Diary of Herbert Gilles Watson, DFC, 1914 - 1916 - Part 4

make sure: a cloud of smoke rose from
the water; the ship heeled over & turned
turtle in less than 10 minutes: a
fleet of destroyers & pinnaces rushed to
the rescue & brought off the men: we
could see the sailors diving off the
deck as she heeled over; it was a
never to be forgotten sight; we are
now looking out for the sub: which
is thought to be a German. we
heard the S.O.S. messages in our Stn.

everyone now thinks he can see the
periscope of a sub: a flock of birds, a
spent bullet etc. are all subs. The tyne
between the torpeoding & sinking of the
Triumph was 8 minutes: over 400 men
were drowned: there are over 30 destroyers
scouting round here now: 4 pm. Dead
Jack Tars are already beginning to float
in to shore. They had stood to their
post until the last. The sub. so far
has been twice seen, but has not been

caught yet
May 26. News has just come through that
1 German & 1 Austrian sub. have been
sunk by our destroyers: so we feel far
happier. Altho. there are still 2 more left.
11AM. We have just heard that H M.S.
Goliath has been sunk off Cape Hellas. &
that the Sub. who sank her was blown
up. 3 pm. Hurrah: our sub. A 14. went
up the Dards. & sank 4 transports & 2
Gunboats, drowning over 3000 Turks:
Things here have been quiet with the
exception of a Taube, which dropped a
few bombs, but did no damage; a
large number of Transports with fresh
reinforcements have arrived, in anticipation
of a big attack the Turks have threatened
to make. more prisoners are coming
in & all are full up of the job & we
are getting a shelling now, so are
keeping snug under our dugouts: 7pm.
The shells are now coming in fast & our

aeriels have been shot away. so we
had to turn out & mend them. This
has been accomplished without mishap
May 27. We have just heard, that
H.M.S. Majestic has been sunk, two
miles off Lemnos; all the Crew were
saved: things are very quiet here
today, but shrapnel will start again
before long I expect: more reinforcement
have just been landed: our chaps
took 150 yards of trenches last night
May 28: The first of our Troop to be
shot. Lanyon has his leg shot through
at the knee: he has been sent away.
things are quiet: two or three shells
bursting over our Station: we only
have 3 destroyers looking after us
now: instead of 11 warships: 5 Greek
refugees, who had been pressed into
service by Turkey. came in today
May 29. Very heavy attack by the
Turks, all along our front; after
blowing up one of our trenches. they
Started, at 2AM. & continued until 8 AM.
fighting was very hot & fierce: our losses
about 200. Turks well over 1000 beside
prisoners: we took two lines of trenches
we have just been told that we -
the L.H.B.S.F - will shortly proceed to
Alexandria from Thence go on to
France for despatch & patrol work, I
hope so: provided it is not too cold. -
got mail & wrote 4 letters: Our aeroplanes
have just passed over & dropped bombs
on Gaba Tepe & the Turks Trenches. the
enemy fired at them, but missed by
miles every time
May 30: Very heavy attack by Turks, who
were beaten off. they cut off one of our
outposts of 15 men, who are still cut of
with no ammn. food or water. we are to
try & rescue them tonight; our chaps took
a trench to day & lost it again by the usual
Counts-attack. a Taube flew over us today

& was driven off by our airmen: we
expect a big attack tonight: we have
to keep very close in now, as snipers
are potting all round our Stn: we
are on look out for them.
May 31. Submarine scare again: all
destroyers on the look out: 4pm: went
up to the fire trench about 1½ miles
up the hill: saw hundreds of dead
Turks just in front of our Trenches: also
one of our chaps: he had been
stripped of all his clothes, a bayonet
stuck through his neck & then thrown
over the side of the trench; we
dodged a few bullets; stink of dead
terrible 
Drawing - see original 
1 M. guns & fire parties
June 1. Quiet all day. not much firing.
we were driven out of our bathe by
a few shraps. but finished as soon
as they p.w: two men were hit
alongside us: only slight wounds our
casualties to date and approx. 12,000

& the British & French 42000: we smashed
up a big Train of mules & Turks this pm.
June 2. Quiet all day. Snipers busy
along the Beach. 3 men being shot
near us; a few shraps. passed round,
but we treat these things now as so
much dirt being thrown
June 3. Very quiet all day. we tried to
shoot a few snipers: but one of our lot
was killed & three wounded. so the
destroyers shelled, their position. the
HMS Talbot fired of broadsides into
Anno  Farta & killed a few hundred
Turks 3p. Feeney & I went up the hill &
were sniped at;  we then had a
machine gun turned on us. which
cut up the track all round us. we
beat a hasty retreat
June 4. Got mail, things quiet until
2 PM. when 5 Dreadnaughts started
to bombard the forts of the Dardanelles
& kick up a large noise: several

men, who were badly wounded by
our own shells have been brought in.
its bad enough to get hit by enemy,
but crook by our own chaps: 4 were
killed & 9 wounded by a premature
burst: we have just blown up a
landmine & killed a few Turks.
June 5. Very heavy fighting all night
we took a 50y. Trench. but out of
150 who charged only 50 got there
our losses over 200. Turks 1000.. we
have just brought in 50 prisoners: of
which 20 are wounded: heavy
bombarding of beach all day. a
fair number of men being outed by
shrapnel & lyddite: pickel boats. Nearly
hit: Turks have been shelling our
Hospital ship: things are much
quieter now: Snipers are picking
men off just round the corner of
our Stn.
June 6. Things quiet all day: few
shells etc but nothing out of ordinary:
several absurd rumors about: 7 PM.
lost my pipe. that Dick Kerr gave me.
one mascot gone: are having a hard
run for it: 8 PM: Our destroyers. Pincher
& Rattlesnake just blowing up hills y.
preparty. to our trying to take lame;
snipers nearly caught a few of us
unawares
June 7: Fair amount of shrapnel: a few
8" shells fell alongside our station: a
few chaps have been blown to pieces on
the beach: legs & arms being collected
& put in sacks, one poor devil, was driven
half through his mate by the force of
the concussion of shell: another man
had his legs blown off at the thigh &
thrown 20 feet away: another chap: alive
now had 2 arms & 1 leg blown off: it is
awful the mess these big shells make
of a man: one shell has hit a man &
exploded, we couldn't even find

an arm after the smoke died away.
names of places here.
Snipers Ridge: Shrapnel Valley,
Dead Mans Gully: Suicide Lane
Deaths Valley: Quinns Post:
Walkers Head: heavy fights here
every night near our Stn.
June 8: We attacked Quinns Post:
took a trench & lost it again: also 100
men: otherwise things are very
quiet: we swim all day. regardless
of shrapnel & bullets. flies are an
awful nuisance. as is the stink of
dead soldiers & refuse. Interic &
dsyntery are breaking out in our
Troops: 50m. Turks are dragging up a
big gun with a traction engine: So
look out for fun tomorrow. The first
Monitor appeared today & was very
well received: carries to big guns &
cant be torpoedoed
June 9. Very quiet all day: gale

starting to blow: plenty of sands flies &
inconvenience: hundreds of vultures
are hovering over the dead bodies &
pick until we drive them off with
our rifles
June 10. Sunday: quiet until evening
they are now giving us a few shrap.
scattering the chaps in the dugouts
but doing no great harm
June 11. Shrapnel & percussn. all the
morning. 50 shells bursting within
an area of 30 yards from our Stn. our
stove, mask. petrol drums, reels etc. were
all riddled & we picked up hundreds
of bullets all round & on top of our
dugout: 5pm: a chap. who has just
been bathing. was shot dead alongside
our mast whilst drying himself: The
bullet passed clean through his
head: 5 men were killed & several
wounded near our far mast. 70 feet
away. by shrapnel. one chap was

torn to pieces.
June 12. A fair amount of shrapnel on
the beach. 50 men being killed &
wounded; including a few Indians
M.G. 21: things in the trenches are
quiet: nothing to be seen except an
occasional Turk digging about 500
yards away from us. Snipers busy.
one or two our chap being hit: got
letter from Lionel: flies fearful: millions
in our tea: stew. jam etc: they are
"beyond reason"
June 13. We were shelled out of our
dugouts this morning by shrapnel &
lyddite: 14 shrapnel bullets went
through my oilproof overcoat &
several bullets missed my head
by less than an inch. it was one
of my narrowest escapes. The shells
seemed to shriek right into the
dug: it is nice sensation & as
the gun cant be put out of action
owing to the skilful way it is
concealed. we may expect more tomorrow. 

we all got whiffs of the
lyddites fumes, but not strong enough
to seriously affect us: we are going
to prepare a [[f h?]]: 2 cruisers. the
first since the Triumph & M. were.
sunk. did a bit of bombarding this
morning & killed a few doz. Turks.
we have just been told we go to
German West Africa in a few days.
dont know how true it is: 6 15 one
of our Aeroplanes has just passed
over us. the Turks fired Shrapnel &
machine guns at it but missed. she
dropped, three bombs in the Turks
trenches fired a mac-gun at them
it was a great sight to see the hill
appear to go up: we have just heard
that she killed a large number of the
enemy
June 14. Several men shot near us

today otherwise things quiet: we
have dug ourselves bomb proof shelters
as guns are firing at us from the
Salt Lake: we have been promised
good news in two days. I have
been nearly blinded & choked by
lyddite fumes. Several Shells have
just fallen in our enclosure
June 15: A few shells Monitor put in
a few shots: a destroyer & Turkish
battery had a duel. The destroyer.
winning by putting enemys guns out
of action. have decided to turn
dithery down as she hasnt bothered
to write for over 4 months. & I m sick
of writing & getting no replies: "out
of sight out of mind": one of the things
we look for most of all is mail. &
we dont & cant get too much: we have
been issued with pads for asphyxiating
gas.it is feared the Turks will use
same: a bit of artillery fire is going on
June 16. Incessant artillery fire from
Turks all day: a number of men were
killed & wounded on our beach: & dozens
had, wonderful escapes: I saw one
shell lob in a dugout - where 3 chaps
were, which didnt explode: several
others were as close: we expect a
very heavy attack tonight: the
English are coming up fast: they
only want Achi Baba & we are O.K.
June 17. Again we have had to dodge
Shrapnel all day: a few were hit. one
poor devil got this head & legs blown
Completely off: 6 pm. an aeroplane has
just passed overhead & dropped two
bombs on Gaba Tepe: we saw the
bombs leave the Aero. followed
them down until they reached their
target: Shrapnel & lyddite is just
starting again; our "good night" of
late: We have just heard that HMS
Canopus has been sunk by a Sub.

we saw a steamer sink this morning
at Cape Hellas, by means of a glass.
but hope it was not the Canopus
June 18: Steamer that was torpdd.
was a trawler, with all our mails
aboard: another smack in the eye
for the boys: all our destroyers &
mine sweepers are searching for
Sub. Things have been fairly quiet
all day. Monitor silenced a few
guns. Still we expect our "q.n. shrap
in a few minutes: destroyers are
just shelling no 3. outpost: we
can see Turks going in all directions
an Austn was shot dead alongside
me by a sniper. I heard the bullet
zip up & crash into his head: he
dropped like a log 11pm. Turks are
bombarding us with 8" & 4.5" shells
sleep is impossible & star shells light
up the ridges as bright as day
June 19. An Aeroplane is just passing

over us, dropping bombs; with the
exception of a few shraps. thing's are
quiet so far.
June 20. Shraps & lyddite to open the
day & a few to close up; things
along the front are very quiet. very
little rifle fire going on. 7 PM. Nearly
fell in. I went up ridge to have a
look at destroyers fire on Snipers ridge.
when the Turks turned a m. gun on me
about 20 shots nearly got me before I
reached a safe spot: 11 pm. heavy rifle
fire now going on. Turks must be attkg
June 21: One of heaviest bombardments
So far. Trench adv. a mile: fearful
losses both sides: I was shot at by
sniper: very hot: Am going to
Mudros tonight in mine sweeper.
June 22: Had nice quiet day at Maidos
what a change from eternal shrapnel
27 battleships in port. 10 F. 17 B.

June 23. Went to Imbros. had good time 

& concert with Surry Yoemanry: landed
back at Gallipoli at 7 pm. welcomed
with few shraps
June 24: Very hot on beach with
shrapnel: one shell bursting near
us killed 3 & wounded 14 men:
bodies from first landing just beginning 

to wash ashore, in fearfully
mutilated & decomposed condition:
it is feared Turks are going to
make a gas attack tonight
June 25: A lot of shrapnel & lyddite.
but very few effective owing to new
beach orders. A Taube had just
flown over us & dropped phamplets
No attack last night otherwise quiet.
Jun 26: Exceptionally heavy shelling
just ceased, howitzers & field guns
getting our station a treat. shots went
through our covering & buried in the
woodwork: a couple of men hit
near us. & several more down the beach

I have just got a couple of the shrap. Caps.
All is quiet now for a while: a man just
shot in the water
June 27. Today. being Turks feast day etc.
very heavy bombarding & attacking; all
futile attempts to storm our pos: we lost
heavily; mostly per shrapnel; three
men just hit on beach by high explos.
shell; can only find three legs & a
fearful, mess of what was once their big
N.Zs: 2 Austns killed by shrap, one
man being blown to bits. we have all
had very narrow escapes today: our

total losses possibly about 100 for day.
one man alive & good chance of recovg:
with 27 bullets in him: another with jaw
nose blown away by exp. bullet. still
alive & conscious
June 28. Easily the hottest day to date.
a 6" shell knocked half our stn. down.
nearly smothered us all in dirt & smoke
had it hit 1 ft. to left. finish all of us.

shrapnel & lyddite up to 9" has been
incessant all day. many men were
hit on beach but we seemed to bear
a charmed life; the strain is
telling on two of us. & the balance (4)
are getting decidedly jumpy: its no
wonder: some 400 shells must have
fallen within 200 yards of us. hitting
& blowing to atoms, many chaps, but
missing us all by " teles: seagulls
our chaps just taken 700 yds. trend
300 casualties: destroyers going full
tilt up & down: firing as hard as they
Can go
June 29. Not quiet so hot. Still a lot
of big shells have fallen near us -
very heavy firing going on down
south: one 9" shell burst in our sap.
fortunately no one near: I feel a bit
knocked up & nervy. - its no wonder
11 PM. Turks have just made a heavy
attack, aided by furious storm that

has just risen: Things were serious for
a while, but we eventually beat them
back with enormous losses, we lost
6 killed 17 wounded: also took 50 prisoners
June 30: Quiet. except for heavy seas that
have washed all our barges ashore: &
a few odd shells
July 1. Heavy storm wet & cold. no shelter
things. u.t p. we got about 20 shells over
our stn at 6 AM. since then, all quiet
the enemys losses in attack two days
ago. 1700 killed & over 5000 wounded: ours
about 300: mostly slight wounds
July 2 Quiet all day; windy & cold.
heavy fighting going on down at the
Anglo-French front; just had four big
shells over.
July 3: Got to shift stn. over to outpost #2.
Left Flank. owing to heavy shelling we
get: After dark; we have our packs on
mules & creep along the beach. out to
Sylva. the slightest sound would draw