Papers relating to the service of Stewart Murray Hansen, 1915 - 1917 - Part 22

5
1/10/15
certain to abide here for another
six weeks then I am certain of
a trip in about three weeks' time.
Let you know something definite later.
Jim Moorhead has returned
his wound having healed. George
Lane is in Hospital with Influenza.
News from Gallipoli reports Len
Linklater well but the 23^rd
Bn was knocked about a little
by bombs the other day so do
not know much about any
of the other boys and no news
has been forthcoming.
4-10-15 Been too busy to finish
letter lately.
Visited Kastro & Therma yesterday
on mountain journey & one donkey.
The C.O. two Captains & myself
the distance is 15 Kilometers each
way.

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4/10/15
We accomplished the journey "going"
with only one stop, to change
mounts. The passengers sit
sideways on a wooden framed
saddle and the movement of the
animal makes such riding
most fatiguing and unpleasant
but we managed plenty of fun
as there were numerous side
shows by villagers on the way.
Kastro is perched on an
enormous rocky peak with
a fort on the seaward side.
Greek soldiers, evidently secretly
uniformed, were seen every where
bidding their fair ladies'
farewell. The streets are
narrow enough but to make
matters worse balconies project
over the footpaths & almost touch 

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4/10/15
each other. Here I met one
of the "Liets" in the uniform of
a marine engineer, at a 
fashionable café - if such
fare could call it. Norm

McAdam 5^th Engineers of H.M.T.
Fels A42. at present lying 
in Mudros Harbour quite
handy to our camp at Sarpi.
Bill Down is purser on same 

boat so I will surely visit

same at earliest possible opportunity

On the way home we turned at
Therma and obtained hot
mineral water bath and decent
dinner. Our donkey man
- Christophilissimo Spiro - who
could only speak Greek, meanwhile 

making "frantic"

gesticulations about the sun 

going down before we got

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4/10/15

back. However our Greek Host

who spoke English fluently

caused us great merriment
when he informed our man
that we intended to wait until

the moon came up before we

departed on our mountain

path. He "bubbled up and

busted" right away and "let go"

a torrent of language until

our host quietened him down

by reassuring him we would

leave after dinner.

We arrived home at 8.30pm

somewhat stiff & sore all over

but thoroughly pleased with our

quaint outing. This adds

another nation to my tours.

Arabs, Egyptians, Turks, Greeks

& Indians. Our inspection of the

numerous Windmills with

 

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4/10/15

common sails showed us a new

way of grinding corn.

Probably this letter will

miss the mail but will close

& try it.

Yours
Stewart

 

 

Sarpi Rest Camp

Lemnos

11-10-15

Dear All

"Lazyness" or "indolence" has become part

of the daily programme of work on this island

of "Rest". A small regiment, competent

Headquarters staff and an Adjutant who

eats & sleeps inbetween times of talking &

signing his signature. The "talking" is work

as it announces the policy of the Regiment,

giving & meeting details of Routine and

general supervision. Being short of officers

makes a little extra "walking about" to see

if matters are going correctly and that Routine

is being attended to.

The old argument your "Does one who

works manually, work harder than one who

works with his brain" We have thrashed out

this several times over the meal table at home,

- to our own satisfaction - Howbeit, we

sometimes get headaches when the many small

matters of general routine are not carried out

satisfactorily.

In short, we are responsible for 1000 men

(when they are all here) and the systematic working

of same.

 

 

2

Soldiering is a profession of life long study and

one you never fully learn. A life of

unforeseen circumstances and when on active

service, of glorious uncertainty.

I am, temporarily, no longer a soldier

of the "drill book order" but a subordinate

organiser, a cog in the great wheel of

military discipline and organisation.

The life agrees with me - fortunately or

unfortunately. No sickness of any description

has yet put me "under". But winter

approaches and who knows what it will bring

with its coming.

We hear little of the doings at Anzac

but returned men have reported "nothing

doing" yet troops are continuously moving

in that direction and, as in all modern 

warfare, something big will take place

any day and we may be sent in it.

Last Tuesday I spent the afternoon & evening

in "A 42" and saw Bill Down - Purser and

Norm McAdam. Quite an enjoyable reunion.

Also met a young fellow - name forgotten - who

worked at Newport but who knew dad when

he inspected the pumps at Warragul. He is about

21 years old now. He informed me that a 

Bill Granger known to Dad was killed in action.

 

 

3

The position at Gallipoli is unchanged of late.

It was not through want of trying that we failed

to occupy the main 'San Ban' range and

Hill 971 but the difficulty of the task is

aptly described by Ashmead Bartlett in

the enclosed newspaper cutting. This attack

was carried out in conjunction with an

attack we made on Knoll 60 on Aug 21^st

but which was brought to a standstill

thro' severe losses. However on Aug 28^th

we made the final effort which carried

the position. The description of the fighting

for Hill 70 (enclosed) could be made

to read Knoll 60 and substituting

Australians & Indians for Germany

you have an excellent description of our

fight in which so many fell. This was

our last stiff go but although won, it

nearly wiped us out. The surprise is that

there are any Turks left as the artillery &

warships annihilated thousands in close

formation.

The 4^th Brigade (Aust. Inf.) were the Australians

mentioned in the enclosed article as we

occupied the aft flank of the Anzac Position

 

 

4

during the whole of August being given a 

smaller line of defense on Sept 1^st.

Just received your letter dated 29^th Aug &

received books & paper last mail. Many thanks.

I am not in Egypt as some correspondents

seem to think nor have I been for some

months. I spent from April 25^th to

Sept 13^th inclusive on the Peninsula

without once being sick or unwell - very

few can say that much. And I am the only

officer who has not ever left the Regiment since

joining. The Regiment left me for five days.

They went to Imbros Island but I stayed on

Gallipoli. I am still with the Regiment however

much we may be resting.

I am afraid the "Locals" will not be

able to get much copy from me until

we land and get into it again.

Kindly file the cuttings enclosed.

Love to all

Stewart.

P.S. Recommended for promotion to Captain
and Adjutant - Please wait until same
is confirmed before letting other people know
in fact do not talk about it until later on.

V.