Diary of Oberlin Herbert Gray, May to August 1915 - Part 2

trenches, & shot through loopholes, we
brought down last patient at 8 - badly
hit in head - very sick while coming
down - very warm carrying -
Wrote to Uncle Aunt E & Father
21 May  Heavy firing in night - issue of
lime juice & rum - I took the lime
A wht aeroplane passed high above us going
Nth, very pretty - warm day fleecy clouds
Later another dark winged plane passed
above, passing through clouds, sometime
hidden, & returned in ½ hr travelling
very fast & humming a lot. thought to be
a German taube - quiet day - few wounded
6 Japanese guns arrived to throw bombs
into Turkish trenches. filled with
asphyxiating gas.  German Officer brought
into camp, under wht flag - blindfolded
while passing through - torpedo boats
landing more reinforcements - 2000 Lt H
Up Shrapnel Gully in afternoon - Went down
for water at Sundown - beach covered with
water - Swell & high tide - one jetty washed
away, others under water - German Officer
went back, blindfolded led by officer, with
interpreter, walked along shore to wht
flag at our boundary -
22  Up in night - lightning in Sth. fairly
heavy firing - raining steadily when woke
roof leaking & rain coming in front, put a
tin to catch water - Breakfast & then
up the gully - 3 killed last night, 2
smothered trench blown in by "Jack
Johnson" shells - 3 or 4 sent in 13" -
move tons of earth, blew the HdQrs
up in the firing line - several suffering
from Shock. -
everything mud & slush - slopping through
it - Hope for the patients sake there are no
wounded - up the steep track to new
dressing station, went right on to the firing
line - trenches 6ft 6" - bullets coming into
bags at top - looked through periscope &
saw surrounding country - green culivated
patch 200 yds, figures lying about on it  In front
of trenches many falling lying - in some
places groups, One place where charge took
place about 20 - very bad Smell - Some of bodies
had lain there since first day - no chance of
burying them - one wounded in morning -
Bis. & beef for dinner.  More Showers in morning
Cleared up aft. & warm sun soon dried things.
A lot of bombs taken up to trenches for firing
from Jap. guns - have time fuse & expand along
trenches, driving Turks out - & machine gun
is used - deadly things - 2 ejected at dusk to
get range - retd to Camp at 8.30 - had some Stew
& to bed - Couldnt sleep till 1 AM & then dreamt I
was back in Tas. - had lost my memory from now
& all between was a blank - Father Arth & Oliver
were there - very real - woke early & turned out
everything damp - made a fire & fried some
23 Sunday  biscuit - Hospital Ship came in
very few vessels in Bay - warships
had gone round pt. near Shore - & a heavy
bombardment took place early - at the Sth
fort I believe - Shells whistling across us
from the Nth & plunging in the Sea - One
warship went aground for a while - Seaplane
up - fairly low - Several shells burst
at some distance behind it, with wht
puff of Smoke - A bright day - cloudy -
Rumour of an armistice to allow Turks
to bury their dead - Men say they will
take no notice of it -

Warship went ashore & Turks shelled her,
two others went in & quietened them & pulled
her off - An monoplane was up very high in
the clouds or open spaces, hear motor humming
She retd.  An hr. later a German taube
approached at a high altitude - A shell
from warships antiaircraft guns burst behind
her.  She went higher, 5 others burst near.
2 very close - She circled round for some
time & dropped bomb behind our hill, then
planed off & disappeared behind cloud - Some
of Runic chaps have arrived from Egypt -
Shelling from Sth fort (Turk) & gunboats intermittent.
Glorious day - Mail from Tas - Fatty recd 3
letters - none for me - Some more came in at
night & one from A. Em. enclosing 2 from Tas
& telling of Uncle H's death.  Went round to
beach & got some water. Shifted Colonel Sutton
things from HdQrs to our Camp - In evg.
howitzer near us was hurling shells over
onto Turk trenches to Nth - Could see the
blk ball going through air & dropping 2 m.
away.  They turned gun onto Olive Grove later.
Threatening rain -
24 May  Armistice granted from 7.30 to 4 PM
for burying the dead - Very dull - up at 6,
raining soon after - light rain made every
thing muddy - breakfast & 50 of us set out
with stretchers - one each up Shrapnel Gully
waited at top near firing line till 7.30 -
Then fearing treachery, they wouldnt allow
the AMC to go out, but sent the pioneers
& regimental SB's & we had to return
to Camp, raining till 10 AM.  I got a letter
from Tas. late last night, very glad to
get it. - Turks kept faith alright - Turks
took half area & we half - rifles were
stacked & we took bolts from Turk
rifles & vice versa. very appropriate for Empire
Day.  Sun dried things up but rather dull day
Had dinner, beef & dried vegetable stew, &
then went up into trenches on right - was
stopped on one came to a dead end, retd
& uplong another trench - Met Viv Leary
who used to work at Rowntrees - Said he had
seen me several times & thought he knew me
Later met Gerald Duthoit who is also in
the A.M.C. - Clearing Hospital - Went outside
trenches - barb wire coils all along close to
them for night attacks, walked across & into &
out of another trench & across heather -
Very hilly country for a mile or two back
A line of blue hills rose up in distance
presumably on far side of Dardanelles -
Turk.. trenches all along ridge not far from
us.  in one place 20 yds between - A line
of wht flags at intervals. over the hills
held by Turkish & Aust. & midway bet.
trenches - Turks are fine. physique, these
are supposed to be their regulars - Dead
on our side buried, Saw some remains &
many barely covered graves, bodies thrown
in old trenches, in depressions & covered.
much clothing accoutrement, old tins etc
lying about outside trenches - Many Turk
carrying away bodies & could ^see bodies lying
in many places - Walked outside trenches
¼ mile - dozens of shell cases - picked up few
cartridges - Came down at head of main gully
steep steps coming down, like descending cliffs.
retd to camp, firing (rifle) commenced soon after
4.30. had wash & tea, another Shower - Two
Armenians with Turk officer, knocked him down
& rushed across to our lines & kissed Officer.
The red+ carry wht flags with red ☾ - A
number of Turks rushed up & shook hands with
Aust. Officers before close of Armistice -
German Officers & ours conversing (in French)
About 150 dead British were found also 2 wound
who had been lying under fire some time
One Turk had lain for 7 days & wound

had mortified - bodies in a terrible state -
A number of discs & pay books were collected
from bodies & taken to HdQrs. - Had to
go up Gully at night for stretchers - retg
heavy firing - Fatty J. just caught one side
of cheek, took skin off - a narrow escape
Sth Battery dropping shells over beach &
onto our camp & Indian red + camp - one
of 3^rd F.A wounded - Hear that Italy is
about to take part in war - perhaps it
will bring about peace soon -
25 May  Recd a letter from Tom, all seem
well - Heavy firing through night - Very
calm - dull - balloon up also biplane - Howitzer
near us firing, see Shells going up & falling on
over hill. - Showery - dull - wrote Tom & home.
At 12.30 just as Cook was serving dinner,
word passed along something wrong - Everyone
looking out to Sea - We rushed up to brow
of hill & there saw the battleship Triumph
out in the bay with a big list on her -
A torpedo destroyer was standing by
& firing her bow guns into the water in
quick succession - We thought at Submarine
but heard later it was last
salute - the battleship slowly came
further & further over towards us, broadside
on, Now her bows were dipping - her whole
side was under & the water rushed
in.  Steam rushed out, her masts & funnel
disappeared & she turned almost bottom
up.  Meanwhile 3 destroyers were near
& about 20 destroyers pinnaces etc were
racing at full speed for the scene from
all directions - mostly from near HdQrs
on the beach. before they got there she
was upside down.  One destroyer racing
to her with a long wake of white foam
suddenly turned in a length or two &
raced back - Later I heard it was only 25 min.
from being struck by a submarine that she
was sunk - The destroyers began racing
hither & thither looking - Suddenly a Shell burst
close to our camp & we quickly made tracks
for our dugouts - two other burst near us.
After had dinner went up again, boats
were scattered about, & 4 warships were
creeping out of the shelter of the Island
to West where a good deal of Shipping
was sheltering - The fort to our Sth was
dropping shells over where boats were
congregated on scene of tragedy.  Saw
puff after puff of White Smoke above
them - Hear that 45 Sailors were drowned
out of 600 crew, the Submarine got away
In afternoon rain came down in torrents
came in dugouts.  Swamped "Kitchen"
slush everywhere, Sun came out 5 P.M. Went
out with stretcher party at 7.30, another shower,
& road in horrible mess 6" deep in mud & pools in
places - found a shelter & put w.p. sheet down &
lay down in overcoat.  A glorious Sunset, the
water & Is. beyond, all a purple tinge, clouds
pink & red & changing tints - Dozing at 9.30
when called out, a poor chap shot through
thigh, carried him down, a slippery path, moon
nearly full, fortunately no more rain -
retd, & got a few hrs sleep, damp feet & rather
26 May  cold - up at 5 & warmed ourselves at a
fire - A Turkish machine gun hit two
poor chaps - one was hit through eye & out other
cheek carried him down, poor fellow will
probably lose both eyes.  Retd to camp 8. &
had break.  Sir Ian Hamiltons white steam
yacht in bay, close in - Turks dropped
several shells over & around it - Some

bullets hit the yacht, She is a pretty boat
She soon turned & went out full steam ahead
Yesterday the Triumph, soon after we left the
hill, slowly raised one end & went down -
It was a sight I hope never to see again -
Within a short half hour so many valuable
lives apart from the vessel about £2mils. gone
to the bottom. - The sea plane was soon
cruising about over the bay but saw
nothing - - A warm day - the Turk forts
very busy - dropping shells along the shore
& among the hills - In aft. on fatigue
carrying water for camp.  Several shells burst
near camp.  About 5 one burst at top of hill
& a piece came buzzing loudly towards me - I
dropped & it struck the ground 20 yds away
must have been very close, they usually
give some warning - Destroyers were close
into shore & Nth fort commenced dropping
shells round them, they soon had to
move, one or two shells did some damage
3 killed & a score of wounded - Several hundred
Lt. Horse (infantry) landed & marched up past
us to relieve trenches,  A considerable amt.
of firing during night - In early morning
27 May - the Indian battery near us was
firing & a number of shells from the Nth
Battery burst on the hills & gullys near us
several bullets flew in the camp & a shell
struck the other bank, a warm day.  the
moist smell of Spring in the air, & birds
singing in the bushes - Morning off. borrowed
some Daily Posts & Tas Mail of end of March
& found good deal of interesting matter in
them.  A photo of A Moloys employees - & H.T. Goulds new place
Forts again dropped 9 or 10 shells, right
amongst us this time, we were all
in shelter after the first - One shot
went through our roof (wp. sheet) &
others through overcoats & tunics hanging on
bushes in the sun, outside, also thro' roof of
next dugout - Fortunately none hurt - Fresh
meat & potatoes for dinner, great treat -
continual rumbling of guns to S.E.
seems to be coming much nearer - French
monoplane, appeared above us - scarcely
hear engines working - She kept
on Nth E. flying at a good height
until lost in distance, she soon
retd & when over firing line turned &

circled round, dropping two bombs,
She then flew upwards among the clouds
& we saw wht puffs of shells bursting
far below her.  She then soared
back to Sth. towards Cape Helles.
Could distinguish French Colors on
her wings - In evening another Monoplane
with a louder engine flew round, dropping one
bomb over Turk. lines.  She flew round a
lot - very pretty sight, as graceful as a sight
Hear that E15 Sub. has been into Sea or Marmora
& sunk 2 warships & 3 transports.  Majestic sunk
by a Submarine - A mule got away & ran
down hill on top of a dugout very amusing
to see it disappear & Indians scramble out
28 May  Up gully at 8 AM, 3 wounded in
morning - glorious warm spring day, a
transport in harbour - 2 Fch. monoplanes
flying round during morning - quiet all
day, hear there is to be an attack tomorrow -
One poor chap bullet through knee, cut artery
A lot of reinforcements went up during day
Brought one down at 7 PM. shell burst in
trench, bad wound on head, a bullet in forearm
& one in stomach - Another who had just
recovered from wound in back was hit in thigh
& cheek - coming down a snake was on path
Under fire coming from crossroads.  Many
bullets whizzed by - 8 men were hit here

during day - met Alan Bailey on beach
Hospital Ship in the Bay-  A big mail came
in, a big Squad of men carrying it up to the
trenches - Ours was in on return, I had two
from Home, one 10 wks old, great rejoicing in Camp
when a mail comes in. - All well at home
29 May Sat.  At 4 AM a heavy cannonade
commenced of infantry & artillery.
fire - The Indian battery on next hill - howitzer
near us & other guns were firing - howitzer
near us deafening noise - Shells falling all
over the hills - a number dropped near
our camp.  Break, at 7 & soon after Turks
fired to silence guns near us, Shells were
bursting over us & showering around
with bullets & pieces shell & bullets dropped
within 3 yds of our dugout, 7 through roof of next
one & 4 holes in our water tin, one chap in 3^rd
F.A. wounded in shoulder.  The Turks made an
attack thatnight morning - took some of trenches
but expelled with heavy loss, about 20 killed at
hospital, of ours & a number of wounded, cant
get details - About 50 Turks taken prisoners - Turks
want to break left wing & can command beach
A destroyer firing inland on left - On Sanitary
work in morning & in afternoon carrying
water from beach for Kitchen, very warm -
down to Hospital with a patient - & then in
for a swim along the shore, real good -
Had a grand aeroplane display in evening -
6 30 a monoplane came along from Sth - Cape Helles
She was fired at several times by Anti aircraft
guns - Shells burst about 2 miles high. out
over harbour, she kept on over Turkish lines
then retd after getting more shots at her
Another monoplane flew from Sth - fired at -
passed above the other to Nth & went on
circled over Turkish lines & disappeared
Then a sea plane came along about 1 ½ m.
travelling like mad - with a loud humming.
Must have been going 80 m. hr. She kept strait

on over Turk lines - not fired at She circled
round & dropped a wht object which floated
for a time & then dropped slowly out of sight; papers
of some sort - She circled again & then rose &
travelled ½ Mile to right & dropped another paper which

fluttered down, She circled again & then came
straight towards us, high up - & Soon passed -
going Sth. got fainter & finally disappeared - The
2nd monoplane came along circled round &
went off Sth - glorious sunsets - Turks
dropping a lot of shells over hill towards
shore. Official: Italy at War. v Austria
30 May  2 Aeroplanes cruising round in
early morning Turks firing at them.
A quiet morning, I went to the R.C. service
on the hill near our camp.  Warm day
About 1 P.M a heavy firing commenced
from the left flank, rifles & machine gun -
bullets came pinging round & soon a
shell came close everyone took cover
& there followed the heaviest shelling we had

yet had - I counted 102 burst within
80 yds & showered all round with
bullets, We crouched against back of
dugouts - The medical Stores 30 yds, from
me were knocked about a good deal & my O'coat
had 2 holes in, blanket ½ dozen & roof 2 holes -
Only one of 3 AMC was wounded slightly, 2
were hurt further down hill. & one of 2^nd FA
other side of hill was hit in head & died an
hr after.  I was at his funeral (& 6 others) at
night, - Went to Shore for water, owing to
more troops arrivg there is scarcity of water.
Hospital Ship close in Shore - Majestic sunk
other day- about 100 drowned - Hear that an
attack was made to destroy some Turk
trenches - the Turks got into one of our

trenches but were driven out - Raining,
on the Island, very golden sunset, rain
threatening but kept fine.
31 May  Very warm, a new shelter cut out
of bank for medical stores & supplies. very
little firing, Killed a long green & yellow lizard
16" or 18" long- put my hand in a hole to get
out a cap of a shell & felt it (lizard), Seaplane
was circling round & round over hospital Ship
Two transports in, discharging troops - Some
of us saw the destroyers racing about, went
to top of hill & watched - A biplane was
flying in circles over harbour, & 5 destroyers
were darting about - we saw where the
submarine was, a line of foam, it disappeared
& rose further on then again
disappeared - A few minutes later a destroyer
was racing across the spot, turned in
less than her own length & raced in
another direction, soon was going directly
away from our view, a wake of white
foam, & a cloud of smoke which soon hid
her entirely from view, then she turned
& sped in another dirn - Five were dashing
about - The transports soon left & the hosp.
ship changed her spot. - Had yarn with
Gerald Duthoit - heard that Harry Hodgman
was killed the first day.
1st June  Hear there is going to be an attack on 3^rd
Kings Birthday.  Moving Stores & cleaning up old
site.  Dr Fry inspects camp now & then, Warm
& cloudless - monoplane flying round, Hosp. Ship close
in - She is painted White, band of red near
water line & band of green higher with 3 red
+ at intervals, sea plane above harbor.  Issues
of cigs & tobacco - 4 pkts of 2 oz tob. - Helping make
new hospital - Went to shore for clothing
long trousers - tunics etc.
Later had to go to AMC Stores at HdQrs to
get bandages, iodine etc. & condensed milk
for Hospital - Destroyers in bay firing - Took
some patients to Clearing Hospital- one was
very bad, with cramp from being in wet trenches
Returning with a case of cond. milk on shoulder
Several shells passing over us, Suddenly two
burst up hill, & three of us were all amongst
the Shrapnel. bullets fell of all round us -
I saw one hit 5 or 6 feet in front of me &
we stood for a couple of Secs. then ran for
the camp 100 yds away.  4 poor chaps hit
higher up the hill. - Hear that the
Eng have blown up pt of hill to Sth &
reckon Turks will give up soon.  After
tea to the Beach again to get rations &
sand bags for building addition to Hospital
2nd June  Fine & warm, quiet, one shell burst
in camp, Aeroplane  up about 6 AM.
Stubbings & 2 others arrive from Alex via Lemnos -
Mauretania is at Lemnos awaiting troops,
Had a good Swim, water fine, out all night
to night up Gully. - Howitzer fired in evening
a tremendous report - firing E. See shells till
they fell out of sight 2 m. away. they are 6" &
about 2 ft long - Trying some onions for tea when
a cap of shell tore up earth 7 or 8 yds behind
me, it showered earth over us. We ducked in
& 3 more shells followed Kept us under
cover for awhile, no one hurt. - Another
hospital Ship in bay - Three men smothered
last night - dug-out fell in - Hear the war
here will be over in 16 days?
3 June  Kings Birthday aeroplane up, being fired
at - Warm - Battleship in bay firing many
broadsides to Nth of us, about 100 shots -
dug deeper down 6" & altered roof of dugout
On return from Clearing Hospital in morning
found shells dropping on shore & near

our camp - One shell fell 2 or 3 yds from our
dugout, almost in fireplace - I waited under
a bank for a time, but no more came
went along shore in aftn. looking for wood.
& retd over an cold cultivation where 6" shells
had been falling - dozens of holes torn up.
Battleship firing & 3 destroyers dodging about
round her looking for submarines.  Another
aeroplane up. - Up Shrapnell Gully night duty
Heavy firing & bomb throwing during night -
2 patients - Some mules taking biscuits up
caused some excitement, one fell over bank
& the other bolted - Met Fred Nicholson getting
water, he is well in 12 battn on right wing
been here 3 wks & had trip back to Alexandria.
He is in Vic Dennis' squad
4 June  turned out & made fire at 5 & had
some tea.  A quiet day - very warm.
Very heavy dull firing to Sth, booming
like distant thunder.  A continuous
roar from about noon for several hrs
from warships & land - Firing at big
hill where Turks are strongly entrenched.
Watched it for some time & saw many
big shells (lyddite) bursting on skyline
sending up big clouds of blk smoke
also shrapnel bursting in air & nearer
shore - warships close in 7 or 8 m. away
One much nearer with 3 destroyers dodging
round her - Some big action is taking
place, booming all afternoon, To shore in evening
met Tyler & Backhouse - Attack to be to-night -
orders to have all possible space for wounded
A shell came in to Hospital & wounded two
AMC chaps - one will lose his leg. - 5 Squads
go out at 10 PM. four at 6 AM.  Up near
5 June  Walker's Ridge & then up Shrapnel
Gully, returning, shrapnel
falling - Coming across open near Camp
2 shells burst on hill & showered among
chaps- no one hurt- We ran for
Camp - near the cooks dugout another burst
A dozen were on the track, I put my back
to it & heard the bullets whistle all round
two in our Squad hit - Ford who has been
with us since Claremont - & 2 others - Some
had dropped, we carried them into shelter
& ducked into our dugouts.  Ford had a
bullet thro' knee & Curry through back near
spine, one thro' foot & one hand - Hear New Z. took
a trench but had to retire.  Austns blew up a
trench - In Sth took 300 yds trenches, & Turks
lost 3000 (?)  200 passed thro clearing hosp.
on beach for 24 hrs - including a few killed.
In afternoon a crowd were swimming on
shore when a shell plunged amongst them,
it killed one, a terrible wound & wounded
badly one of our F. Amb.  Over 60 casualties
in 3 (AMC) F. Amb. out of 150 to date, not
including minor wounds.  Had a hair clip.
Last night the 6" howitzer near us dropped 2 shells
near 1^st Bn Hd Qrs before getting range & did some
damage - 2 or 3 days ago the gun near 2^nd F Amb.
fired, officer was sure it would clear the top of
the 2nd hill, but it crashed into a dugout &
exploded, killing 2 & wounding 10, the guns
fire at a big angle sometimes, A terrible mistake -
Such things will happen in the "game"
of War - Very Warm -
6 June  Fairly quiet all morng morng  Hear that Turks
are thinking of giving up & Germans are leaving
Constantinople & that if Armistice had not been
granted it would have all been over now -
Went up to 12^th Bn on right flank to see V Denne
& Fred Nicholson in aft. a lot of climbing, had
a good yarn to them about Tassy - came back
via beach - Up Shrapnel Gully on night duty
A new chap Langdon making 5 in Squad. -
A spy found in trenches - in Austn uniform

7 June  Another warm day, a few shrapnel fell
up the Gully - Saw Lynch & others - Rumor of
Calais taken - Official 20 Zeppelins over London
incendiary bombs dropped & 4 casualties - Kitchener
calls for 300 000 - a terrible drain on England
Some Italian successes.  Only a very few casualties
during day - Destroyers dodging about.
8 June  Up Shrapnel Gully 8 to 8 PM. 4
patients - quiet all day. except for occasional
rifle shots - very warm, made stew of onions
& bully beef, & tea - Water very scarce. wells
sunk in all available spaces - A long line
on beach at water carts - The Amb. can
always get it - On fatigue for rations from
beach on return - A small snake in next
dugout to ours.
9 June  Warm & windy. not very much firing -
A deep trench has been dug across
hill near us.  Some of the chaps are trying
to get a recommendation for the V.C. for
Simpson who was shot thro the heart.
Went thro' reinforcement letters - found none
for me. roof blew off dugout - Afternoon off
went for a swim near Hd Qrs - cool - A boat
in with soft drinks, a great demand for them
Retg near 2^nd Field Amb. & shrapnel flew
near us, we were soon under cover & I
stopped there while several more showered
around - On retg to camp found that 3
shells had burst about 20 yds from our dugout
sent stretchers & biscuits flying, one shell
was buried 3 ft down. - Indians erecting a
shelter near Turkish gun.  Hear Turks -
have brought up a gun from Goeben 12" with
traction engine. - an attack on left flank
during night - they have made 7 or 8 attempts
to hold it long enough to destroy a trench
it is enfiladed with by Turkish guns.
10 June  Quite light at 4 AM - Some heavy firing
early, but fairly quiet during day -
A warm bright day.
11 Friday  Very warm - & windy - not much
firing, an attack on left flank
last night.  About 6 o'c up Shrapnel
Gully when a shell fell 20 yds or so off very
unexpectedly & dug a hole 3 ft. by 2 deep.
A few more fell later - a lot of trops
moving - to reinforce trenches - Several
shells fell near, on return to camp, one
chap hit.  Sun set at 10 to 8.
12 Sat  Big mail in - I had 2 notes & snaps
of Grasmere, A bright warm day.  Continual
firing from early morning - heavy artillery
fire during morning - 2 destroyers out in the
bay firing - Turkish shells bursting 200 yds
away - Daily Posts & Mails, interesting - An air
plane passed over camp at 5 P.M. very pretty,
her white wings shining in the clear atmosphere
& flying like a big bird - sky absolutely cloudless
13 Sunday  Heavy firing xmost of day.  About
5 AM the Bacchante was firing heavy broadsides
6 at a time to Nth. Could see the big
flashes leap out, & 9 or 10 Secs later the report.  She
fired about 10 a minute, must have fired 200
shots before 6 30. when she moved off, heard that Turk
were moving camp? - A ship also firing to Sth -
Two Destroyers standing close into shore - Heavy
booming to Sth until evening - At Pt. to Nth heavy
smoke & explosions in evening.  Working hard all
day, very warm & perspiring - Today didn't seem like
Sunday - S. always seems different, quieter & more
peaceful - First issue of bread since landing - 1 lb man
a pleasant change - A fiery curry for dinner,
(curry from the Indians)- At 7 PM. a dark biplane -
very large - flew overhead - a loud motor -
5 or 6 shells fired at it, 3 seemed to burst
right on it, but it proceeded & dropped 3 bombs

on Turk. trenches - circling round & rising -
Heavy rifle & machine gun at it from Turk [[team?]]
The machine made a big circle to see what
it had done & then made off Sth to Cape Helles.
Saw 2 immense clouds of dark smoke rise above the
hills. - the bombs caused tremendous explosions.
A white monoplane was flying around this morn.
14 Mon  Turks commenced heavy artillery fire at
5 AM. - Heard many shells whistle past before
I turned out- A lovely Summer's day. fairly quiet
day - On extreme left, saw a number of
Tasmns hadn't seen since on Runic - Some
shells burst on shore - Killed a sailor &
wounded a number - This an awful pest
millions of them - Two men shot themselves
up in the lines.  Shell burst in Clearing Hos
15 Tues  Warm - Seaplane flying around Harb
a lot - 2^nd Hospital Ship returned from Alex.
lying in bay - Heavy firing all day to Sth.
A Monitor & destroyer - Bay firing, Had a
good bath in Sea, water warm & fresh breeze -
& big breakers coming in - Not allowed to swim
3.30 AM to 8. P.M. fear or shells - Went round to
right wing - Saw Lieut. Aspinall - Had yarn
with Fred Nich. & Vic Denne. showed them snaps
& exchanged news.  Hear Doreen Stewart is going
to Y's as lady-help.  I wonder!  Well sunk not
far from us - splendid water.  New kitchen built
in bank - Two more big shells fell near Hospital
Hear that the Clearing Hospital is going to move
its quarters - Summer lightning playing along horizon
Shrapnel fell amongst us in evening, a shell dropped
a few yds from me.
16 Wed  Drill - Rain threatening  One Hospital Ship deptd
during night - a big transport arrived -
Building new Hospital on our hill.  Heavy artillery
fire all afternoon - Shrapnell from Olive
Grove falling along shore & high explosive
shells - 1" thick  Coming from North
Many falling along beach & near Hospital
& others on hill near us - One threw dirt
over our coats & dugouts - Took our turn on
carrying water for "kitchen" - from well - Surprised
to hear Alf Clemes is coming - Bread again for
a change - We do not hear much news, everyone
expresses the hope that the war will soon be over,
it is very cold in Winter, even now the nights are
cool.  17 June  2 killed & 14 wounded on beach near
Hospital - mortuary wrecked - Heard that a number
on Armistice Day were buried without identification
4035 in first 4 days casualties - Hear heavy casualties
at Cape Helles & Ghurkas & Sikhs decimated? - A bomb
throwing competition, 8 men from ea. Company - 5 Sec.
bombs, concussion bombs &c. diff. rules & prizes of jam
& cigarettes - Heavy firing until late last night
by destroyers - Indians near us have a large flock
of sheep & goats, for fresh meat & milkg - A lovely
Summers day - Several casks of wine washed
ashore, from Triumph (?) A great rush on them &
a good many drunk later - they took charge of  Some
came ashore near Hd Qrs - Most wasted that was
broached - Heavy firing along shore (W.) from Olive
Grove, scores of shells poured in during evening
in spite of Seaplane being up - destroyers very
active & rumor of warship being sunk. - Engineers
are above us & running from them, deep trenches
to next gully good path round hills to rt wing
A battery on top of hill - yesterday a gun was put
out of action.
18 June.  Very warm - fairly quiet - Heavy firing from
Cape Helles - Carried a patient down from the
firing line, hit thro' the foot. - After tea watching
Indians on next hill going thro' drill, when without
warning a shell burst amongst us - the
bullets whistled all amongst us - Standing outside
our dugouts - A miracle no more were heard
hurt.  One got a broken jaw, one a broken arm
& one tro' shoulder - We lost no time in
taking shelter - another shell followed but
no more - Up Shrapnell gully for the night.

Went along some of the trenches & looked thro
periscope but saw no sign of Turks -
19 June  Big mail on shore - Monitor firing on
left close in shore - Very warm - monoplanes
flying round in morning - Another over Turk
lines in afternoon & dropped 2 bombs - 4 0r 5
shells fired at her - A cloudless sky & sea like
glass. - 4 "Jack Johnsons" dropped above us on
our hill in evening - fortunately didn't explode
one exploded higher up with a tremendous report
& raised a big cloud of dirt.
20 June  Warm & cloudless - Recd 2 letters - some
shells burst near pump & an Indian hurriedly
brought in their flock of sheep & goats - fairly quiet
from firing line - News of big labor victory in
Queensland - Greek elections - Venezelos in by a
large majority - Saw one of the grenades that are
thrown from rifles by means of blank cartridges.
deadly things, have to be handled with great care
Went for short swim in evening near Hd Qrs.  Turks
throwing shells from Olive Grove to Hospital Ship
She moved her position without delay - Service at
night - a simple talk with a few hymns, the
surroundings peaceful & grand - the sea lying at
the foot of the hills, calm sea & a background
of Islands & water & above all the glorious tints
of the sunset, changing the clouds from grey to gold
the colors blending & changing until night came
on, with the bright light of a half moon. the
twinkling lights on hills & the lights of the
Hospital Ship showing up well -
21  Longest day - Some heavy shelling from Turks
in afternoon, many whistling above us & falling
near the shore - Col. Owen wounded up the
Gully, he was very much liked by his men
Hear from the Capt. that we are going to move
from here in Six weeks - a warm day.
I happened to be near Hd Qrs. when a
a mail came ashore.  I found a bag for 3^rd
Field Amb. (none for me) the anticipation is
almost as good as getting a letter, Fatty not
too well - A good many suffering from digestive
troubles - Interesting watching the Indians making
their chappatis & curry or squatting down eating
or working etc - We pass their camp going to
beach - They are a very kindly race, often
offer our chaps their "cakes" & they'll smile
showing fine sets of white teeth & "Salaam
Sahib" on passing - Going past with their
mule transports they chant a kind of Sing
Song.  Warm & cloudless - Turks shelled & sunk
22 Tuesday  a water boat, made shortened the fresh
water supply, they were firing at some
trawlers during evening, made their move.  Also
shelling along shore near Beach Hospital
& about 7 dropped 3 onto our Camp but fortunately
hit no one - French have captured 2 lines of trenches
at Cape Helles. - The monitor & destroyers in bay firing
also 6" Howitzer near us.  Turks dropped a shell
a few yards from the howitzer on beach -
Had a dip in evening - very refreshing - Only two
patients last night, about 12 from our hospital
Sent away to-day - a good deal of blood sores
from lack of vegetables - We have onions which are
very good - Glad to say I have kept in splendid
health.  An airship & seaplane flying round - Shrapnel
falling very near latter -
23 June  Up near firing line - Hear we will have a
move in six weeks - Acct in West Aust paper of a
Major in Exped Force gettg £12 wk left his wife &
children nothing - they are being helped from Patriotic
Fund - disgraceful!!  A photo of a chap in it also
reported Killed, & acct of Memorial Service etc.
the chap wasn't even wounded - Have heard of
a number of cases similar to this, the Sea plane
flying round over Kapa Teke - Also in paper
Turks reported firing on us on Armistice day - false!
Some heavy firing last night - Hear that the first
lot of wounded ran riot in Alexandria & painted
the town red.  So the authorities are not going
to let the others have so much cash - one poor
fellow got a bullet right thro' his head - was