Diary of Harold Edward 'Pompey' Elliott, August 1914 - September 1915 part 9

Conflict:
First World War, 1914–18
Status:
Finalised
Accession number:
AWM2018.19.93
Difficulty:

Page 1 / 10

Menches. Durng the evening or attack was made on the Sap Head Greard and tomen of thr E Balts wer wounded an very seriously 19 Buly 5ar. Testerday tte Merry shelled us as 10.30 an 3 rounds with his Howitzes. Ther at 4.30 the Mountai Guns or Mortas ridge opeveday wilh propvel. The damage done to om Nerche was very slight comfared & the preriou day at machin gur mpod timplocenent was ladly dawaged. Seni the night then was a mudder husto rifl troching goe fre por theneig trenches lut no attack. The was about 11.30 prn. Camaltie Lieut Biggoley 6th Balto Killed by Howilzes. One man of the 9t Ball was killed and another wounded by thegme 20tuly san By 3 pr yesterday we vere relieved by the P Batt. They did not appreciate comugtack int the Tuerche io woo bus outmer wver guits done. We were put in revive is Walkers non coeled Bridge Road just oppost our last Broonoe Sil 2July san. In Kevene Witt. Enciclsed Rempriesent in murketry Turinited tappirg partier at. Furnished Inlyng recquet 22d July say Hill to Reserve yesterdays york some as previous day. Ever thew some High enploin shell bint orf
trenche. I hear ih 8t had I killed & ccromded hyoreand there war a verylarge one throm Brigady Hudgwarters. lapt Full co on lest today pin alhiess 23t July 1815 1 Yesterday on inorculated againt Pholera, went through Trenche I sfound things very quiet. At lop Head saw a dead Tunk that the 8th Guard had got He was very dead + ridaled ito Bullets. Every dropped a flagmer of thell in our Bronoet& wanded one wo Later another came ins & another mor received rather a bad concursion wight lleattacked Kunvrs that thurk witattck. Nothing doing miny coerre orthres 24 guly Still is Re threw in two shells from a new 4h h gun they have got out near Gata Tepe. One lobted in the ground put as we fiunted mess. Weods in a direct tie of my dugort but fell about s0 pet shot. Tater oes hust wtth an. They are peled with a layer Shrapvel bullet than M Pnachr shells L/ Coyal Hoare received a woud fom on is the lyt Bullock. atbout ty dozen pellet pactered into my dugont but did me no hurd perdoy 2qug sill is Reserve but it is knking if worse to carry Brick for alom
men are kept constantly at work or Faligue We had nov lift fo Church parode toda the enemy has denred a new foumo torture. He has got out what oppear to be rome old sphencal sell of $700r 80 years ago peled then will enflorire ew then p come roild Nench Mostar They have a very stey argle of dercent + buist indifferently according to the per a thaw or after toting. Several of then arrived today but did no harn at all although we was was flow some yords by the concursin of the exposion 26th July Monday, Had twoner injured at the Beach the morning or a working party that in revive. Hold off lyrkirby booy BJuly Interneved General Carruthers slout e bdff perment Beach Foligue & got out of it as we could only permsh 150 mer forduty 27 July Twerday. Had a tryorg Wore so the afternoon from the Even sphenical Bronl kemgial aflonta dyen came ver. One now bad hio beg shactered, another ladly shocked dyding out was several time coveredwit ets but I am quit all right Mrot to Nater Tales went dont to i a Basts o tea. Was feloved the by these shells & young Kirkwod Hown qeces there
28 July Witt in Reverve mer gitting atoabulity enhanoted by continuous faligeces. One part worked por 1opm until sow without fo of repechment enloading castammuntion & thome an rearly dead ffotigue. At 6 on then seemed every promine of the enemy crmigo & a sall party I hear allocked uins port but were easily reprultved 29 July Witt in Reverve. Qmit day, Onle man was killed and another wouded while doing fatyne work or th Beach 30gvly bitt a kevive. Twetboy. News of Brilish Victory a Meospolamed opening road to Blogdat & troops prera a hew heavy guns larded 60 gwinders today. at L.G yo landed the t the do opened fire at 6 miles range o a party of Turks dulling - Treat Scatte + heavy shallog of on gan 31st guly Satenday - Stitt is Resive. Germar eteroplone come over + dropped 60r7 rombs no ham done. Heavy shellyg heard don sould. Intermittent telling here wrote home oKate rother 1ong Sundi. There is a repost current that out right prished forard duing
the night & took & occupied two time of Trenches. The mve thowork of 2dL.H Brygide & that Lo Col Harri of thr Lighs Holve was killed with other. Vely hear towendment went or all night don souh Here there was intermitted shellayduring the night or cast ride & also today at good dec of rifle fire during the night not muh durry tho day. Hte Wignall wounded th othe day reported dad from 1000pitie thy 2nd August. Went through the trenches on our light to pnd ot about the light. Say 39 good mon of our land suver their gree. Flo 4 wirks. All the todies (paitically) were hombly mutitated by stell fire from which porticatly all the loons arove. only one os two fell i the pink forward & the Tinks well diiver ot of th treach which was abut 12oyds long. I saw the Truce afternone. We put in three mnine ender the nevet. One cuntyf laubfully shined a Tirk snby found dead aftera itohis sifle still i his hard. cother hurt serial yords short oninng ta miscohulatin of the Srdmens & a thid failed teglde at all. Homoer the Fay rursed th
Trenchs Saywelters & shot about 600 30 Tunk &occupied the trevet + charged the Headsove oner tthe tthe Fide. The tenks counte attack never materialred owin to the fast that the wous shope o whus ty had to come wnd wrept byou mackeng gue & pifle pre naw the of your dead lanks shll lynge thei communicalin drenct guit against the wall of Landbays that had ben bust up to block then by om men Afterard son the prigadie + recied some important confidenteal new fom him 3rd My Recd Allter from Jack Campbell thes morninng. Had another confornce with the Bargoden this morning - plan charged smewhat (14 Angent. Event have moved wito great lapidily sover I made the last entry. on the 4t Angust we were called into conference into Generll Bardwood at Broms dix. + nade acquainted with his plans There included on ottagk on the tim on done Pene another you attack on the German Offcertienes
by the 6th Balto & another pooville altocs on t gobrtos: folly positer by the 3 Batts avouted by the 22th Balts of the asernoon 3rd Brigade. Dn the evern of the 5th Mnrs smoed to Braud th Battalin was or C Hill & ther to the support penche jent in rearof were Selly. On the 6th Mrs the Baltaten was p Tenche in rearof tu 5th Both is. The 8 Bath occupied thnal of the ground previously held by the 8th & 5t Bath & also a part of the N.2 line at Courtney ports & also a part or the righty Bridge Road white the 5th piled ne let beliee the g & the right of th 3rd Brigad g th recd poth t of 8 rerg 5 aut 4.30½- Or Sens started to Bowlard th LONE PIRE poutid Johnlo golly At 5.30 the srigade chayed & took the LOWE PINE. Ct 8pm newscome through that the enemy were preparing tcounterallat Bregae 200 &loy was sent to reinforce the 3th lives at the point nearest a divensgully which reparated gohntons golly from Love kine Will. I also clelailed Lt Edwards Hopaity of 60 Esemne
the Barled were i point of our truche oppoint gohnton goll i can we had battock thi positenn wth moring & also to make Blanket Srei t throw n met as it was found ble to remove enport 11m Af the 6 Batt attacked the Gelvar Officeer Frener but failed At 4.11 am next morning I received a merrage that the N.2 denrion & altached troops were baltack the limCHUN vx BAIR on th may to & pby $945, I was instructed to relieve unit o LONE PINE bing attached to 7a Mp Bade for that purpose. I carried out this movement. Found everything in dreadful confurion. Officers oor exhantted & unatle tgive any coherent. account of how things stood. They had instained violent countircillact ree through the night wailyfoom Bront thirwen with Hand Grenader He got intoposition about 2 pr thorth afteraids we wen colently Milled, & astalked by Bomtthrown Lote things quietened down
9t Js fater on about I oclock it allack recommeced but was again repulved. Of recommenced ot carr on the 9th Jnst & contenued to roce for many home without entero I had never experienced met fighting The Trerche were full of dead + dyng mer but erheld them off & About 12.35 they became quits discomaged + ceared then altdck. We were the relieved by part of the 5th Balli Durive there attacks the 7th mypered camaltie of as under a porteda thh 1office killed (St Slwords) 11 officers woided 210 other ranks wourded 108 other ranlas mirning hlrequently a number of those reported munn were found t have ben wounded but most were Rilled 330. This was subrequently increaded by unreported camoltics $360 10 Ang. We remaned in kenue or philly N7. 11t fne. We returned & the LONE PINE but this time occupied No IL Declin, No1bng the right sectir which we preriously occupins we sput or a lot of hard work remorig the dead which were awful deepening & sallinng the trender putting a lophocer.
& connecting the dead endry it onemy communication hette what we hell We caused great low tth eveny& cntinually oniping at him throught thrday, it niilar folowed or the & on the 13t ong we were againulcy 12 Bay we had infpind very fw Carnaltu duny the penod but a part of 40 who 13 y we had sent to a mot the 2t Balt had lost 18 durin the night of the 1/12 Ang. Bg. In Kerre at Phillips P. We ar intineted to believe the s Battn at 11.30 or lomorror forrected camalty for the 8/9 wos 1 ofeerkilled 22 other Ranks Killed; 11 others wouded; 261other rove mg 3othe Kanns 5Ing we relieved the Bults the morning which ae carried out expeditionaly. Found most of our fet onifer port destd & little estin work done. Got things going again Descovered other interetting ponitions. Nuk tumell which we could enfelade- hadfor wrigade moching n offier bthe

Trenches. During the evening an attack was made 
on the Sap Head Guard and two men of the 6th Battn
were wounded one very seriously

19th July 5 am. Yesterday the Enemy shelled us at 10.30
am 3 rounds with his Howitzer. Then at 4.30
the Mountain Guns on Mortar ridge opened up
with shrapnel. The damage done to our
Trenches was very slight compared to
the previous day. A machine gun Tripod
& emplacement was badly damaged. During
the night there was a sudden burst of rifle
& machine gun fire from the enemy trenches
but no attack. This was about 11.30 pm.
Casualties Lieut Biggsley 6th Battn killed
by Howitzer. One man of the 7th Battn
was killed and another wounded by shrapnel

20th July 5 am. By 3 pm yesterday we were
relieved by the 8th Battn. They did not appreciate
coming back into the Trenches so soon
but our men were quite done. We were put
in reserve in Walkers now called Bridges
Road just opposite our last Bivouac Site

21st July 5 am. In Reserve still. Exercised
Reinforcements in musketry Sap  Furnished
Sapping parties etc. Furnished Inlying Picquet

22nd July 5 am. Still in Reserve. Yesterdays
work same as previous day. Enemy
threw some High explosive shells into our 

 

trenches. I hear the 8th had 2 killed & 6 wounded
by me and there was a very large one thrown
over near Brigade Headquarters. Capt Grills
left today from Illness
23rd July 1915 5 am. Yesterday was inocculated
against Cholera. Went through Trenches
& found things very quiet. At Sap Head
saw a dead Turk that the 8th Guard
had got. He was very dead & riddled
with Bullets. Enemy dropped a fragment
of shell in our Bivouac & wounded one man
Later another came in & another man received
rather a bad concussion. Still rumors that we
will be attacked Rumors that Turks will attack tonight

24th July. Still in Reserve. Nothing doing. Enemy
threw in two or three shells from a new 4.1 in gun
they have got out near Gaba Tepe. One
lobbed in the ground just as we finished
mess. It was in a direct line of my dug out
but fell about 20 feet short. Later ones burst
in the air. They are filled with a larger
Shrapnel bullet then the Smaller shells.
L/ Corpl Hoare received a wound from
one in the left Buttock. About ½ dozen
pellets pattered into my dugout but
did me no hurt.

25th July Sunday  Still in Reserve but it is knocking
off work to carry Brick for all our 

 

men are kept constantly at work on Fatigue
We had none left for Church parade today
The enemy has devised a new form of
torture. He has got out what appears to
be some old spherical shell of 70 or 80 years
ago filled them with explosive & fired
them from some sort of Trench Mortars
They have a very steep angle of descent &
burst indifferently according to their fuse
in the air or after lobbing. Several of these
arrived today but did no harm at
all although one man was blown some
yards by the concussion of the explosion

26th July Monday, Had two men injured at
the Beach this morning in a working 
party Still in reserve. Told off Capt Kirby today
27th July Interviewed General Carruthers about
being told off  for permanent Beach Fatigue
& got out of it as we could only furnish 150 men
for duty

27th July Tuesday. Had a trying time in the
afternoon from the Enemys Spherical Bombs 
About a dozen come over. One man Pte Wignall had
his leg shattered, another badly shocked.
My dug out was several times covered with Debris
but I am quite all right. Wrote to Mater Later
went down to the 6th Battn for tea. Was followed there
by these shells & young Kirkwood blown to pieces there
 

 

28th July Still in Reserve. Men getting absolutely
exhausted by continuous fatigues. One party
worked from 10pm until 8 am without food
or refreshment unloading carts & ammunition
& the men are nearly dead of fatigue. At 4 am there
seemed every promise of the enemy coming in
& a small party I hear attacked Quinns Post
but were easily repulsed

29th July Still in Reserve. Quiet day. one
man was killed and another wounded
while doing fatigue work on the Beach

30th July Still in Reserve. Quiet day. News of
British Victory on Mesopotamia opening
road to Bagdad & troops pressing in.
A few heavy guns landed 60 pounders
today. A 4.7 gun landed the other day
opened fire at 6 miles range on a party
of Turks drilling - Great Scatter & heavy
shelling of our guns

31st July Saturday - Still in Reserve. German
Aeroplane came over & dropped 6 or 7
bombs no harm done. Heavy shelling
heard down south. Intermittent
shelling here wrote home to Katie & others

1st Aug  Sunday. There is a report current
that our right pushed forward during 

 

the night & took & occupied two lines
of Trenches. This was the work of 2nd L.H
Brigade & that Lt Col Harris of the Light
Horse was killed with others. Very heavy
bombardment went on all night down south
Here there was intermittent shelling during
the night on each side & also today. A good
deal of  rifle fire during the night not much
during the day. Pte Wignall wounded the other
day reported dead from Hospital ship

2nd August. Went through the trenches on our
right to find out about the fight. Saw
30 good men of ours laid out on Shell
Green.  Also 4 Turks .  All the bodies
(practically) were horribly mutilated by
shell fire. from which practically all
the losses arose.  Only one or two fell in
the push forward & the Turks were
driven out of the trench which was
about 120 yds long. I saw the Trench
afterwards. We put in three mines
under the trench. One went off beautifully
& buried a Turk sentry found dead afterwards 
with his rifle still in his hand. Another burst
several yards short owing to miscalculation
of the Engineers and a third failed to explode
at all. However the boys rushed the 

 

Trenchs bayonetted & shot about 60 or 70
Turks & occupied the Trench & changed
the Head cover over to the other side. The
Turks counter attack never materialized
owing to the fact that the reverse slope
up which they had to come was swept
by our machine gun & rifle fire. I 
saw three or four dead Turks still
lying in their communication Trench
just against the wall of sandbags that had 
been built up to block them by our men
Afterwards saw the Brigadier & received
some important confidential news from 
him.

3rd Aug Recd letter from Jack Campbell this
morning. Had another conference with
the Brigadier this morning - Plans 
changed somewhat. 

(14th August).  Events have moved with great
rapidity since I made the last entry. On the 
4th August we were called into conference with
General Birdwood at Browns Dip & 
made acquainted with his plans. 
These included an attack on the
enemys position on Lone Pine another
attack by the 1st Brigade on the German Officers trench 

 

by the 6th Battn & another possible attack
on the Johnston's Jolly position by the 
7th Battn assisted by the 12th Battn of the
3rd Brigade. In the evening afternoon of the 5th Inst
the Battalion was moved to Braunds
Hill & thence one Coy to the Support trenches
just in rear of Wire Gully. On the 6th Inst
the Battalion was moved into the support trenches 
& recently occupied by the 2nd Battn
in rear of the 5th Battn  i.e. the 8th Battn occupied
the whole of the ground previously held by the
8th & 5th Battn & also a part of the N.Z line at 
Courtneys Posts & also a part on the right of
Bridges Road while the 5th filled in the 
Gap between the left right of the 8th & the right left 
of the 3rd Brigade.  The 6th were in rear
of the 8th & 2nd in rear of the 5th The 1st Brigade was then returned for other duty About
4.30 pm our Guns started to Bombard
the LONE PINE position & Johnstons Jolly
At 5.30 the 1st Brigade charged & took
the LONE PINE. At 8 pm news came
through that the enemy were preparing
to attack counter attack the 1st Brigade
1 Coy of 7th was sent to reinforce the 5th
lines at the point nearest to Owens gully
which separates Johnstons Jolly from
Lone Pine Hill. I also detailed
Lt Edwards & party of 60 to remove

 

the Barbed wire in front of our trenches 
opposite Johnstons Jolly in case we
had to attack this position in the
morning & also to make Blanket Screens
to throw over such as it was found 
impossible to remove 
At midnight 11 pm the 6th Battn attacked
the German Officers Trench but failed.
At 4.11 am next morning I received a message
that the N.Z division & attached troops
were to attack the line at CHUNUK BAIR
to Hill 971 on the map.

8th July Aug at 9.45 on the 8th Aug I was instructed to relieve units
in LONE PINE being attached to 1st Inf 
Bgde for that purpose. I carried out
this movement. Found everything in
dreadful confusion. Officers & men
exhausted & unable to give any coherent
account of how things stood. They had
sustained violent counter attacks all
through the night mainly from Bomb throwers
with Hand Grenades
We got into position about 2 pm
Shortly afterwards we were violently
shelled. & attacked by Bomb throwers.
Later things quietened down

 

Later on about 7 o'clock the attack recommenced
but was again repulsed. It recommenced at

9th Aug  4am on the 9th Inst & continued to
rage for many hours without intermission
I had never experienced such fighting.
The Trenches were full of dead & dying
men but we held them off & About
12.30 pm they became quite discouraged 
& ceased their attack. We were
then relieved by part of the 5th Battn.
During these attacks the 7th suffered
casualties of  as under as under as reported at the time 
1 officer killed (Lt Edwards)
11 officers wounded
210 other ranks wounded
108 other ranks missing
Subsequently a number of those reported missing
were found to have been wounded but most
were killed total 330. This was subsequently
increased by unreported casualties to 360

10th Aug  We remained in reserve on Phillips Top

11th Aug. We returned to the LONE PINE but
this time occupied No II Section, No 1 being
the right section which we previously occupied.
we put in a lot of hard work removing
the dead which were awful deepening &
walling the trenches putting up loopholes 

 

& connecting the dead ends of the enemys
communication trenches which we held
We caused great loss to the enemy by 
continually sniping at him throughout
the day. A similar folowed on the

12th Aug & on the 13th Aug we were again relieved
We had suffered very few casualties
during this period but a party of 40 whom

13th Aug we had sent to assist the 4th Battn had
lost 18 during the night of the 11th/12th
Aug.

14th Aug In reserve at Phillips Top.
We are instructed to relieve the 1st
Battn at 11.30 am tomorrow.
Corrected casualty for the 8/9 shows
1 Officer killed; 27 other Ranks 
killed; 11 officers wounded; 261 other
ranks  wounded wounded; missing 43 other
Ranks.

15th Aug We relieved the 7th Battn this morning
which we carried out expeditiously.  Found
most of our pet snipers posts destroyed
& little extra work done.  Got
things going again. Discovered other
interesting positions. Turks tunnell
which we could explode. Sent for
Brigade Machine Gun officer but he  

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