Diary of Jason Leslie Boyd Coulter, 1915 - Part 2

a red hot time. heavy fire all
night no sleep since we left
the boat. Now falling asleep
waiting reinforcements, must
soon have them or God knows
what will happen - Sle
Tuesday. Still holding out not
many casualties shells flying
in hundreds also rifle fire
2-30. Holding our position still
fire awful, like Hell or
Worse _ one of our destroyers
sunk _ nearly dead beat for
sleep & tucker - men fighting
like the devil - every man an
hero - not a "cold foot" amongst
us _ here _
Wed. Heavy fire until midnight 
then a lull until
daybreak _ they made a
charge for our trenches
but we drove them back
with heavy loss _
3PM. Fairly quiet expect another
charge tonight. Guns from
warships still firing heavy
Shells- Price killed
McCarmen killed next to me
Thurs. A stiff night. dreadfully
Cold. no charge as expected
but heavy rifle fire, sniping.
very annoying & doing a lot
of damage. Casualties small
2.30. Heavy Shrapnel fire from
enemy answered by our
Artillery which is doing good
work. Been in trenches now
Fri since Sunday night _ 
Friday. Relieved from trenches by
the 3^rd. Brigade thank God
too, dead beat for want of
sleep _ will have 3 days
spell back on the beach,
2.30 Fixed up in dug-outs on
the beach - Marines landed
expecting big reinforcements of
Indian troops - plenty of
shrapnel falling around
us & spent bullets, one man
of ours just shot dead washing
his hands in the sea - so one
has to be careful -
m   
Sat     Marines made a charge last 
1^st        night & cut up a few hundred
May   Turks _went & saw my
old old mates in the 2nd - 
many of the boys have been
Killed especially my 2 special
mates. Charlie Topliffe & Williams,
Capt Dale made O.C of C. Coy
   "  Ham comes to D in his place
I am made a Lce Corporal
Graham 2^nd in Command 

Sunday May 2^nd
A week today since landing - 
what horrors & changes in
our ranks since last Sunday.
Only had one day's rest, have
to go into the firing line again
All hustle getting away _ 
Something going to be done this
coming week _ Still heavy
losses _ Heavy firing _
Take no notice of the bullets
whizzing by now _ As I
write shells are bursting
all around.
Mon 3^rd. Heavy shelling & rifle
fire on our trenches -
3 men killed 2 wounded
from the 8^th Batt.
1.30. Another man just shot in
the leg _ our numbers getting
smaller. I am Going out on
a risky trip this afternoon
x i.e. putting barb-wire out
in front of our trenches.
Had a great dinner today
green peas (tinned) mixed with
potatoes onions & bully beef.
Tues 4^th Quiet day today _
a couple of men shot _
4^th Brigade had a bad
time last night _ Have
been digging support - 
trenches all day_
Have to go out again tonight _
Not much rest _ just snatch
a wink when one can _
We go for another 24 hours
spell tomorrow, down to
the beach _ it is only about
¾ mile from our position.
Still holding our position
easily _ Turks very quiet
today _ a few shells
this morning burst
a few yards from our
“bivy”. I say expect the
Turks will make it lively
tonight. This is the quietest
day since being here _
Wednesday 5^th Turks attempted
to rush our trenches, could be
heard 50 yards away talking -
evidently disagreeing _ came -
no closer _ left for the beach
this morning & hope we are
for 24 hours spell _ 
2-30 Order just came to have
water bottle full, rations ammunition
to be ready to move out - We
expect to go any moment now
Thus endeth our spell
4-30 a piece of shell just
grazed my head & fell
at Grahams feet - whilst

we were having tea -
just reminds us of how close
we are to going out for
good. Nearly as bad here
as in firing line _
Thursday 6^th
Left last night 3am for Cape Helles
the South of Peninsular right
in the Dardanelles - on a
Battle Ship _ only 14 miles from
our 1^st place. Took about
an hour, landed at 6 a.m.
and marched & entrenched
just behind firing line (about
¼ mile _ spelled all
day. The French, Tommies, &
Dublin Fusiliers & Algerians
are in the front trenches _
Poor Hect. Hallam Sergt badly wounded.
Friday - 7^th Not called out
last night _ Our Allies did
good work took all trenches
except one from the enemy
who tried to retake them
last night but were repulsed _
hundreds of wounded being
brought back. Expect to
take our turn sometime
today _ Some of our chaps
hit with stray shrapnel -
last night _ 
Sat 8^th 12-30 Advanced towards
Aka-Babi Fort &
Hala Village going to
have a lively time now
just halted for a few
minutes spell _
Jxxx
Sunday 9^th —
Monday 10^th —
Tuesday 11^th 12.30
I stopped a bullet in the head
(only scalp wound) on Sat. just
before moving - got it dressed
& started after the Coy. only
20 minutes but could not
find them _ got in with
Plymouth Royal Marines
Sir A McLewin in charge -
advanced with them, crawled
along a turkish trench over
the dead - about 1 every 10
yards, also some of our
own men _ just after dark
we went ahead - no trenches
all flat country, crossed
white road to the right. 2
machines guns on us a hail of
lead  _ not 100 yards from
Turks Trenches, platoon cut
up - only 7 of us got 

Got a bullet on my cap badge
back to Turks Trenches 
about 2 a.m. laid down 
amongst the dead & wounded
crys for Stretcher bearers
all about. Wounded crying
for help _ bound up many
& covered them up. God
it was terrible _ at daybreak
got up no sleep. I buried
3 of our men (Marines)
pushed back to try & find
fo my own Battalion & Coy.
SUndayxxxx Found some
stragglers of the 8^th in a 
gully _ rested till 12 am
went ahead sniped at 
all the time _ got to the
support trenches & stayed
Volunteered to carry a
wounded Sergt of the 7^th
back to dressing station _
a hell of a time getting there.
Carry a man with a
shattered leg on an overcoat
over rough ground no joke _
Came across 2 more wounded
came back with stretchers
for them _ then to find
my way back to trenches
2 o'clock in the morning
on my own, bullets flying
got there at last _ Slept
till morning 9 a.m_ 
Monday 
10 A party to bury the
dead near trenches was
digging when a bullet
struck the badge of my 
cap about ½ inch from
other hole _ must have
been spent - did not 
go through _ stayed in
Support trench until
afternoon, went into 
firing line with 5^th Batt,
crowded out, ordered
out _ helped carry a
machine gun man
from 8^th (Poulting) shot 
thro' head _ till stretcher
came _ got to gully &
about 3 am _ slept
till 10 o'clock & here
I am on Tuesday morning
forgot _ got a bullet thro my
pants Cut my leg slightly
Three hits & still kicking
Tues. Just heard we are to be
relieved today _ heard
nothing of Graham praying
he is alright _ Capt Fossingham
& lieut Garside killed
Col. Anderson & God knows
how many more Can't
be many of us left _
Australians doing most

of the work _ advancing 
on Sat. night advanced the
firing line 300 yards _
Wed 13^th Came out of
trenches for a spell. 3 of
the hottest days we have
had, one continual fire
all the time, our Platoon
18 strong out of 45. Went
to dressing station & got 
my leg & head dressed again,
spent night there _ rained
heavy, Slept like a log _
best sleep since leaving boat.
Met Graham quite well he is
made O.C. of the Batt.
I am made full Corporal.
Our Brigade lost close on 3,000
men _
Thurs 14^th Camped near beach
but no too comfortable _ Heavy
guns firing from Aki Balu
all round us, every shell
killing somebody _ digging in
as fast as we can.
Sooner be in trenches.
Capt. Hunter killed _
from Bendigo _
As soon as shells cease
am going to get head dressed
& leg again _ RAMC
men good fellows.
Lost many men last engagement
57 buried in one grave _
too horrible for words
one cannot express the horror
of this war _ wounded everywhere
Crying out for help _ A M. Corps
quite inadequate for this
sort of Campaign _ helped 
Carry 2 men who had lain
for 28 hours in awful agony.
Friday 15 Hear we are to move
again _ back to Kaba Tete
where rest of Aust. are.
Shells whizzing everywhere.
Sat 16 Still camping expect
move anytime _ Thousands 
of troops landing French, Algerians
& Tommies _
Sunday 17 Moved from Cape
Helles to "Tete" on "Ionian" landed
Monday morning under fire
dug in again. bad place for
camp many men getting
hit with shrapnel - a

monotonous cry is "Stretcher
Bearers _
Monday. 18. Have to keep ready to
reinforce 1^st Brigade who are
up in Trenches. Continually getting
men hit with shrapnel _
Tuesday 19 Still in our dug outs or
burrows, hardly dare to show
our nose out _ V. Monotonous.
Wednesday 20 Orders to sleep in
equipment ready to move at a 
moments notice, all last night 
heavy firing _ Turks must have
tried to take our trenches, havn't 
heard yet _ told they have been reinforced
by 12000 men _ hope not true _ 
We are off again to trenches in
firing line _ have to run the
gauntlet of heavy rifle & machine
fire along a steep path to
get there. Sure to lose some
men _ Goodbye if I can't Continue
this _
Thursday 21^st We got to trenches
with only a few wounded _ 
sent back to our "resting" place
as no room in firing line _ Just heard
Turks rushed our trenches got as
far as parapets some dropped 
in trenches, bayonets & rifles
used _ drove them back with
heavy loss. They are game enough.
reported thousands of Turks
casualties _ our own very
big also _ I am in charge of
burial party this morning
They are bringing our dead in
up to now have buried 25
& still coming in, scene & sights
something awful _ from 6 to 15
or more in one grave _ a Chaplain
reads one service over all.
The wounded coming down in
hundreds along this track _ 
Some on stretchers, some
carried on backs & hands
limping & crawling. God what
sights some are _ German
Taube just passed over, so
we can expect some Shrapnel
shells soon in this gully _
Nearly all our men busy
this morning making a safe
road to the beach from the
firing line _ Colonel Bolton
going to leave us, invalided
home. Col. Wanliss our
Brigadier now _ all sorry to 
lose our Colonel. My promotion to Corporal
confirmed as from 6-5-15. Also
G. Crocker as Sergt.
Sunday. Not had time to write up
since Thursday _ Syd's birthday
Friday 21 Sent into firing line on 
Thursday night _ on our way
heavy shrapnel fire as we 
advanced _ one of my section
poor young Bennett killed
piece of shell struck him
nearly severed his head.

Friday 22^nd. In trenches _ Turks
approached with white flag
wanted to bury dead _ 
allowed them 2 hours. They
only buried a few & retired, found
out they only wanted to quiz
our position _ as soon as
they got back we opened out
on them our guns searching
their trenches, must have
killed many _
Sat 22^nd Lively time last
night _ Turks rushed trenches _
mounted our parapets _
bayoneted them as they came
shot them down like rabbits
they lost their head _ didn't
seem to know what they
were to do _ Australian
oaths poured out as well as
our bullets _ fought like
hell _ we just went mad
I think what with our yells
& the Turks war cry "Allah allah"
it was awful, we fought
& pulled each other down to 
get at them _ no one afraid
everyone wanted blood.
Quite satisfied we are barbarians
& what a sight this morning _
piles of enemy all around
& in our trenches & few men
back there are rows & rows
of their supports mowed
down by our Machine guns.
There is the usual sad event
on our side too _ many of
our lads have shouldered 
their rifle for the last time.
Odd ones are lying amongst
the dead Turks - Don't know
how many yet - going to try
and dig up a bit to eat now
feeling awfully hungry I am
ashamed to say.
2 o'clock - Reported 7000 Casualties
on enemies side _ by the look of
them lying about must be nearly 
right. Our killed were 28 xx
& about 200 wounded _ Capt.
Wallech, Col Brand & Sergt Hancock
of the 2^nd killed _
Sunday 23^rd. Came out of trenches
last night & returned to our "dugouts"
dead tired & weary, after reaction 
sets in, one feels pretty sick of
it _  Spell today _ Went to Communion 
Service at 7 am this morning _
Graham, self & Gordon Crocker & about
20 or more _ held in a little hollow
of the hills _ with the music of
bullets for accompaniment
"Peace & Good Will towards men"
What does it mean _
Kneeling there with the Solemn
words of the Chaplain _ with
death all around . One wonders
how God works it out

Sunday 23^rd night. Have had a
nice quiet day no work _ a 
mail was delivered but none for
me _ I feel like an outcast again.
I know they have gone astray since
joining the 8^th. Graham got one.
What excitement it means
when the mail arrives _
Good night. Sunday the 23^rd
tomorrow 'Empire Day'
Mon 24^th Empire Day.
No fighting today till 4 pm.
Turks asked for armistice
of 8 hours to bury their
dead. Granted _
Official printed report on 
the attack of Turks on 
our position.
On Thurs evening a Turkish staff
& 2 med. off. approached with
white flag & Red Crescents same
as our red Cross. One of our
Commanders went & met them _
They said they wanted to remove
their dead / wounded _ but the
time & also the fact that their
trenches were lined with 2 rows
of armed turks with bayonets
bristling in the evening light _ They
were told to return in the morning.
They were told that hostilities 
would resume in 10 mins.
They withdrew & we had not long
to wait to see through the
ruse they contemplated _ & to see
that under the Cloak of humanity
the enemy were seeking to gain
the advantage of the darkness
in order to escape the fire of 
our guns which had caused
them so dearly in their last
assault. From the Turk trenches
advanced unarmed men behind
which were thousands in mass
of fully armed soldiers, they
used the unarmed as a screen _
Thinking we would be deceived
they were giving them surrendering,
but we saw thro' it _
They made a rush but we 
beat them off easily with
great slaughter__
Tues 25. Came back to our "dugouts"
again, went again into
trenches at night _ Triuxxxmph sunk
Wed 26. Had change 8 men on observation 
post  nothing doing much _
one man just shot thro' head
belonging to 7^th _ Letter from Mother
dated 7^th April.
Forgot on Tuesday an awful catastrophe
happened our friend the "Triumph"
large warship _ who has been with
us all thro" was sunk by a
Turk. torpedo _ we all saw her
go _ it was awful to watch
her heel over & sink with

hundreds of the crew clinging to
her _ about 70 or 80 went with
her _ it has cast a gloom over
us all.
Thurs 27. Just got a word that 
another of our warships was sunk
at C. Helles last xx night. the
Majestic _ That makes 6 in this 
part. A terrible loss this means
to us _ as we always advance
under the protection of their fire. Things
were lively last night _ havn't
heard yet what was doing but
heard plenty of firing _ Some of
our slightly wounded returned today,
also about 200 reinforcements to
make up our strength_
Friday 28 Light Horse advanced & 
took about 60 prisoners
took Turks trenches. Heavy loss on
Turks side also many on our
own _ Heavy Shell fire all thro'
night. We had 11 killed & 19 wounded
in the 8^th. (McLean killed)
Saturday 29. We went up in Support
trenches. plenty of sniping _
Sunday 30. Quiet day very little
fighting.
Monday 31. Went in charge of 21 men
to make "hand grenades" or
(small bomb) monobel & shot, etc
with Capt Waite D.S.O.  R.E. N.Z.
Tuesday 1^st June. Wounded in legs
Wednes 2^nd  "  on way to Lemnos
Thursday 3^rd Tuesdays diary to
write up _ On Tuesday morning
I had my men digging out place to
make the "bombs" when a shell
burst right over us (22) Out of
the lot two of us were hit -
I got one in my left leg, just above knee
& it stopped there somewhere
on the bone _ now thought my
leg was gone when it hit very 
painful carried down to beach
& got it dressed Dr would not 
try & take it out so had to go
on Hospital ship. The "Franconia"
(Cunard Line) Boat crowded _  a
bullet still in my leg, very painful,
might operate on me today _
The other chap hit with me
Bray also from Ballt. got one 
thro' the arm travelled thro' the 
stomach & was just under the skin
on the right side. We both laid 
all day Tuesday night also Wed.
until we came to Lemnos before
we got any attention _ & then only the 
roughest treatment, too many cases
to attend to. An awful lot 
of malingerers on board _ mostly
Tommies who are a "rotten"
lot half of them of the lowest
& not worth their uniform _ God
Pity England to have to depend
on the sample of Tommies in this