Papers relating to the service of Stewart Murray Hansen, 1915 - 1917 - Part 4

1./x/10 (Date in Arabic)
Sergt Stewart Hansen
14^th Battallion
Aerodome Camp
Heliopolis
Egypt.
10/4/15
Dear All,
we are going away at last consequently
all surplus articles have had to be sacrificed. My
much sought after bottle of ink can not find an
abode so it will have to be sacrificed also. The
mails in future are to be strictly censored and will also
be purposely delayed to keep our movements quiet.
Any regularity therefore in delivery will be readily
understood. Papers dated 21^st, 26^th February to hand
also, letter from Lighton, Illustrated papers & 1 letter
from Hodge and pc from Mr Mood. Our training
was completed some time ago but evidentally
recent happenings at the Dardenelles have not been
as successful as anticipated. It is practically
certain that our destination is Turkey with the idea
of finally concentrating in Eastern Germany or Austrian
Frontier. We expect to be opposed immediately
in landing in fact we are ready to fight for a
landing place under cover of war ships gun fire
We have been busy all this week fitting up
all ranks as complete as possible. There are plenty
of issues but no room to put them.

The Australian troops are the best paid and equipped
in Egypt and their Field Ambulances, Transport
and Light Horsemen are unequalled.
Yesterday we marched from the Camp thro'
Heliopolis to Cairo a distance of 6 miles. Passing
thro the city we were watched by nearly all
Egypt or thereabouts. We then travelled thro' the city
to the Nile Bridge across the famous river to
Kasi-el-Nil gardens which of their class are
unequalled for beauty They could not be said
to surpass the Melbourne Botanical Gardens but
to Australians the Palm trees; Easterns Shrubbery,
flowers and lawns presented a soothing aspect
after being 9 weeks connected with desert sand.
The perfume was glorious and although the day
was stifling hot, the shade afforded by the thickly
foliaged shrubs was more than appreciated by the
men.
We were given the pleasure of seeing a large date
palm plantation last week. A route march
through Zeitoun along the railway line to Marg, a
suburban terminus, to a large plantation owned
by a Pioneer. Here were tall palm trunks with
shady branches of leaves and a large bunch of
green dates beach tree. The bunch is similar to

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an ordinary bunch of grapes only 10 k 20 times
larger.
The Colonel took the opportunity during a halt on
one of our short marches instituted to keep us fit and
quiet during our period of waiting, to have a
half hour chat. He was proud naturally
to have command of one of the recognised finest
regiments in Egypt. Then training and behaviour had
pleased his superiors and therefore we could be
sure of getting plenty of chances to distinguish ourselves
in the field. The doctor gave us some advice in
regards to cholera and disentery and their chief
causes.
We have naturally lost several men from our
number. The majority are in Hospital suffering
from pneumonia, a complaint chiefly responsible
for the death of so many troops in Egypt
I will have to leave behind two Cpls and 2
privates who have contracted pneumonia recently.
They are not likely to join us for some time as
they are very weak and thin but will recover
in time.
Our native dhobi waller (washerman) has
just taken away a bundle of my dwindled
clothes most of which are in condition but

4
having fitted out myself with a new rig out
I have discarded the old ones. This chap is
very amusing as he talks English excellently
but can-not even write his name. He
served under Kitchener when a Lieutenant in 1882
as native boy. Many interesting tales do we
hear about the Egyptian wars since 1882. He had
served in them all.
Like all natives the Arabs give themselves Scotch
names beginning with Mc. and since we
arrived they have learnt all the Australian
slang they can be taught. It is usually used in
the wrong place and greatly amusing English
visitors.
I am forwarding an Egyptian daily paper in
Arabic. All dailies here are in three languages
and we sold for ½ piastre. You will also
find book on Egypt which will recall things
on my return.
This will probably be received direct but
future letters will almost certainly be delayed
goodness knows how long.
All well
Yours
Stewart
Enclosed find our Regimental Colors which we wear
on our sleeves near the shoulder.

Gallipoli Peninsula
Turkey
13/6/15
Dear All
Have received some splendid mails during our
sojourn in Gallipoli Peninsular, all of which are
much appreciated. Nothing pleases one more than a decent
mail to remind one of the past. Your last mail received
was dated May 3rd in which you stated that we were
in the fray at last Indeed we are, and have been
since the day following the brilliant charge up the steep hills
by some troops from both the First Division & our Division.
The landing [[was certainly?]] magnificent being accomplished
under fairly heavy fire ^on Sunday 25/4/15 and although the 4th Brigade
did not land till the Monday, - being held in reserve
were within a mile of the shore & in full view of the
terrific naval bombardment which lasted for
several days until our Artillery was landed & they took
up the attack. The incessant noise from the naval guns
somewhat prepared me for the sharper crack of rifles &
shell which we experienced for during five solid weeks of
trench warfare -0 we have been resting for the last
14 days near the beach under cover of a high cliff -
The other Australian, New Zealand troops captured the
position & we held it (rather the centre of it) for 5 weeks

2
without a break. I became accustomed to noise during
our advance up a steep, narrow & muddy valley
(afterwards transformed by Engineers into a decent road) named
Monash Valley when shrapnel burst several time
in our midst but doing only small damage to our
numbers. Snipers (trained sharpshooters) were our greatest
enemy being concealed in scrub behind our own lines
& killing off men as they pleased but by organised
"drives" they were soon annihilated & contented themselves
by remaining outside in future. The Turk as an open
fighter or trench fighter fears the Australiasians as has
been proved by reference to news received from Turkish
papers, but as a defensive fighter in trenches he is
much steadier than in the open.
The spirit of unselfishness & fellowfeeling is everywhere
apparent, no doubt carried thro' the persistent
cheerfulness of our wounded comrades many of whom
owe their lives to risks run to rescue them under fire
especially as the enemy take a keen delight in potting
stretcher bearers.
I, unfortunately lost my best Corporal (Cpl Benton)
five minutes after we gained the firing line, he was
peppered by machine gun bullets. Of course our
firing line during the first couple of days was
very open but by strenuous digging we made ourselves
safe from shell & likewise comfortable. The Turks
trenches are only 25 yards away in the [[?]] of the position

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naturally bomb throwing comes in for a fair amount
of practice. From loop holes in the parapets we have
pot shots at one another, sometimes one poor chap drops
with his scalp off but generally we wave them a
miss by means of a stick. the enemy sometimes
doing likewise when we miss. Their favourite move
[*Diagram - see original document*]
is our periscopes which consist of two pieces of mirror
fixed at either end of a stick at an angle of 45
enabling the observer to keep his head below the
parapet at the same time observe the whole of the front
view, but the snipers don't allow one to appear up
for long, otherwise your top mirror is soon destroyed as
[[?]] [[?]] [[?]] very suddenly.
Although so near we are unable to find out much
about other units consequently I can give you little
or no news in that respect. Lt S McWilliam was
killed a week or so after he arrived but so far I have
not heard of any further deaths among Williamstown boys
I have tasted blood, one scratch on the head and one cut
on the face below the right eye, but neither put me out of
action & thanks to good health, soon healed.
Dated from 27^th May my allowance will be 10/- per
day (probably it will be some time before you received official
notice), my remuneration being altered to 17/6 per
day plus 3/6 field allowance less 3/- deferred pay
per day. Since that date I have had the

4
fortune to be an real live "Orficer" of one star.
After the first weeks' action along with 3 others. I
was recommended for promotion to 2^nd Lieutenant
and was gazetted by General Godly on 27^th May
this of course means that I am back to my old games
of being [[?]] on by my Batman one - (Sandy Sutton)
(who still has a whole skin you might inform his
sister).
We have been well supplied with food & comforts
although we shed our packs containing our
[[?]] & all kit the day of landing. These
have not since been seen so I have said "good bye"
to much personal property. This loss necessitated me
sleeping without overcoat, blanket, or waterproof
sheet for 10 days & it was intensely cold at
night. We also had to wear our clothes for 5
weeks every night & occasionally took them off
during a slack day to air them. We naturally
enjoy our rest by the sea shore even though
our swims are rudely interrupted by shell
& occasional bullets.
Still exceptionally well & ready for our
next move
Yours S.
PS. I am still attached to my old Company.

Reserve Gully
Gallipoli Peninsular
Turkey
20/6/15
Dear All,
Eight weeks Today since the
memorable landing on Turkish soil.
Looking back and knowing the nature
of the hills as we now do, the reason
why the Turks did not inflict a severe
defeat on us & prevent occupation is
hard to understand. The cliff command
the whole beach & a comparatively small
force should have been sufficient to
prevent our landing. However we are
here and the many efforts of the
enemy to drive us into the sea have
miserably failed and as time goes on,
will fail more completely. The Turks
have already suffered heavily at our
hands and any future counter
attack by them will be similarly
repulsed. We are quite used to their
shell bombardment in fact the noise
of our own guns trouble us more than
the enemy's although we are quite used
to all these things long ago.
When our guns start they give the
enemy something to think about as
we can hardly seen their trenches for dust

Messages and Signals Form - see original document