Transcript of extracts from diary of John George Cosson, 1915

Monday Dec 13^th 1915 
The 15th have left for Embros
and our 4th Brigade band has  
gone with them.  It sounded quite 
novel to hear the strains of 
music in the distance evidently 
on the beach.  The New Zealanders 
are leaving us, fine chaps, the 
14th are taking their place. 

Tuesday Dec. 14^th 
Got us tricked as to what is 
doing. The N.Z. and 15th also 
some of the 14th have gone 
away, but no one seems 
to know for sure, what is 
to be done with the 16th.  

Wednesday Dec. 15^th 
There is something in the wind 
as men are being sent away 
in dribs and drabs. If the  
Turks knew how few men were  
here, they would certainly have 
a go, and would cause some  
trouble 

Thursday Dec. 16^th 
As I have stated in my notes 
of Dec 14^th our people had us 
tricked, all sorts of reports 
were going round.  However 
today, there is no doubt as 
to what is to be done, although 
not officially announced.  Everything 
points to the early evacuation 
of the Peninsula.  It will be 
a thunderbolt to Australia. This 
morning I went down to beach, 
and what a sight, guns broken, 
ammunition by cartloads, gun carriages, 

stores of biscuits, bully and 
clothing all being, or to be  
sacrificed.  There is no doubt 
this peninsula part of the war has 
been the greatest failure.  I do 
not know how our war office 
people will look at it.  It 
looks as though we will be some 
of the last to leave. 

Friday Dec. 17^th 
Think we will be making 
a general retreat tonight, and 
when Jacko finds out, we are 
sure to get some hurry up in 
the way of shells.  
It is now about 7 pm.  All the  
Batt. officers met about 6 o’clock 
but what the instructions to  
Company were, we do not know. 
Likely to move off at any time now 
Twenty of my old Coy (C) have the  
honoured position of covering the 

retirement of machine guns. Jacko's 
plane or taube appeared this 
afternoon, but he kept at a great 
height, our machine guns rattled 
away.  I have my pack ready, 
only taking one blanket, almost 
feel sorry to leave the old dugout. 
All Hospital tents are left 
standing, but empty, and work 
is going on just the same.  This 
is all done to deceive the Turks 
who will get a shock in a 
few hours time.  It will 
indeed be a good piece of work 
if we get away without losing 
any men. It is ideal weather 
for the job, a fine calm sea 
and a lovely moonlight night. 
Everything is quiet, just a few 
rifle shots, but there will no 
doubt be some heavy firing from 
warships when we move off. 
8.45pm.  Nine of our chaps have 
been warned to be ready to 

move off at a minute’s notice, so 
that is the start as far as our  
Company is concerned. 
Everything is still quiet. 

Saturday Dec. 18^th
9.am.   The nine men who were to go 
last night remained, the order to move 
off being cancelled.  The night 
was very quiet and so is this morning  
A heavy mist was hanging about, but 
the weather is grand.  A lot of 
the boys are sitting outside dugouts 
talking of the past; Jacko has just 
started to send a few shells to beach  
Our guns are now sending a few 
shells over. 
Just been told in confidence the  
whole arrangement for the retirement. 
22 of "B" Company have been selected 
for the honoured position of holding 
post to the last, I am pleased to be  
one of the 22.  Units are to be sent 
away at intervals until the whole of 
the Battalion is gone, except the Machine 
Gun section, which will hang on till 

ordered to retire.  We then hold position 
until ordered to abandon post, when we 
leave our blankets behind in trenches, 
so as to be as light as possible to 
march smartly and quietly to beach. 
Our packs are to be taken on in 
advance of us, so that will make it 
fairly easy for us to get through 
without a halt.  The final is sure 
to be an exciting time even if we 
get away without Jacko discovering 
it, which I hope we do. Any 
wounded are to be left behind.  A 
party of A.M.C having volunteered 
to stay behind and look after them 
and if cannot get away will 
surrender themselves.  Good on 
you A.M.C. boys!  It is to be hoped 
your sacrifice will not be needed. 

Sunday. Dec 19^th.
The evacuation has started in earnest 
Last night we took over our final 
post at Stafford Gully which a few 
of the 14th were holding when we 
arrived, among them was S.M. Jacka
V.C., a sturdy little chap.  I was on 
patrol, it was a bright moonlight 

night and not cold, we have all 
had a scratch breakfast.  It is 
now very quiet, and will imshi
some time tonight, and thus will 
end our work at Gallipoli. 
Our aeroplanes are hovering 
around and over the sea frontage 
evidently on the lookout for subs.  A 
few shells of ours are going over 
our heads into Jacko’s trenches. 
  
Monday Dec 20^th.
2pm  Well the trick was done, 
and well done, and will no 
doubt be handed down as one  
of the brainiest events of the war. 
The boys from "B" Coy got away 
smart to time; 9.5 pm.  Another 
chap and I took post at 9.pm 
and the balance of our 22 men 
with Lieut. Adams in charge, were 
distributed along the lines, of 
course there were not enough 
of us to man all the posts. 
Soon after 9 a very heavy 

bombardment was started at some 
point near Achi Barber, but along 
our line nothing occurred to make 
this eventful night differ from previous 
nights.  An occasional rat, tat, tat 
from machine guns and a bit of rifle 
fire at intervals.  At times the night 
(a lovely moonlight one) was very quiet. 
As the time went on our numbers 
grew smaller.  Punctual to time 
the machine gun section got away 
leaving 22 of us to cover their going. 
Jacko did not show the slightest sign 
that he knew of our going and everything 
promised a successful and bloodless 
evacuation.   At 1.55 Lieut. Adams 
with the men on my post left.  We  
had decided to throw our packs off.  I  
also threw away all but 20 rounds of 
ammunition, my pack then consisted 
of greatcoat, oilskin coat, haversack with 
part of a tin of jam and one of butter, 
we had finished all my biscuits during 
the night. 
When we all met at Headquarters - it 
was done so well that we did not 
even stop, but continued on pretty 
solidly as far as No 4 hospital when 
the pace eased. We were timed to  
reach Williams Jetty at 2.50 and arrived 
at 2.40, marched straight on board 
troop punt and half an hour later  
were safely on board Z38 Prince Abbass. 
About this time the only men left  
at Anzac were 40 at Walker’s Ridge 
which was the last position to be 

left and which acted as a covering 
position for those on the right.  It would 
be about 3.30am when Walker’s Ridge 
partly made a bolt from their 
post and made for pier the shortest 
and quickest way.  All arrived safely  
 on troop barge which quickly got under 
way with last of the troops, so I had 
the honour to be on last but one 
barge to leave. The great success of 
the whole evacuation speaks for itself 
when, I believe, 2 killed and 3  
wounded were the only casualties, 
and that was during the evening 
when the Turks exploded a mine 
up Walker’s Ridge way.  The whole 
thing was carefully and well carried  
out. The “Prince Abbass” left Anzac 
at 5 am and arrived at at Lemnos
at about 9. at which place we are to 
land and camp for further orders 

Tuesday Dec. 21^st   
We were not long in getting ashore 
yesterday afternoon.  Our camp is 
known as East Mudros and is 
about a mile from landing place. 
We soon got going to camp and 
all the way the march was lined 
with men who had left Gallipoli 
earlier and they cheered us with 
good hearty lungs.  About 5 pm 

we arrived at camp and our chaps 
of the 16^th Batt. cheered themselves 
hoarse as we marched past. 
After the march we formed up in 
close column and Brigadier General 
Monash made a short speech of 
congratulation in which he referred  
in glowing terms to the splendid  
accomplishment of the night before 
and the way those who were picked 
to hold the post till the last 
carried out their work.  The 
General stated that the evacuation  
was unique in the history of 
the world, in that 45000 troops 
were removed unknown to the 
enemy, who in places were no more 
than ten yds apart.  After the 
General had finished we gave 
him three hearty cheers also three 
for our Major Margolan who was a 
proud man, his face beaming with 
smiles.  According to General Monash 
there were no casualties.  When we 
were dismissed a general handshake  
with our Company comrades. on our safe 
arrival ended a most trying time.  We 
soon got to our quarters and after a 
bit of bully and biscuits, turned in.