Papers relating to the service of Stewart Murray Hansen, 1915 - 1917 - Part 8

Blank MESSAGES AND SIGNALS form.

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The hills ate composed of gravel solely and

when a strong North wind blows the dusty matter

flies about similar to Melbourne on a dusty day.

The wind are either due North or due South

no other variation having taken place since our

arrival and are usually very moderate.

This accounts for the effect of the sun.

One in two reminiscences of late:

A Sergeant returned the other day after being

away wounded two months. The bullet

passed in the upper front of his left cheek just

below the eye and came out of his right

cheek close to the middle of the ear. He felt little

or no pain the whole time. It healed up lovely

only two small scars mark the ingress or

exit of the bullet. The passage of the bullet

kept above the roof of his mouth behind the

nose. Thos sort of wound is remarkable

& shows how much is taken to kill one.

The only direct fatal wounds are thro' the

heart or head while a hit in the stomach

or general loss of blood (rare) makes a wound

dangerous.

One of our Officers returned last month

he had been hit clean thro' the lungs from

the breast to the back, and suffered no

consequent inconvenience.

On several occasions lately while some 

careless fellows are cleaning their rifles, an

unexploded cartridge is heard to ping 

into the air. At once a cry of "Take it off him"

"Give him a pop gun" or "Give him a bow & arrow"

comes from all over the valley in one roar to 

the consignment allight of the Heads who behave

MESSAGES AND SIGNALS. form

 

in a system of public opinion on the best means

of overcoming base or dangerous habits.

Corporal Stabel of Williamstown joined the

Battalion recently with 5^th reinforcements.

Bob Twomey of Briare also arrived with 4^th

Reinforcements.

A large number of wounded have returned

to duty again & consequently we are nearly

up to full strength with the addition

reinforcements.

I am the only officer in the Battalion who up

to date has not been off the peninsula

since landing although some only went

as far as Imbros for four days.

News is scarce as everything is quiet

at present.

      Stewart

Mack to 14-6-45                           Gallipoli Pen

duty school                                       Turkey

today. S.                                             22nd July 1915

Dear All,

          Next Sunday makes the 13th week of

occupation of Sari Bair, completing three

months activities against our friend the Turk.

He must know that he will be beaten in time

but he is very stubborn and frequently runs

his head against our stone wall. Not having

been able to keep my diary up to date I

intend - if time permits and we remain in

reserve much longer- to write up an article

entiled: Three months in Gallipoli with the

Australian & New Zealand Army Corps

being merely a general description of my

impressions and actual happenings during 

that time. In the light of todays happenings

when we are being subjected to a heavy

bombardment along the whole line by Turkish

Artillery, the article may be somewhat delayed

especially as bombardments usually precede

attacks. These are exactly what one want

for as our line of resistance or guarantee to

withstand any counter attack by Mr Turk

He generally breaks his head in the attempt.

A review of the dates of importance will

give you some idea of their failure to dislodge

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our Army Corps from the coveted position so hardly

won. There are days when few casualties only,

occur but during these counter attacks some

one or others of necessity goes under but is no

comparison to the attacking party whom we wait

for until right in our trenches before administering

the prescribed does of lead -"rapid fire"

 

April 25^th Landing successfully accomplished

26^th-30^th Staved off fierce and successive

counter attacks launched against our

unfinished defensive line. Snipers & machine guns 

deadly enemy.

May 2^nd Charge by 4^th brigade led by 15^th

Battalion but owing to extreme darkness

& hidden machine guns we were unable to

establish a proper line and on following

morning were forced to fall back on our

original line. Both sides suffered heavily.

May 9^th. 15^th Batt advanced from Quinn's

post assisted by 13^th & 16 Battalions as

support and supported with covering fire

by 14^th Batt. Could not establish a

continuous firing line so retired again

to Quinn's post. Turks suffered severly

The action immediately followed by

Turkish counter attack but Turkish reserves

cut to pieces by Artillery while marching

in close formation a distance away

from firing line. Other Brigades & New

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Zealanders also took part in these engagements

but being on either flank away from the

central positions - "Pope's hill", Quinn's Post

Coourtney post" m- we were unable to discover

what point they played in the operations

They were considerable, judging by their

casualties.

May 19^th Fierce bombardment of Courtney's

post followed by subsequent attack along

the whole line. Turks come forward

in small groups of six or seven- columns

of lumps we termed it - and of course

were annihilated. The main attack

was directed against 14th Batt at

Courtney's. Had they succeeded in

forcing us out and occupying our

position on the ridge they could

successfully have cut off our main

gully and divided our position into

two. They failed worse than ever.

May 21^st Armistice declared to allow

Turks to bury dead and collect

wounded. Twelve hours cessation of

hostilities. The official counters recorded

the burial of 3000 Turks, who had been

dead under three days.

May 29^th Portion of Quinn's Post blown up

by Turks mine and trenches occupied

by enemy through bomb attack following

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on confusion caused by explosion. 4th Brigade

again demonstrated their superiority over

Turks by driving them out with bayonet

and bombs. This attack was purely

local, and did not effect any other part of

the line. Their turns came later on. 

This triumph was the climax for us as that

day the whole Brigade was relieved by the

New Zealanders and since then we have been

in Reserve.

June 26^th Bombardment by Turks of our

right flank - 3rd Brigade and 2 LH Brigade

but the attack was made during dark

& windy night on our left flank - 3rd LH

Brigade. Then I have previously described

on the biggest death trap the Turks ever fell

into. The L. Horse demonstrated their ability

with the rifle as they sniped out the attackers

without any machine guns or artillery aid.

Generally During the whole operation 8 isolated

bomb attacks of more or less severity

have occurred opposite Quinns & Courtney's

and bombardment of trenches along the

whole line by enemy artillery are daily

occurrences by a joint act then we have

"Sorties" or "demonstrations" from individual

parts of our line against vulnerable

Turkish positions, to draw up reserves or

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cause a waste of their ammunition. We also

have small parties actively engaged on

destroying the enemies' parapets, loop-holes,

bob proof shelters etc. This work is risky

but is accomplished without casualty

as a rule. Bombing of any wooden 

supports etc showing the top of their

trenches cause great amusement on our

side. In these demonstrations the 1st

Australian Division including L. Horse

have figured prominently while the

New Zealanders hold the position for "sorties"

on a large scale, causing great distinction

on both sides. We have famed the

ascendancy over their snipers and [[?]]

captured Turkish orders we have discovered

that our friends have suffered severely

through our sharp shooters putting them

through their own loopholes. Prisoners

declare that our bombs cause great

consternation and frequently their trenches

have to be partially vacated during our

game of bomb-throwing. Our artillery is

admittedly superior and adding to this

the fact that every "sortie" has emptied the

foe's firing line of live men we can 

safely conclude that we have superiority

in every department. The machine gun

dispute has yet to be settled both sides

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being about a draw up to the present.

Although I have put opposite the date of

April 25^th Landing successfully accomplished

there is you will readily understand, no

wish to distract from the deeds of other 

Brigades, only the 1st days fight has been

as fully published in your papers that I have 

purposily refrained from enlarging on the heading.

    Understand also that any one man on

the firing line finds it almost impossible

to gather the facts concerning happenings or way

from what is his particular objective

but by reason of my official status and

consequent maxing with other officers of these

other "posts" it has been fairly easy to gather the

facts while we have been in Reserve.

I am enclosing sketch of our relative p

positions showing what we have won &

what we have got to face.

Any action here of course will be

governed by the positions of British

troops at Achi Baba & Krithia and it

is only because of the strong opposition

encountered at Acha Baba which makes

the whole campaign necessarily slow.

This letter might be kept for future

reference. 

               Yours

                    Stewart

Turkey                             Reserve Gully

31-7-15                               Anzac

                                            Gallipoli Pen.

Dear All,

    Nothing of any importance

to chronicle this week with the

following exceptions.

The weekly mail arrived

probably no mail due from

Australia.

Charlie Smith, the "Argus" War

Correspondent [[?]] [[?]]

enthusiast has arrived at Anzac

and is the guest of our Brigadiers

-General Monash (Note the promotion

from Colonel). You will shortly

have plenty of correct news

about us, also plenty of photos

as he carries a camera by permission