Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/7/1 - May 1915 - Part 6

50

Col. M [[?]]

There was an incident of wh something has been made - an exaggerated account - 

in 1 papers - I didnt want to I didn't incur more danger than any single 

poor private, even in this one attack - no, not so much. I have no right to [enlist] of 

the lowest, simplest soldiers - & I am not as brave as most of them.

While we were in this trench - & the Brigadier was still there - I

kept my head down most of the time, but when one put it up

one could see it men had been knocked out a good few of them.

There was one chap I could see

51 ts
New Zlalanders who were across the creek - I dont think it did
I never heard of it. We were warned - I thank by the brigadier.
to keep away a bit from the creek - it might certainly herve
been a good range wark for shrapnel./ About 400 or 500 yds
Col. M Cay & Caso know
up the plateon we suddenly found a truch in fout of as. It
of this tray
was one of our trenches, filled with Lanc. Iusiliers - but it
furthen to right
filled ir RWD
might have been filled with Turks for all we paew. We came

upon it quite unexpectedly tl bank of red eart running across the

heath. Aquarter of aminule Cales we were up to it & found a lot
the lowest,
of Brilish soldiers lotking up at us. We fell down behind it or


Tumped into it. There were three solitary trees just at this spot & a littly
hss s bett of scrub, thicker them the rest, leadeng up to them, a line of
Screet abt 3 yards thick running the same way that we were joing
There ws one chap I cosee wounded abt 20 yards to m

right port - he ws moving, I thought he wod probably be bit if the
afters
We came in just E of this. g. The Brigadies
stayed out there, but the prospect of getting out & helpiny him in
looked like placing his H.Q. in this trench. He got down into it
was not nice. However, I thought, it getsinto thes positions
for a monent. The men all thing themselves down to get breath
must accept he consiquences. I waited a
in the fining tine
because we had come fast, especialy with packs + haveracks
bit i presently 1 youngster rolled over & began to paisfully crawl
20
in. our cdn't stay any longer so I sipped out of brench & ran
A second line came up whilet we were there. One had a vague
out to him & heled him back - with my help he cd get along
gut ply sort of idea this might be the line we were meant to take
on both legs. We were back in ttrench very quiskly. I dont think
up We didn't know anything - there hadid
I did much good but one's consciince wodu's letone stay any
r
(no it must have been more than the
been time to tell us.
longer it ws my only reason. As I ran back 1 Brigadier
wre r ten monthy thid 10
However after S meautes the Dryadeer suidh it was
sd. "Look here, Bean, if you do any more of these damfool actions
time to make a move. He sumped up on the parapet
I send you straight back to Headquarters. Tve power to you
his periscope I don't know what officers were in the
know & is a good mind tofew minutes later he
was doing to dam fool action himself up on 1 parapet
trench them - but he said, Now tw Austialions
He oto I men were not conng on as pst as ad make
which of you men are Aushalians? Come on Auctalians!
Ne
support for I front line safe (this we always a fear in our
gs The men janped up - I suppose about t0 in his lt. "Cone along
heads it if I port line werent supported it might get knocked
Austiations, heycalled - Come on Austialians." They
out &f remsent come back & I daredsy it ws right, too &,
picked themselves up, many with their rifles at the charge,
I think it was. He sd. How are others coming on 7 I looked
cand
daiked out over the trench int a very over the tommers
back & sd: I expect they'll need support prett quick, wont
heads, into a very heavy fire. The fire really was very
they Sis? We were talking abt it in this spirit when M Caysd.
S
teavy by now. It was knocing sparts of dust off the paraked
Well Bean, I suppose this is where I have to do the damned
into every ones face, kicking up little spits of dust. I saw
f
heroic act - & up be jamped on parapet & wave his
it knock a stick 4 feet ent the air as it playing tyrca
s
periscope. Now then - which of you are austialions - come or
alian
tent on like a wherlwind.
But the

Australians.I saw him with his revolver in his hand - he had
just bu talking to some chap in 1 trench ten, yds to my left. I heawd
Ao they got up I felt for my camera. There was
wth
afterwos it we a sent & threatened to shoot him if he didn't get out

the case - but no cawera in it. Thee I remembered I
of brind damned quick. [Getting out ind tese bulleto ws no wvealis triab kan facig
fast bowlers at crucpet or riding an unoleadis horse. Shells, w their explosion, are different. + mgotere terrifyin - they follow you as a prehistorie boast may have chared men in Idown o prace?
 

52
had left it in the brench at H.O. SI missed the finest was photogape
that has never been taken
The Brijadier stayed in that trench a while watching the
troops coming up - & I thought he lod place his H.B. there. A
second lot came up with Col. MacNichol – BorC Coy of the 6th
They rested their 3 minites, Then Col. Machichol asked o Col. MCay
colet he wantet were to do. I think they I better p on t the
Brigadier. Right Sir sd M Nichol & jumped up on the
rear dide of the trench where he had been resting
The same instant he shid down - collapsed rather - with his
back against the tree which rose by the brench, A cere you hit?
asked MCay anxiously. He nodded - only slightly, I think
gasping a little for broak
he sd, sud as he spoke. Two men tore open his tunie where
he pointed & found that he had only a flesh wound in the less
shoulder. He puiped up at once - though it must have given
him a great bang - absolutely collected, his normal self
and bent over the trech drew his whicth blew it, waved
the men on with an under sweep of his right hand like
that of a bowler bowhing lobs, & led him on. They'd have
sone any where with him. I didn't watch them much- I
hadmy head abovt the parapet a good bit + it was risky
to do too much of it. The men were dropping very fast
now. Many had dropped in post of the trench & a good
number behind. Every now & then a man came runing
man
or limping back - in every case te was wounded.
One man ran into the trench quite fast, bledig
-I wondered he cd run so fast if he were wounded
but he was bleeding heavily from the trroat. One of the
signallers of our little party had been hit in the neck
but aot badly. Anotherman came dimpi in at a
half run - he just managet to get to the trench a then
throw himself on the parepet & was dragzed in
He looked very fightened + hagard. He was losing blood
from a wound in the apper lagt the man in to brench
always bandaged te wound obnever it was, for the
man. Itman behind the trench must have made some sign,
poor chap, that he wanted help; for a Lanc. Fasilies ran
 

out, sat beside him for quile a long time lying in pont of him so as
partly to protect hims & then lifted him on his back & brought him in.
A good number of men, of course, lay out there & never noved. Anothw
Lanc. Susities brought in a man from outieds + severaloters were
helped in or came draqing themselves in - sometimes, poor chaps, on
all fours
The companies coming up now were some of them a little stowe
+ it sometimes looked as if the first time might be unsupported unless
the others kept up the pace. The first lime was over the cofe, out of
our view or perhaps lying in the Srub. We cd see others half way
to them advancing by long dashes, very fast, occasuch
Kinging themselves onto the ground for a breaker - always very
on. Some of them were not as quick te owing themselves down as
they have be in practice - not like the 9th & 10a I saw on Apr. 26. They
ad calug pick a place to lie in. As there secaned likely to be a
little sap between the supportung coys & the firing lind owing to
the sace being uneven the brigadies reape ap I walked along
to see that te companies came up. Come on? he shouted wavn
henstope o run. They came on very fast. They were fiven
his
3 minutes on the brench – and there in Every case they cout over it
with a shout of Come on Aushalians? If there were no officer to lead
them on an NE.O would. I heard one chap say. "Come on chaps.
weve got to get it sometime. We cant stay here always! & that
was the spirit - that & the feeling that being Aushalians the
must get on. It was very fine to watch & it was great to
watch him as they went, absolutely unaffected by the bullets.
I never saw one man whose marking was changed by them
except in that moment when they got up & faced them
I rushed over the trench; then their faces were set, their lybrows
bent, they looked into it for a moment as men would into a
dazgl flame - I never saw so many determined faces at
once - on what a photspaph I missed
t a mery tte Bryatier with m
from the Sr Baltation. Achad call
Cmoge the hame. Tntr
The Brigadier called for someons to votunteer to
take on the telephone real in place of the synatler who
 

was hit. One of them volunteered. This was the first I heard of
any idea of taking Brigade H.D. further forward. You couldnt
see anything from where we were & so I suppose the Brygadre's
wanted to set to son where where he could see. Presently a man
came in from the 8th Battalion with a message. He asked this
man to come insteed of the other - he came at once.
The Brigadier went on - As he went he said to me I dont think
you need come Blan. Yours wiser to stay where you are; I
knew I was, + stayed there. Hasty was sent by the Brigadied to
gel Col. Bolton + hurey on the 8th who were the slowest: Tell him
to come on without stopping at trenches fhe sawd.The battle will
lo lost if he doesnt come up. "He was nervous that the
fiig time, which was a tory way ahead, might come back
if unsupported. Then the Bryadew went on & Hasty vent
of to be leprear, & I stayed in the fatuct.
The Lancs. Insileers were not intended to
advance - thy were holding the days line & we were
to advance through him. From where I was in their
trench I cd see the French ridge away on the right,I
the line of the Tuerkish & shaped trench on top of it - the while
parapet made it very obvious. I noticed a lot of movement
there - men moving in the up-penencala direction
I put he telescops on them - they were turks. They were running
from the Vtrench – not bolting, I have never seen a Turk bolt,
but lumbering off with their rifles + knapsacks. About 50 yards
away were the French - apparently French & Dinegalese mixed.
coming on, He French below the French didnt seem to be disturbiy
themselves - they were fathering themselves up & I don't think they
realised the Tarks were running. The French on the Skyline,
however were coming along fairly fast with their long spiky
bayonets. The Turks alt cleared exciptone - I saw one chap
standing long after the others allalone in the corner of the trench
snuggling his rifle in to his shouther for a shot. He had his
bayoned fixed & I thought. By Jove, here will be a hand
to hand tasl
Pet when the French were within 30yands of him he too
 

lunbered away. The Fench came running up a few esconds afterwards
onto the lop of the parapet, &r from there you could see them p lunging
down with their bayonets at something in the trench. I saw three or four
men do this. Then they seened, to dand along to parapet taking
It was not till some t later dat I loked tat way again
otent To ones great disappointment the Senegalise
troops seemed to be streaming back, especially along the slope of the hill
narst as - tothing slowly lock with teir rifles. Their officers
were rallying some of them. I can one officer with his sword check
a few & bring them together behind him on the crest of the hill,
At he same time strags of new French & senepaless lroops were advancing
trough the retreati ones - appeneal not herding them in the
slightest & the French teld the position. It is what they had been trying
for for a week & they lost i any men to get it.
Io the meantine our man were going on. I believe the
5th on the right formed part of the firing line - or some of them did,
along the Kritia road. M when bey got 300 yards beyond the
toming's truch they saw the Turks beginning to run from the Scrut
in port of them, boling back as they had done before the French. May
case was looking after affairs on this fank as the brigadies had dose on
the other flank; & he noticed that the fire was beginning to come in from
behind our right flank. (when I saw him early the nex morning - about
ar probably - in the dressing station, he was very anxious about hil
Hank. Bean-old man, he panted - he was badly hil through the chest,
do you know about our right flank- is that safely joined up? It was
that - which was - worrying me - I was over there - I could - see the
see the bullets - striking the road - the knether road - from the
East - and I thought - they must be getteng - cound our right
flank - I could at see any - any tarks - not any trenches-
but I knew that - our right - flank was unsupported - I sent
two - two vertal messages + - one written one - to the Brijedies
a others - to wanlies - I dont know - if they - got through
Sair
I told him I was sure they had got through you early
in the night in the stond time I visited aryade HO. Ihid the fir lie C
M lay told me that the French had not come up on the right, but that the Drake
bettalion had, & that the commander of the Drakes had agreed to refuse his right
to the Tarks & join up with the Beach; that I 6o say the line wdl run
Straight across our port, then 400 yords backwards to the Lend
yoi
& ten more or less straight again & finally a little forward on our right
where to French had won their trenches.
cass was worrying about this enfilading firs when he was
hit tough the chest. He in fell + as he lay on the ground was hit
again through the shoulder. Aclay there from 6 to 11 before he cd be brought
in - stretchers were so short that night,
tomny
to return b our position in the trench, A message cane
along from the right to the first Austialion officer to say that our
right was unprotested. An nded sapportin. I dont know
 

if there was anyone who attended to it. The only anstialian officer I
saw was having his hand dressed & to only oter officer was one of
the Drakes who was sitting very snng in the French advising our men,
after thy came up & rested, to ron again. I think they nex you
anstialians psety badly up there, he wants say. He didn't seem to think
of doing any of the going on himself - perhaps it wasn't his jobs though
his babation did support us later.
sly. I was sitting in the truck when Hastie drapped in
beside me panting. He had had a devil of a time, he sd, looking for
Botton. The fire was very hot, & ruaning about seacching for a
man in sort of conditions is not an saay job. A French
company or half coy. which had come up to the wench-tey were little
tench infantrynen runnin under heavy packs - had not sone on
+ seeme to have no idea of doin so. So Hastie & I went along
to then & tried to explain in French - It faut avancer aver tes
Auctiations. An austialion in the 8th, one of the post lines of the 8h
who had come up, tind to explain too. He knew a little French. Tant
avancer - avant anee anstratiens i he said - but tey rodded
& lay still. I dont think they had an officer there. The main part of the
It did not seem to have turned up & so Hastie got up & went off
to find them again. A few minutes later Agnams a messag
was passed along the trench, for Capt. Bean. It was from
Hastie. "That tnough both hands. Please inform Bigadirs
I accordingly went alonglythe truck until I could get the wire
leading to brigade H.A. Then I kept that in my hands & ledigself
by it as by a handreil. I had pone about 206 yard when someone
in the serab just to my lest said. Nalls old man - you quhere? It was
MacNichol. He was lying shettering behind 2 packs which had been put
in port of him by some chap going across. Word had reached us in to
Tommy's treck that, he had been bit in the abdomen I found this was
true. He was awpely plucky & chewful. I told him I would get some
stretthy beares & I got anoter pack fom near a dead man &
put it in front of him making him faiily ceems. The I wenton,
about 50 yards further I
I. came on quite a ressonable
Sild dugont crossing to pak. It was down about Sfeet, about
9H long & parapitabl 2ft or 10is. It was the new bryade HO
as I cane up to Brigadier called in a pol. Ihese or four sots
suapped aboutmy seers & I daressy tugs were a bit close
they seened to think so there. I found the Bryatier ther, with
on squaller + a couple of others – only the Bryadier & that sygnaller had
got through of the 7who started with Bijall H.Q. Por Seigl. Maj. Tock monks
one of tho best fellows I have met, a quiet soldierly toughtful man.
kelled quite close to digont- just before jetter teo, soncone heard
him hit & asked if wounded. yes. Inbit to te heart he sd quietly
& fell dead. No one had astually stopped to see if he were dead, but had no
doubt ofe
Bryadien told me it was impossible to reach ridge
 

on way beck to romy's trench saw one poor deart out of hundred
who were lying there, trying to get back to cover. I asket if I co help him - he
we hit thro leg, high up & ws crawling. Il went some way together, limping
is he in great pain -ahen he fell saying "Oh God - oh Christ - of its anful
He had been hil a second time as thro' same beg or other leg. I asked if cd sill
come onoh no- no I cant hesd. The platien ws very exposed, so I supt
draged him by both legs - be consented- into the nearest thing to a dimp
in the ground that I co find - got hold of 2 packs & put them round him
& left him. He had toon open his trowsers, as they fenly do, to see the wound,
& was bleeding pretty fieely. I don't fancy be can have lived - poor chap.
M Cay rang up Hunter Wiston as soon as he knew how his
Hanks were & said that he must have support upon his ryht I
left - otherwise he wd retire at day treake.
Huntey W. said - Oh but you musted retire, you must
hangon at all costs
said thatfewere lef unsupporte he wd retire
must day.
Mr. C. went back to see the Lanc. Iusilior who were in the
Tommy's bench – He had be told they cd suppor him. He
say I Col. & Icot told him he had orders to stay in 1 tommc
trench. M.C. said but how can you support me from these if
In attacked during 1 night. The col. agreed - the ws much
hampered by his brigadiers instructus) & went forios
t MC to dig in in time with his HO.OOyos betient I
forig line . That formed a support line. This must have bn
Abt 11 pm
two lines of our men - portions of the two first platoons protably
were, seen a little beyond our firing line - all lying dead, abbout
20 in one line & a dogen in 1 other I believe. They were actialy
men who got furtuest. I ws maj Bennett when he came up
w I feri line who gave Iorder to stay there & dig in. He didso on seei
that the live was so fas advanced of any other hil & wa being botted from
tanks
GM Sergl. Noonan 6tBn tells me to the Sk Br had abl100 men in te
angouts all time we were advancing & to these haw never joue 1 fight as
all- There were 500 7 of each o1 other Bno. He as not at all impressed w th 8t
 

58
behind Kncthia. They schas an impossible task, he sd
I waited the some time then returned, passing MasNichot apan
told him I ae get stretther bearers. Had got nearly to botow of bill
where we first emerged from coss when saw party of men on left.
was nearly dark -cd justsel them. Turned ont to be stulites bearers.
I asket if some wdl come with me. Id they were pay out to right-
hundreds there. I told them M Nichol woanded. Two men iimadiately odte
ad come, - & followed mo. It seeme a very just distance - we followed
line in dark to tonny's trench & over (on of them san of to attend &
man
tan for monent on way, who who was crydy out "strelh beaver
& came back aterfixing him). We asked at trich of MN. hedbn
carried in -to key thought some colonel had been. However we played
on. The way along that were seemed very long & I didn't like draying
the stiether bearers into it but they never hesitated. I ws beg inny
to think he must have be carried in-but decided to go right on 5 H.O.
I pass
you ionly just cee. I rauned carefully every one
at last found someone lying behind 3 packs w
s t cere
him in. Somehow we had sicked up his batuan in the Tomans
trench. He carred part of his kit + I took his pack. It was a very
long way back to the dressing station - under some trees down a bark.
a place was gten very ful. you i just iee te
two din lanterns by wh they did thris work. (I had to lend them
2 caudles the next night]. The ground cot Straon to woanded taking kind
aborybars garfet
turn; & the pat we constant succession of men limping along with
supportor - ginly woanded man also. A6t. 400yts purker ap along bank
was Makisons dressing ste, medical officer of 51 - be simply took
were
men who were not already treated at all - they constantly calling
across t know the way, & his clery voice answered across creek
directing he.
I made way back to old H.B. in creek bank - stumbled
up & down Ct. longtims before finding it – & into Matheesons place
once. It is extraording how dift it is to recopise places
by night, wt you know by day - looks Entirely strange county
Sincelly got to H.D. Found Chamberlai, brigadiers batuan
anxous to start up to H.Q. with the Brigadiers blanket Ct.
ofered to show him way there. Se trudged over same off hill again.
Cries of wounded all round who tought us strethes bearers were
most distressing. We cd only tel them D.C.s will come - there sad
to be none all atala
There were nambers of wounded in Tomings trench. For
heath
second time we followed across. it used to get taugh
round bush but we cd always find it going on.
When got to H.Q. found men there but Engadies
had gous on to firing line. The men in H.Q. were

 

working at deepening it - with 2 pades & one cntrichg tool. They
had sulled in around it several wounded men - 4 altopthw, I
think, certail 3. One was ty signaller wounde this beg. He was
still helping with signals tho aly broken - had telephons to sais
lyeng along top of trench, just outside it. When message came, wd
transfer received to care of man next him in French - at lest that
was as far as I cosee the proceeding. Behind as we lying the poor
voluateer from 8th Bn. shot thoo intertines in terrible pain. St
times crying like cheld - incolerently - asking for "doctor! doctor,
they asked if I had any mosphic - I found stme I had jiven me
& gave him. One togenge they dsopped so pue another, seemed quister
after that but soon was in pain again. Kept on rolling over onto broken
ly of signaller. Oh cant you keep him quiet - what does he want
to roll onto my leffer,s sipaller. Boys in trench tried to
readjust them - tol poos chap in pain - Try & be
still, dld man! It's best king for you - try & bear up." It ws all
they co do. He asked watte water & they maistened his lips. you must
not have it - for your own sake old chap they sd - as ho had wound in
abdomen. There was third wounded man bying around left front of dug
out - abrolutely quiet + an complainy - Only spoke when men asked
him how he was
Away to our right - 50 or 60 yards -we man always cryin
strether-bearer 1 stretcher bearer
a somewhere out in dark not
far away was another – they cried in rather dry, quavering voice. You
cd hear plenty of others further away calling always same
stretiher beaver, - & as one went over heat tat night
on every journey 600 8 men or more we call out to you asking
of you were stretches party, sometimes coherent, sometimes not.
who
One aressenger came ap to H.A. duy out, when wounded there
called for stretchen beaver sd: You want see them tonight
my boy - theyre rarer than gold - you wont get them along
here? It as an idiotic thi to say. You might let us think
we will "sdone of the wounded men feably.
The prijaties came back presently; sd men had day in
right of his ws all safe & Drakes connected with French (then
I wo in trenches next day message came alon saying this
was not so. Drakes had come up but not connected & god
still caisted between their right & French lep.) A policeman of
myself accordingly went back to H.Q. leaving Chamberliia
now H.C. As we were leaving I asked Ch. howthey were of for water.
atpiss
He tript tey were aliight but sentually just as we were
leaving told me they had only one waterbottle. I se
 

Brigadies & I searched plation to see if Monks were
dead or wounded - tere
we some doubt, we looked at every man
who had fallen near, were - I strack matches (sercened as far
as possible fom enemy) when we could not see a man's face.
New we passe were mosth dead poorchaps. I am not at all
sure one was not monts, but Brijadier said he was not. After
about t hour we gave it ap.
 

I'd see they got some more.
went back with Policeman (10. 6th trip across that heak
but fire was now spasmodic). Boygadies wo anxious to get
wattr & stretches bearers up & ashoms to do what I co abt
latter. I wvent to H.A.F toto them & then went on to the dressing
Str. I raw Chambers there & he sd al stretcher bearers
were fally at work, but cd I get message to A D.M.S. asking
for waggons or whiele transport to be sent to take wounded
from dressing sta to beach as S.6.s had to be used for this.
This explained it all - the awful counds of the wounded
up on that healt. As the brigadier had sd - the wounded must
be cleared from near firing line first, as it wd be impossible
t them there once day broke as no one cd cross the
to set.
heat except bolting like a rabbit & at immment rist
yet not one S.b. seemed get to have reached firing tine & it was
now pastmednight. I lef dressing ste to return when I thought
old cass might have jone through it - so I went back & happened
to find him judt being dressed. He i only speak in jasps, but
insisted on telling me what had happened (as I have already
written). Case wanted papers +
went back to Old HC in creek- found matterion, Doctor
of 516 Kero - he had be doing great work - going all night whenever
wanted. I I bolrowed water tin ( petrolim tin) got
is half full & was just starting 7th pirn over nt
batthsfield when news came by messenger: Brgadile
hit - was on way down to H.Q. to see abl getting up water
+ stretches bearers + food when Turks I suppose pt one of Neir
firing fits & he we hil too leg. Sent on messanger for stretcher
thatision with another chap + I with water tim at once
starte out to find him. Gould put us on wire to Rew H.Q.
& we followed it up hill searching carefully. Abt half way
up first slope Mattieson went off to sohe poor chap who
was calling. I left watestin near wire & went on for bit
searching along line. Mathiison twice called out if I had
any luck, but I cdnot find Brigadier. I went on-
past patch of scrabe this time passon it on its lep hand
side & so felt pretly sure I had the wrong line - we had
left it & piced up the wrong one. It led to Tommies Freend.
I thought better go on & make sure - so went over plation
apparently endlessty, hoping to godness Tarks would at
start firing again in one of their panics. The were finally
 

led to two chaps lying in shallow dug out, curted
under a paropes abt foot deep. They were the
signallers of the 8th Bn & the line must have for the 8th
Bn wire - but they didn't know where 8t were, & the wire
had been cat probably by a bullet. They told me that Bogate
H.D. had sone back to the old HD os to the tommnies truck.
So I went back again (journey 8). The cries of woundedwere
heartreading. The Tomnces trench was full of them - little
Matheeson had been upters attendang to them. Thee poor
cheps there badly wanted water.
I get went back down the hill, struck the wire
to the 8th up which I had come, searched for the old water
tin, & found it - much to my surprise, I decided to take it
right up to the firing time. However when I got to the wountd
in the tommiess trench one could not help giving the
soor chaps a drink. I told them I had very little to spure,
& they must be content with a little. We sot a mess tin
& handed a little down to each one in the trench or
under the parapet. they were as good as gold. Each
fellow took about two sips & then handed it back - realh
you could have cried to see how unselfict they were. One
fellow said - Here, Sir, I think this man would like
a drink- not himself, but the man next him. I
went over to him & bent over the wrong man in the dark
-but he pointed mne out this mate - him, Sir" he said.
The man he meant was hit in the head as back &
scarely now his head ow was lying on his face - &
at first we didn't think he ad be able to move his
head to get at the drink - he didnt seem to think he cd
himself; alto he was barely articulaly I cd understand
that much. I moistened his lips first & then we manager
to get his head into a position from which he could such
at the tin
It was late - 4 o'clock nearly - & there
was not a great deal of water in the tin - so I decided to
leave it at the timmies trech with the two Lancs. Tuselier
who were there, tfive to the wounded every now & ken.
I stanbled home through the gorse, falling heavily once or
twice. On my way I passed a poor fellow that I had
spoken to once before. He was groaning so much that I
had gone out to speak to him. Oh Lm. in agony " was