Papers relating to the service of Stewart Murray Hansen, 1915 - 1917 - Part 10

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

Page 1 / 10

well write gou a fullen amn when once tin is abut Ar present I am in charge of tranch improvement mmendiong and wel only a finge inhan a men tae the Work T ohen sno I perint o up ouplly this ting on I am not able to write Irret, Yan oa
Anstabe Valley Gallipgle R my Iea A Thill going but not ter strngly. The the tims bell on every tody he, siee we The 6th ond apone if in have been going at top sped and all an natually about whanted Takos a soibly shilton and although w have actually a whole battaton of his fare ipe wel report After bung severly out up on Sunday the 8 ae omped a new line and by she will pou anr inhansted state and anxusifully wn into a very shing pordon from which as have be my aneusiful in keeping Johnng hea w mngle foy. of ma wea mankledge of the teckes of Tukes for him inder this shunt a lage land ted Sanle Bay an somely but
mily anving am enny beet thes mmitle puction wll 8 histry fua fytt them even the lan a the ent even peater Our Battatin cnuelly but when puottic will bell it own tall dhut efftt has not bee A sed te from a splet bullet in the only blood by me in the actir to date. Last night half of onr Bottation and an offrm Ad part on a further beg more and the a shll pay on The time by way of a eig t me an by induioual officers at beame my t ty cleging conrquently I an astacked to a party ontrencted, & give supporting fire t am advancing troops. hhalf of the dreached advancing party from our reguent o camallies but forlunately a large prcentage (90p) are in woulded. One Officer was billed taking a toke of proser for this tio on office today I am aboening for Bugade Ad alve from au Horeter on incellent hew san be attained (through glanm) of the whole fight. He eght monderful mhleting the proper of on naie and the mniia whent and an oasunal raily for
Suden week in an mountal ml the mat rother place in the wald. Iean all my for a greee but until things ane more settled every I fit man of requard oppecially to steally new toeps Rent of the 8th Byase have landed but to dale are get in aeturn te we cuued iniuable hereity by the t may fond well water ao by sinking a shaft an I ment prao adjuint has been assured I am living abot as rep but the weatter being lanly warm, in ap attack of Aguntal My new home not bave lage toe o natiping ai in feo. M ten him st iter for over 16 days and well probably get only a chamge tim to day or two. Jestedaly part ablamdets an nd ma so will mow t amptabe ater able twalh a sleep pn that Iwell have to dop but at mait regularly for a week a two an may still the it that shp an all right tnal romor have an teadpater lately that ms but to an a wanse prbally be a welcore srishe e
a the present shain and it would pobably famr week opec but having & though act inseatled set weald to ane unphwan st hit wal I finih colduring when th wan an has it that I am recommendr for t fill Lendenand oguantance pt iles ig shing after having retured to the pay ompes pasion of the firing bd on H will share he to shape tat the atubill he dropping her lader habits completily Aualt topesoi tam baps o mail were but in fa dp but t las 4 J
Aatte Fae Suclipot C Lendley all last letter the has bene toripe tilli blosder tham mything previounly & I still suiit whole & by no means tearly O shesdy ull Repient is still in aeter in fat wrte not tal m E a p to w ably I am a fult blow Lientment mny by apponnted officer t condin in moth Acting aggutant on head Saton Haffompying the postion of Lono Lubalton of the Regoment? He expect to be seheves shordly but i ettack are being prtt o ct nd A vy ag al hip a w an tatally pt after I west sonn lighting sune yu mut ceen enditer Lelly aid i is conforts a repamed by soldie i Hance ealy Where fighting
sit itil an Ser 7hi His pouble paters lfe fe e kille pta wal alam e relif will be
prat, but the resilt yauc occupation of a s m The Turk has suffered Io the face of the most tomp Atllery hombadme bleet rom mik, aunt, and flyang boden monety displayed, they hold in like me o it ware tap but wenteally the bayad effectually The Link has been even sanding up to us with by The have been of any would mmitite to ont limited in there bury We are beving tell cneliged beigs yu ton 2 camagen tied buthe the luvenin. There had anive doe slips which did not pt tepeded amts wer able to get a padt intore allotment. He cont of anr pay e me in thec He fai sumptuourly. (he ductinny) oflenderely ram & setting anther swere wle have ping office
Sim Auy 6 and of 25 tffe Confindat han to officer and 120 the balone Dar Camaltis wther t 1th Battahar kileds, wandert t Si al 5 Anstat oue of my officer and 1800 (inclising ifs to 6th Remporment) the whill a very smadl pereulage atedt through the street of last Deaember Ther feges weth D Fuld e stlen Sadely of the 3th Beyjade an Lelfer b but 6th Rgade he not yet ma alllaugh thy may have bedid a leter mwce together today cover but expect mary ftte mest 24 Lung then by perso t the fotttenn 757o it p an t

8
will write you a fuller account                                           
when more time is about
At present I am in charge
of trench improvement &
communications and with only
a few exhausted men to do the
work.
Let others know I finished up
safely this time an I am not
able to write much
Yours
Stewart 

 

1)
Australia Valley
Gallipoli Pens
Turkey
22-8-15
Dear All,
Still going, but not over strongly.The strenuous
times tell on every body. Ever, since we advanced on
the 6th inst everyone of us have been going at top
speed and all are naturally about exhausted.
Turks is terribly stubborn and although we have
actually seen whole battalions of his force wiped out
by artillery fire, he comes up again as defiant
as ever. After being severely cut up on Sunday the 8th
inst we occupied a new line and by sheer will power
conquered our exhausted state and successfully
dug ourselves into a very strong position from which
we have been very successful in keeping Johnny's
head down. I was appointed Engineer of trenches
& communications and with an energetic Gang body of men
have done a good deal of earthworks.
With our previous knowledge of the tactics of "Turks"
we have so far got him under on this stunt.
A large force have landed at Suvula Bay and
with numerous reinforcements we are slowly but

 

2
surely driving our enemy back. This months operations will
go down in history as a greater fight than even the landing
and the cost, even greater. Our Battalion casualty
list when published will tell its own tale but
the effort has not been in vain.
A skinned nose from a split bullet is the only blood
drawn by me in the action to date.
Last night half of our Battalion and our officers
took part in a further big move and this is still
going on. This time by way of equalising the risks
run by individual officers it became my turn
for a spell from any charging consequently
I was attached to a party entrenched, to give supporting
fire to our advancing troops. Half of the detached
advancing party from our regiment are casualties
but fortunately a large percentage (90%) are only
wounded. One Officer was killed making a total
of 7 Killed, 5 wounded 1 prisoner for this action on Officers
alone. Today I am observing for Brigade and
from our trenches an excellent view can be obtained
(through glasses) of the whole fight. The sight is
wonderful watching the progress of our side and
the hurried retreat and an occasional rally from the
opposing foe. 

 

3
Seventeen weeks in an uncivilized mountainous peninsula
is the most rotten place in the world. We are all crying
for a spell but until things are more settled every
fit man is required especially to steady new troops
Part of the 5th Brigade have landed but to date are
not yet in action.
We were saved considerable hardship by the discovery
of underground well water so by sinking a shaft our
most precious adjunct has been assured.
I am living almost in rags but the weather being
fairly warm, one does not mind.
A good supply of tinned milk has saved many
attacks of "dysentery".
My new home is made of scrub leaves in form of
large box with waterproof sheet on floor. We have been
in our clothes continuously for over 16 days and will
probably get only a change in a day or two. Yesterday
our packs & blankets arrived from our previous
bivouac so will now be comfortable when able
to snatch a sleep.
Time is so precious that I will have to stop but
should I not send mail regularly for a week or two
you may still take it that things are all right.
Several rumours have come to Headquarters lately that
I was wounded but such is not the case. In fact
a flesh wound would probably be a welcome friend 

 

4
under the present strain and it would probably
mean four weeks spell but having got through
so much unscathed it would be most unpleasant
to get hit at all.
When this war is over I finish soldiering.
Rumour has it that I am recommended for
promotion to full Lieutenant - Two Stars -,
Else's acquaintance Capt Biles is still
going strong after having returned to the fray
and occupies portion of the firing line over me
It will please her to know that the erstwhile Miss
Biles has made good, playing the game well since
dropping her ladies' habits completely.
Yours
Stewart.
PS Four bags of mail were lost in a torpedoed
ship. but the last one received was dated
June 26th
S.
1 DRL 333/2  

 

Sunday 29-8-15
Australia Valley
Gallipoli Pens.
Turkey
Dear All.
Since my last letter there has been terrific fighting,
far worse and bloodier than anything previously
encountered yet I still exist whole & by no means hearty.
Our already small Regiment is still smaller, in fact -
as a fighting 'unit' we could not total one company.
Our list of Officers has dwindled down also.
The rumour mentioned previously has eventuated into
reality consequently I am a full blown Lieutenant.
Recently appointed Officer commanding Sappers on
our Post I am now Acting Adjutant in Head
Quarters Staff occupying the position of Senior Subaltern
of the Regiment. We expect to be relieved shortly but
as attacks are being pushed on continuously
every day all troops are required. Our men
however are totally unfit after 18 weeks strenuous
fighting & working under most severe conditions in
hilly and uncivilized surroundings and with no
usual comforts as experienced by soldiers in France.
Where fighting is heaviest the gains are counted by 

 

4
Rev Gillison was shot whilst doing his usual self
imposed duty. Trying to rescue wounded from almost
impossible positions. His conduct will be rewarded
but his life is gone
Capt Connelly my old Company Officer was killed
making a total of all original Captains, casualties
Our "punch" wants a months spell until all our
wounded are able to rejoin. A little relief will be
given us yet
Until next time
Stewart

Lieut
 

 

2
yards and the cost is great, but the result means
the occupation of some commanding position.
The Turk has suffered severely but is still very game.
In the face of the most terrific Artillery bombardment
on which noise, smoke, dust, and flying bodies
were continuously displayed, they hold on like men
in a trap but eventually the bayonet does its work
effectually. The Turk has been even initiating
by standing up to us instead of running away.
There have been so many incidents crowded into
the indomitable month of August that a description
of any would necessitate too much time which is
most limited in these busy time
We are living like civilized beings again in regard to
food. Tinned fish, sauces, sausages, tinned butter
and numerous other luxuries. These had arrived
in a special store ship which did not get torpedoed,
and our smaller numbers were able to get a good
cut at our Regimental allotment. We do not
pay cash but the amount is marked off our pay
book as money issued to us The idea is working
splendidly. We fare sumptuously. (No dictionary)
The mental strain is getting rather severe and several
Officers on the Peninsula have gone under. 

 

Confidential Since Aug 6th out of 35 Officers and 800
men we have 10 officers and 180 men
uninjured. The balance are Casualties either
Killed, wounded ^missing or sick. [[Finis?]] 14th Battalion:

Since leaving Australia out of 47 Officers and
1800 men (including infs to 6th Reinforcements) the
above men remain while a very small percentage
of the balance marched through the streets of
Melbourne with us last December. The Figures
must not be published otherwise there will be trouble
The 4th Brigade have suffered much loss of [[?]]
strong going. Many casualties are duplicated by
men being wounded at the landing and then
lately after there return.
One Company of the 5th Brigade are helping us in
our new trenches but 6th Brigade has not yet made
its appearance although they may have landed.
Several letters arrived together today covering a
period of three weeks but expect many more from other
sources.
During these trying periods one is glad there are no
near relations in the fight because it is bad enough
to see 75% of your own men in one or two
hours, go flop, without having the discomfort of
knowing any one

 


13-10-15
Dear All
Kindly file enclosed
paper cuttings.
They are excellent & true description
of the actual battles although not
detailed.
Still going strong but will
write later.
Stewart.

 

 

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