Papers relating to the service of Stewart Murray Hansen, 1915 - 1917 - Part 12

Conflict:
First World War, 1914–18
Subject:
  • Documents and letters
Status:
Open for review
Accession number:
AWM2020.22.119
Difficulty:

Page 1 / 10

t MeCSES WCSNE rmdon A sme T A CoDO22 c 0 aa
Dunants Port Anyae, Tallepoli Tunkey 25115 Ia all Advices have just reached un that nst mail expayed into the bring near Guboos. Thes well or should explain the it of my leter dated 16th Noumber aut will however as long as that billin anne The weather has andaunly twrned blek a cold. Southerly wind which thras the cn into white fram where so on the part he been a mell pand, blow up a down hill, round comen or alon trunkes without any regard to ones feelen Nem clothr cover every one and sentre lost like pola explaren with their wooth head asmiter, mufle it. an intpi but would than wit cave at thes custwhile naked soldeers if he could ale behind the lines at the present time. Then pird a encellent and depete the fac
that seven months can trying in svic condiition entitle many of the to call thmeb cared campaien, they are go ready for the word jo and I asae you the landing or battle of Sari Ban will not bein it Wit the coming of Wonter ames thought of the but mans to kep spiit and health joing We have sueet coostance for sach compan from which had meat and tea an served a often on the material permit The ration an anpient but last of dreent costing ut btable for butt cooking precludes in p in more than one meat hatke, one meat er, one meat boild rise. In a day an two on requisition for cooking yeu should have been supplied and we will ten fie then three hot meat for say with hat tea & thre an duty, in the cona wee have men on duly so not have a great tim as night there times. But orgilance has to be kept up eppecially duig bonkon weather t hime is most sentable for attack When will the suks attactd every bay wondes fet the that we onee sy te
at the preent hime because all an work of late has been twar wint quarters and if we attacked one new we would have to be all convirted to sen't our ned thereby lnyg the benefit of preisu hard work Lad Litchene said, among the sayen when he visited Cngar, D1C? We dis& enquire way and nobody enlightened us, but dig we are, as fart and as in one supply of human labou will allow For the time being ws are all minee and ig engineers and cas cmpany orige cas other in completing thei undysound a particular setion the ground is hard, almost cock S of one trusted the recutt of the common General On hes arrival at lorae every colonial within sight drapped took and fayst work on their hiny to veew and chen the supreme har Lad. Fom account by eys witnesses, they brecame school begs in then eaguness to shaw their apprecation of his visit of the beginring of the week swen astilley took place but my little dame
extected by the evny on i although I as aot srow d happeed in Joy s a ke we subpetet intes bombr about an home ano then quieten inped by little sifle work except shapshorting ad the Line. Sanche a bout attaeck fr ater we take place but no truckes an cimpred no it it intended that they stould be Bonbs of an dicription an fom the ya h I fine to the trena water bomb On patcl cast everg wad mns priti i an effot t dessire what ag Ada pn wntly if aything was a see by the Luks of an pabol and he replied only aker they ay aganttes the will p you 8 of the partrer The partie a not always return full storyth inplone have been very as well The sea of hamora is devard of shipping ony tastivity of subme causing all transpart to Sallipali to thereby inland though Bulsn isthn sell yu warslep a
daw any difficulty and acoplanes have are concable danage at s and apply ae with bomb Acthough therefore actul atacking is no jong on, an offenine is being manitarned it hi f a - lan fee last weet and in one hem every isune which at peet on invutedit my steam in some cases feet aup. The will enable gout fam som ans of the estent of the rain in the part wher it doe anni a were plante ments blet were flating about i and the sugont home. many has to wall about all night to vry thembes and the slept in out blanket the following night e ll pte s the stope Ia of Whicl as kny in the fall. Lov euth sep pawfully seem the slopes and came hp watepaye when it wae the beto whil sit is washed and by the root. My little home beng an well onto the stopes of the hill enpped sueting and every body is diggig of course have similar line The cenly me but up with comasten at all
Last night a paty of about fifty d aboued in of trunc about gunte of a will sent from here, with bumbs and followed the atect if by bombing the support with trunk morter s. he hew patendr quirdly dipei this demnstration with sifhand macke you and bombe. The report states that no fire callie oms a an i and that what on left of the evny, fled there friendly visit dening such slaw him an ipprenated and often reprosated ot t biter renll won then last mghtt qpisde While tuing the severse work under my care lut ae evening I task the opportunity to have a clat with aut jang and all an eajuly looking forward to the cuice of those billin they ae apeculating as to tn entent and as twhite ea man would get me. te dong i Australia ane a constant toper of invenation a conter her been opened at Iulen for the call of frest ayitable, mned puit & the sticle of dut Infotuately te applie i not equal the denand. One man per tm to by for his pat it sim
Battalion o Regiment, the warther has been too rough the was to sance farm so as de I cme t light but tht mean wlt for the next hime through tho jamonity of a newly annu of shat Hnton as have been amng a pansige for the part too a then He fo plat puidge for a hbemutt. the supply wll probably san be adentted fam leters and a few paper of October 4th to hand ptday. The redo paper and pare Tolat a part we annue these ofti this mar Will have to go busy anorng leter us Saida (say o se) Yours Stewart
At Rayat Convate cut Ropital I hope the writing in lible Helman Eggpt 13:12:15 Dear All At last I am able to write having beone alesat but all my condtion has yon and apaid that it will be another month byre I return same was intemly letter than Entem tive, a Ganky and as I was apparantly n som a ready for any snknss that came along I mt consliv my al lidy but it was no worse I was my ang out for 7 days trying to get i of the abct but I conle & a a dunk and all the mediaie the He gave mo did not relieve one any abarial pain which were awful Vonsipation, and a perpetuet deme t vouit together with the hidians fellow color which took hold of me o the cmplete los of any power to even walk, cn the C0 to deand my imediate reoval t th kild Ambulance. Here kow started and the tempeatire bee 100 of fort for thee days on and. to cap all my fee twee fort biten and they could have dhopped the off ntout my ful I was cmmediately tranfired t the + L.M. daprtal Sip Orforatin. The sp at sail imidiately for le oe and dring the the days i proper medical attention, but and comfortable encloseedays of on bek salam cb alleved me of the abso al pains and gave me
as best for him shf per night I had not stept b dended & cany me am for previously- a t wle but wa deli until out les tell the my feet were dill prozen on aeven an but had not cacked and o the bath combution wes restred but the pain hiy could in thy had remamned poyer as anything to relieve it b the pundice du se any in th mater a discino Apant the fotbill the se kip was floe although I conland get out of be, my cabin was on the beat deck ovlordi the a pomad o a the orduke and nume were my atentio Eght)_ I feet tll a piince. During the jouring you hild tembulane t denng Ropital and Hospite dp I lat all my belonging Lukert cinos which Dinterand for segis muce also all my prcte beloying Cvalve, maps dpatd boak, in fast everything but what I were and my boot The will mean complite bit when I am well enough to get about ane at alexane I was trnfund to th led csent ham whit wa to t i to Cans The bes was comfortable and he toose worke leste after anyme a emllent style to finly appriciate people kow you only mel tthe suk a wa and unable t help yourself– annxx at lan a ld as motor tost t Squik Rlan No 2 tust Senal Hospital when I was duly acip to the can of Col Springhope of Felbarme werk unn him and spenal teatment son not me of all pai except in my feet but then they puleded & bnagged with caten wool

Messages and Signals Form - see original document

 

Durrants Post
Anzac, Gallipoli
Turkey 23-11-15
Dear all,
Advices have just reached us that
our last mail capsized into the briny near
Imbros. This will or should explain the
non arrival of my letter dated 16th November
All's well however as long as those "billies
arrive.
The weather has suddenly turned bleak
and cold. Southerly winds which thrash
the sea into white foam where for several
months past has been a mill pond, blow
up or down hill, round corners or along
trenches without any regard to one's feelings.
Warm clothes cover every one and sentries look
like polar explorers with their woollen head
gear, mittens, mufflers etc. An enterprising
Turk would stare with awe at these erstwhile
naked soldiers if he could see behind
the lines at the present time.
Their spirit is excellent and despite the fact

 

2
that seven months active service under trying
condition entitles many of the men to call
themselves seasoned campaigners, they are again
ready for the word "go" and I assure you
the "Landing" or battle of "Sari Bair" will not
be in it.
With the coming of Winter comes thoughts of the
best means to deep spirit and health going
We have built cookhouses for each company
from which not meals and tea are served as
often as the materials permit. The rations are
sufficient but lack of decent cooking utensils
suitable for bulk cooking precludes us from
issuing more than one meal - hot tea, one
meal-stew, one meal-boiled rice. In a day
or two our requisition for cooking gear should
have been supplied and we will then give
them three hot meals per day with hot tea
to those on duty, in the sma' wee hours.
Poor men on duty do not have a great time at
night these times. But vigilance has to be
kept up especially during boisterous weather as
that time is most suitable for attack.
When will the Turks attack? every body wonders.
We would prefer to have a go/at them that way

 

3
at the present time because all our work of
late has been towards winter quarters and
if we attacked our new area would have to
be all converted to suit our needs thereby losing
the benefit of previous hard work.
Lord Kitchener said, among other sayings
when he visited Anzac, "DIG". We
didn't enquire why? and nobody enlightened
us, but dig we are, as fast and as much
as our supply of human labour will allow.
For the time being we are all miners and
mining engineers and each company vies with
each other in completing their underground
homes. In our particular section the
ground is hard, almost rock. Such is
the result of the command of one trusted
General.
On his arrival at Anzac every Colonial within
sight dropped tools and forgot work in their
hurry to view and cheer the supreme War
Lord. From accounts by eye-witnesses, they
men became school-boys in their eagerness
to show their appreciation of his visit.
At the beginning of the week severe artillery
duels took place but very little damage was

4 

4
inflicted by the enemy on us although I do not know
what happened on Johnny Turks side.
Trenches were subjected to intense bombardment
for about an hour and then quietness reigned
supreme.
Very little rifle work - except sharpshooting - is
needed these times. Sometimes a bomb attack from
either side takes place but no trenches are
occupied, nor is it intended that they should be.
Bombs of all description are used from the jam tin
and fuse to the trench mortar bomb.
Our patrols each evening wander towards
the enemy's position in an effort to discover what
works are going on. A Turkish prisoner was asked
recently if anything was ever seen by the Turks
of our patrols and he replied "only when they
are smoking cigarettes". This will give you
some idea of the fearlessness of our men.
The parties do not always return full strength
Our aeroplanes have been busy as well as our
submarines. The Sea of Marmora is devoid of
much shipping owing to activity of submarines
thereby causing all transport to Gallipoli to
come overland through Bulair isthmus.
Here our warships can [[?]] shell upon shell

 

5
without any difficulty and aeroplanes have
done considerable damage at camps and
supply stores with bombs.
Although therefore actual attacking is not
going on, our offensive is being maintained
against lines of communication.
Rain fell last week and in one hour every
watercourse - which at present are converted into
roads - was a running stream in some cases
feet deep. This will enable you to form some
idea of the extent of the rain in these parts
when it does arrive. Bivouacs were flooded
and men's blankets were floating about in
their dugout houses. Many had to walk
about all night to dry themselves and then
slept in wet blankets the following night. The
fall of rain cuts small gutters down the slopes
of the hills so heavy in the fall. Loose earth
slips gracefully down the slopes and causes
huge watersprays when it reaches the bottom while
scrub is washed out by the roots. My little house
being cut well into the slopes of the hill escaped
the ducking and everybody is digging one on
similar lines. The duty men of course have
got to put up with weather at all times

 

6
Last night a party of about fifty Turks attacked
a portion of trench about quarter of a mile South
from here, with bombs and followed the attack
up by bombing the supports with trench mortar
missiles. The New Zealanders quickly dispersed
this demonstration with rifle and machine gun
fire and bombs. The report states that no
casualties occurred on our side and that what
was left of the enemy, fled.
These friendly visits during such slack times
are appreciated and often reciprocated with
much better results even than last night's
episode.
While touring the several works under my care
late one evening I took the opportunity to have a
chat with each gang and all are eagerly looking
forward to the arrival of those "billies" They
were speculating as to their contents and also
as to whether each man would get one. The doing's
in Australia are a constant topic of conversation.
A canteen has been opened at Imbros
for the sale of fresh vegetables, canned fruit &
other articles of diet. Unfortunately the supplies
do not equal the demand. One man per unit
goes over each Sunday to buy for his particular

 

7
Battalion or Regiment. The weather has been too
rough this week for small ferries so no stores
have come to light but that means accumulation
for the next time.
Through the generosity of a newly arrived officer
a Lieut Stanton we have been dining on porridge
for the past two or three mornings. The first plate
of porridge for over twelve months. The supply
will probably soon be exhausted.
Four letters and a few papers of October 4th
to hand yesterday. The rest of papers and parcel
post will arrive this afternoon. Too late to acknowledge
this mail.
Will have to get busy answering letters now so
"Saida" (Say-eé-da)
Yours
Stewart 

 

[*My hand is very shaky
so I hope the writing is legible
SH*]
Al-Hayat
Convalescent Hospital
Helouan Egypt
13-12-15
Dear All,
At last I am able to write having become
convalescent but all my condition has gone and I
am afraid that it will be another month before I

return.
Jaundice was certainly better than Enteric Fever, or
Dysentry. and as I was apparantly run down and
ready for any sickness that came along I must
consider myself lucky that it was no worse.
I was in my dug out for 7 days trying to get rid
of the attack but I couldn't eat or drink and all
the medicine the Doc. gave me did not relieve me
of any abdominal pains which were awful.
Constipation, and a perpetual desire to vomit together
with the hideous yellow color which took hold of me
and the complete loss of any power to even walk, caused
the C.O. to demand my immediate removal to the
Field Ambulance. Here Snow started and the
temperature became 10° of frost for three days on
end. To cap all my feet were frost bitten and
they could have chopped them off without my feeling
any pain. I was immediately transferred to the
H.M. Hospital Ship "Oxfordshire". The ship set sail
immediately for Alexandria and during the three
days run proper medical attention, diet and
comfortable surroundings - (one berth saloon cabin)
relieved me of the abdominal pains and gave me

 

2
at least five hours sleep per night - I had not slept
previously -. They decided to carry me down for
a hot sea water bath. It was delicious until I
got out. Up till then my feet were still frozen stiff
but had not cracked and as soon as I was out
of the bath circulation was restored but the pain -
oh I wished they had remained frozen - They could
not do anything to relieve it so the Jaundice became
only secondary in the matter of discomfort. Apart
from the frost bite the sea trip was glorious although
I couldn't get out of bed, my cabin was on the boat
deck overlooking the main promenade and the orderlies
and nurses were very attentive - (English) - I felt like
a prince. During the journey from Field Ambulance
to Clearing Hospitals and Hospital Ship I lost all my
belongings including Turkish curios which I intended
for Reg.'s museum also all my private belongings.
Revolver, maps, despatch books, in fact every thing but
what I wore and my boots. This will mean getting
a complete kit when I am well enough to get about.
On arrival at Alexandria I was transferred to the
Red Crescent Train which was to take us to Cairo.
The bed was comfortable and Red Cross workers looked
after everyone in excellent style - To fully appreciate
people's kindness you only need to be sick or wounded
and unable to help yourself. - On arrival at Cairo
a Red Cross motor took me to Gezirah Palace No 2
Aust. General Hospital where I was duly assigned to
the care of Col. Springthorpe of Melbourne.
A week under him and special treatment soon rid
me of all pains except in my feet but these they
padded & bandaged with cotton wool.

 

 

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Kate BennKate Benn
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