarkation
There are a great numbers of trawlers laying about off the
shore & lighters are going & coming all day.
We are burning & destroying everything in the way of spare
gear of any description & not leaving anything that may be
useful to the Turks. We are digging now a hole up in the
trench in which to bury all the Ammunition over when
we get the order to quit. There was a lot of firing last
night round by Courtneys. 

18
Turks Head
18.12.15
Very Hazy all day enabling them on the beach
to shift a lot of stuff away on Lighters. Last night
Beachy Bill put a few shells into the Beach near the Stores
& they set alight to the stores down there it was a terrific
fire burning all night & is still smoking. it will make the
Turk think that His shells set light to the Stores.
Sgt H French has gone over to Pluggs Plateau where they
have 8 machine guns, under the Div. M.G.O. they will cover the
retirement from Quinns, Courtneys & Popes. it is a very
commanding position. Iron Rations are issued today
which indicates a quick move. We were given a case of
milk & some tins of preserved Pineapples.
Thousands of cases of Maconochi's Rations & also stacks
of Biscuits! We have got our orders. & It will be moving
day for us to morrow night the times are all worked
out & only Mr Webb, myself & 6 men with 2 guns remain. I
move off to another position with a gun & 3 men at 6. p.m.
the other gun retiring from T-H. at 3.30. p.m to my position
We both remain then till the order to Ship comes.
A portion of the Batt's are moving off tonight & the rest
will get away early tomorrow night. We will cover their
retirement if necessary. It is now beautifully calm and
the water is ideal for embarkation which should
be made with every success. 

19
Turks Head
19.12.15 Sunday.
We move out tonight. everything being ready I had a party
carrying ammunition etc. over to our other position which
we take up with 1 gun & 3 men at 6 p.m Mr Webb staying here
till about 2 am. with 3 men & a gun. So will then retire to a
position alongside us where we stay till about 3.45 when
with a party under Major Fitzgerald we make for the beach
being the last to leave Walkers Ridge  All the remainder of
the men get away from here at 3.30 when they will proceed
to the Beach & embark & soon as possible. We are having the
most glorious weather which is a big item in our favour.
Aeroplanes have been very active during the past few days
One remained up nearly all night last night they are also
flying very low over the water for some reason or other.
The Turks have been putting in a lot of big shells to day
all around I dont think they did any damage.
A Terrific Bombardment by the Navy started about 2 pm on the
right it is very heavy. We have not been given the slightest hint
as to where we are going but most probably it will be Lemnos. 

20
Mudros West
21.12.15
I am now sitting in a Bell tent with rain pouring outside
& everything as you may imagine in a cherrfull state. 15 of us & all
our gear being in it also a considerable quantity of water.
at any rate I will endeavour to remember some of the things that
have happened since we left Turks Head.
3 men gun. & myself went over to Sunny Hill where we we to
be rejoined by Mr Webb & the other Gun the party of us under the
Command of Maj. Fitzgerald. First we had about 1½ hours hard
work building up a Sandbag parapet on of our right to protect us
from our own machine guns at Pluggs Plateau. which were able
to get at us. We then had a most monotonous wait for a little
over 7 hours. it was a great job to keep awake. Our first & second
lots got away allright then it got near time for us to get off.
When the Sgt. Scout came over to the Major to report that.
He could see large bodies of Turks moving on to us. Of course it
gave most of the Officers the jumps. The last lot had come
from the firing line & with it our other gun. We then
got orders to bury our Ammunition & dismount ready to push
off we did all this then He came round excitedly again
& said we were to mount again & load & that my gun & 10 men
to line the trench would remain behind till all had embarked
as they expected the Turks over. Well we did this having to
dig up up our ammunition then round he came rushing to
Say we were to push off immediately & bustling about like a
cat on hot bricks. All things come to an end however & we got
all our gear on & packs then cleared with the guns. we met
Mr Webb & the other gun on the road. we all then made for the
Beach at about 3.25. am. 20^th Dec. going down the hill our
2 mines on russell Top exploded sending up a Terrific flash
into the sky. these were the only mines fired. After this
The Turks woke up & had the biggest demonstration they have
ever had & not a shot was fired back we got on to our lighter
without the slightest confusion there were two at the Jetty
& ours was the last to leave.