Diary of Frederick Trouton Small, 1915 - Part 14
296
October 23 Saturday 1915
Boring machine tested.
Made rough sketch (on Oct 20 & 19) in order
to get a mental picture of the portion & the
relation of the tunnels. Suggested to
Col Sturdee that 2 tracings be made of
the mining system & the progress marked
on each daily; one to be sent to HdQrs
daily & returned when the up-to-date
tracing is delivered by messenger.
Agreed & arranged for.
Datum for survey not known. Took
a fixed point at the back of Courtneys
from S end of main gallery.
Tested "listeners" by rapping
out signals in adjacent tunnels
& asking them to gage distance.
Have two good men. Will
include their report in my
daily report which he set up as
follows:
Report : Progress : Remarks :
Listeners Report : Stores Consumed :
Labor.
Stores are in charge of Cpl in
charge of shift. Leakage exists.
Set up a listening pool in L11
& H4. Picking last heard 5am
New firing line bang pushed
L2 2' 6" distance 20 ft
L3 3' 6" " 35 "
L5 2' 0' " 80 "
L8 4' 6 " 18 "
L11 1' 6' " 57 '
Put sappers in L8 & miners in L2 for comparison
297
1915 24 Sunday October
Turks busy near H4. Apparently tamping
suggested to Sturdee that we should
beat him to it by giving him a
"plaster" of 15 lb of G.C. Sturdee advised
me to use 30 lbs am afraid it will
bring in our roof. No picking
heard at any of the posts.
Mine tamped & blown at 7pm
backs came in for a distance of 8ft.
L2 2' 6" distance 17 ft
L3 4 0 " 23 ft
L5 3 0 " 83 ft
L8 4 0 " 22 ft
L11 not working 57 ft
placed sappers in L5 miners in
L5 & fatigues in L2.
Reports of picking sounds in
in surface tunnel. These proved to be
those of our own slower & heavier
picking. Turks are lighter &
quicker - pointed this out to our
listeners. No report made.
Boring Machine has dulled 38 ft
Bombing is causing loose earth
in H 4 to fall. May have to timber.
Asked that miners & fatigues
be placed under my control -
they are loafing. Told them I
would have them put into the
firing line if they didn't "put their
backs into it". Asked the fatigue
officer (in their hearing) to give me
three certain men who were working
on the new trenches & to put three of
the loafers there. Agreed
298
October 25 Monday 1915
Yesterday's arrangement with
the fatigue officers broke down.
We are not driving quick enough
in this formation. Had another
talk with him & a change will
be effected on the first shift tomorrow.
Changing direction of L5 L8 L11
Would like to see a few more
"kinks" in our tunnels to
prevent the enemy getting command
should we break into his
workings : -
Diagram - refer original document
This plan would take more time
but it would be safer. Grades would help.
Picking heard ahead in L 5 L 9 & H 1
-our own picks.
L 2 changed direction yesterday
to protect the new firing line
Diagram - refer original document
299
1915 26 Tuesday October
New fatigues reported. Arnall tells
me he experienced similar trouble.
continue to clean H 4
Opening out L6 am informed
that this leads into a Turkish working
which was blown up by the NZ engrs
cannot get any reliable line or
report of this. Removing tamping
& opening out entrance. I wonder if
there is a surprise packet at the other
end.
Diagram - refer original document
Had to timber H 1. Bombing broke
the "backs" in one place.
No sounds reported by listeners
Good progress today
L2 4' 6" 24' 6"
L3 5' 0 31' 0"
L5 5' 6" 92' 6"
L6 Cleaning 10' 0" approx
L8 5' 0" 30' 0"
L11 4' 0" 63' 0"
H1 3' 0" 6' 0 ??
Boring Machine not working.
300
October 27 Wednesday 1915
Crew now getting into a fine swing
the "flare up" has worked wonders
Boring machine dismantled.
Miners reported picking under
their dugouts - head quarters
say it is from our own workings.
L 2 4' 6" distance 29'
L 3 4' 6" 35'
L 5 4' 0" 97'
L 8 5' 6" 35' 6"
L 11 3' 6" 66' 6"
Nothing to choose between the
parties today they appear keener.
________________________________
October 28 continued
L 2 5' 0" distance 34 ft
L 3 4' 6" 39' 6"
L 5 5' 0 102 ft
L 6 cleaning out tamping
L 8 5; 0 40' 6"
L 11 3' 0 69 6
H 1 4' 0 125' 0
H 4 cleaned up. Borings continue
break in tops.
No sounds reported.
Progress better but not good enough
saw the Adjt & arranged for
Cpl Welshes party of 6 to replace
8 of the fatigues. Propose getting
rid of several of Cpl Jones' miners.
301
1915 28 THURSDAY October
Finished "T" on H 1 now working
on the left face. Bearing
left to clear the crater
H 4 cleaned & timbered - appears
a sound job. Drive started 12'
from old face to the south.
Expect to run into trouble.
Diagram - refer original document
About 80' south is Lt where
the NZ are said to have "blown"
the Turkish workings. By opening
L 6 north & driving H4 south we
are approaching the old workings
from two directions. H 1 has
swung N (to the outside) & is converging
over L 6. There's going to be
hell to pay.
Sturdee & Cutler agree that we
must be well into the Turkish
system if he has done any mining
at all. His silence seems to indicate
that he is playing a waiting game.
L 11 now in softer material
L 3 is in hard conglomerate.
(see opposite page)
302
October 29 Friday 1915
Turks reported near L 11 at
8.30 pm no sounds hear by
me during ¾ of an hour stay
in the listening post.
L 2 in sandy gravel
Backs in H 1 are weak. Am
timbering. As we are approaching
the crater, propose to drop at
a grade of 1 in 3 which will
give 4 feet of cover under
the crater. Believe this to be
good policy anyway as the
Turk is not a deep miner.
Diagram - refer original document
L2 6' 0" distance 40'
L3 5' 0 " 44'
L5 5' 0" 107
L6 Cleaning & tamping
L 8 5' 0 45' 6"
L 11 2' 6" listening 72' 0
Day {H 1 3' 0 131' 0"
Work {H 4 3' 0 95' 6"
only
303
1915 30 Saturday October
Air in L 8 bad. Candles will hardly
burn. Propose to drive a
vertical ventilation shaft up
to H 3. This will test the
accuracy of our surveys.
Diagram - refer original document
Work speeded up with change of
fatigues.
L 2 6' 0" distance 46' 0"
L 3 5' 6" 49' 6"
L 5 4' 6" 111' 0"
L6 10' 0"
L 8 4' 6" 50' 6"
L 11 3' 0" 75' 0"
Day {H1 4' 0" 135' 0"
Work {H4 4' 6" 100' 0"
H 1 & H 4 now double the rate of
the other tunnels.
304
October 21 Sunday 1915
Good progress
Sturdee asked if H 1 & H 4 could
be pushed harder. Suggest night
shift & the pick of the working
force
Squared up & evened the
backs of L5
L 5 & L 11 are in hard
conglomerate
L 2 6' 0" 46' 0"
L 3 4' 0" 53' 0"
L 5 3' 0" 114' 0"
L 6 suspended
L 8 4' 6" 55' 0"
L 11 3' 6" 78' 6"
Day {H1 4' 0" 139' 0"
Work {H4 3' 6" 105' 6"
I feel it is a mistake not to
"zig-zag" our tunnels. If Jacks
ever gets at the end of one of
the straight level working
there will be difficulty in
dislodging him
L 6 Turkish work is above
apparently the New Zealanders
were under when they blew.
If any more tamping is taken
out the Turks (if there) can
drop bombs from above into
our tunnel. Did not expect to
run into overhead Turkish gallery.
Referred matter to Hd Qrs for instructions.
L11 appears to be headed
to Turkish Galleries. Picking heard.
Referred matter t Hd Qrs for instructions
305
1915 1 Monday November
L 2 6' 0' distance 56' 0'
L 3 4'0' 57 0'
L 6 awaiting orders
L 8 6' 0" 61' 0"
L 11 4' 0" 82' 6"
Day {H 1 4' 0" 143' 0"
Work {H 4 2' 0" 107' 6"
L 5 ceased at 2.30pm labor
transferred to right arm of L3
Listeners report Picking on the
left 30ft from the face
Same sounds heard faintly
from H 4. Reported 8 30pm
Personally heard at 9 30pm
Sounds heard with machine guns
quiet & our own picking stopped.
This makes the Turkish system
somewhat puzzling to estimate
L 5 now about 15ft from
enemy trenches
L 8 about 25 ft
L 2 is now SE. u to the
right 170o Should hit the cliff
face at 90 ft say 35 ft further.
306
November 2 Tuesday 1915
Picking still heard in L 11 at
30 ft from the face left hand
side.
Work stopped in L 2, left are of L 3,
L 5, L 8.
L 3 is right arm is to have a
protecting Y spaced between
its right arm & L 2 to
points 15 ft from cliff face
This renders L 2 redundant
Two shifts started in H 1. H 4
both are to be pushed with speed.
L 6 is being cleaned up Tops
are being stripped to facilitate
working. Do not like the
opening of L 6 into the Turkish
gallery with trouble brewing in
L 11 & H 1 & H 3 headed for lively
times. It will be hell if they all
hit at once.
Picked crew put into L 11
L 2 3' 0" (5hrs) 59 ft
L 3 3' 6" (12 ") 60' 6"
L 6 3' 6" Comp. 13' 6"
L 8 2' 6" (5hrs) 64' 0"
L 11 4' 0" Comp. 86' 0"
H 1 5' 6" 148' 0
H 3 4' 0" 4' & 4 sets
H 4 5' 0" 110' 6"
L 3 6' 0" comp 6' 0"
Picking still heard in L11
307
1915 3 Wednesday November
More trouble with fatigues - 12
men short without notification. All
tunnels blocked with mullock
& in consequence working parties
on the faces are idle part of
the time. Concentrated on L 11 &
H 4. L 6 to be explored.
L3 4' 6" 10' 6" on Y
L 6 squaring 14' 0
L 11 4' 0" 90' 6"
H 1 3' 6" 151' 6"
H 3 3' 0" 27' 0"
H 4 5' 0" 20' 0"
Picking in L 11 suggested driving
an offshoot in direction of sounds
if only to get some idea of
the Turkish "layout". Believe
we should start L 12 L 13 &
H 5 & H 6 although a dive
north from L 11 could be
accomplished in the same time.
It could be made as an
extension to the main gallery
from which L 12 & L 13 could
be pushed with advantage -
-at least until the Turkish
system is encountered. Sturdee
believes we should with both re
L 11 to the South & L 12 & L 13 from
the old main gallery.
308
November 4 Thursday 1915
5 Fatigues reported at 9am against
12 promised at 8am. 3 more
reported at 11 am & 12 at noon
Good working in surface tunnels
L 3 5' 6" 15' 6"
1' 0"
L 6 8' 0" 25' 0"
2' 0" cleaning 14' 0"
L 11 5' 0 95' 0"
H 1 6' 6 158' 0"
H 3 7' 0" 34' 0"
H 4 5' 6" 25' 6"
L 6 has been badly shaken by the
old explosion. May "get by"
without timbering. Should be
ready to inspect by Saturday
I wonder what awaits. My fear
of being thought a coward has
always made me deliberately do
the distasteful. One is so confined
in mining: it's dark & somewhat
awesome. Strangely enough it
requires a different type of
mental approach. In the open
I did not hesitate to volunteer to
& place the barbed wire in front of
our guns on the right during the
first week; nor to go out & bring
Bill Bailey in; nor the wounded
between Popes & Quinns - Lloydie called
me "a bloody fool". And now I shrink.
309
1915 5 Friday November
Just over two weeks of 16 hours a day
My old knee is holding up
very well. Am tired but well.
The ground & lay out at Russell's Top
lends itself to hydraulic excavation.
-except the elevation which
necessitates high head pumps or a
series of pumping stations
Sturdee & I discussed possibilities
of using the condenser pumps
from the River Clyde & having
the impellors changed for the
higher head required for this
work. Decided red tape would
kill the scheme.
More trouble with fatigues. None
available from 8 am to 1 pm when
9 out of 12 reported.
Heavy bombardment delayed work
in surface tunnels for two hours
H 4 work ceased
H 3 60" Left
H Also in 60"
L 8 Restarted bearing 360o
with a grade of 1 in 6 to
meet L11
There is a mint of trouble
ahead of us.
310
November 6 Saturday 1915
Seized with a sort of hopelessness
today. Too tired to write.
Later
At 12.05am H 1 drove into the
broken earth of the Turkish crater
Diagram - refer original document
Turk blew a mine at 6 pm
near H 4 but did not disturb
either our surface or lower
workings. Our tactics of
massed picking on the side
walls in many places at
once apparently rattled him
& caused him "to blow" before
he was ready. Cutler thought
the ruse was clever. Sturdee
thought it would disclose the
"extent" of our workings. I explained
that that the picking was
purposely kept away from the face.
311
1915 7 Sunday November
Arranged with Capt May to explore the
old Turkish working above L 6. He
to remain on guard while I crawled
into the old tunnel. Arranged
whistle signals should I get trapped.
Creepy. Tunnel flat shaped
diagram ~ see original document
Apparently unoccupied. Musty, did
not strike a light for fear of detection
Cannot understand how that Turk
got a tunnel in this location it
appears to be entirely isolated from
the rest of his system. Must ask
the N.Z'ers for the back history.
At 12.5 H 1 drove into this tunnel.
& the Turk is stated to have thrown two
bombs, then all quiet until 1 am
when officer of H 1 post reported
a light on breach & unmistakable
sounds of shovelling. Visited working
again & used one "mills" grenade
which stopped further working.
The 5thBde at 0315 asked for a
report on the general situation.
This was furnished.
Terribly tired. Brigade Major Wisdom
came & had a short discussion
regarding the several points in
which we have contacted with
the Turk underground.
Had made arrangements with
Lt Bailey 20 Bat to explore "dead"
ground in front of our trenches
He was detained. Evidence of the Turks
front line is unoccupied at night. Reported so to Sturdee.
312
November 8 Monday 1915
Ran into another bunch of trouble today
Misread the direction & distances of
the Turkish pickings at H
Instead of two "drives" on either
side of our tunnel Enemy had
an "envelope" paralleling his front
line.
Diagram - refer original document
Evidently deceived us by tapping
on the walls of A & B which
accounted for the assumption they
were not making much progress.
Crown of our tunnel broke into
base of Turks. Why he did not
Diagram - refer original document
seize his
advantage
& blow us to hell
beggars me - is he out of explosive?
He only bombed at H 1.
A hell of a nice situation is
developing. Contact with enemy at L 3,
H 4, L 11, H 1,
Cutler & I visited H1 . The Turk was
firing into the tunnel but his higher
location caused to fire down into the
base rather than along the tunnel.
The flying pieces which Cutler thought
were bullets were, in my opinion, gravel etc.
313
1915 9 Tuesday November
Received instructions to blow H 1. Not a
nice job with Turk in control. Now
10 am. Time is set for 4 pm. Feel sick
Explored tunnel again with Cutler
Decided to prepare box of gun cotton with
detonaters & fuse complete & crawl
down under the Turkish line of
fire. Cutler is to carry several
revolvers & drive the Turk back
while I light the fuse & place
the charge. Waiting intolerable.
Later
As arranged Cutler waited until
Turk fired sixth shot & rushed position
I unstrapped charge & covered it with
my tunic so as to keep light
from shining on us as the fuse
was lit. Cutler withdrew & left
me to place the charge. Turk
had enlarged the hole slightly
but was not pushing his advantage
The charge merely "blew back"
Had to make second attempt with
better results. Moy reported H 3
also broken int. Turkish gallery
with Turk in charge. Fortunately
the the direction of the tunnel had
been changed & they commanded
but a short length. They are under
us. Plenty of mullock available.
Posted senteries from 26 Btn. Went to
inspect L 11 & H 4 & returned to find
the senteries had been withdrawn &
& everybody had "the wind up"! (continued next page).
314
November 10 Wednesday 1915
Nov 9 contd.
Could not ascertain position except
Turks had bombed way into tunnel.
Bailey & I decided to roll a
barricade of sandbags - foot by
foot down the tunnel & get it back
Bags became too heavy so were
reduced to half bags. Got past
the crater by midnight when
Brigade Major Wisdom visited the
tunnel to ascertain the position.
Told him the indications were that
the Turk was not in the tunnel
as the firing was spasmodic &
apparently still confined to the short
leg. Fell asleep talking to him
but: aroused on hearing Bailey fire
Rejoined Bailey , pushed the
barricade another 23 ft & found
the position as we originally left-
it - much ado about nothing
& a fine piece of imaginative work
on the part of somebody. I feel a
bit of a fool, but, made plans
according to the information available.
Now decided to place a
"plaster" at the end of H.3.; begged
Sturdee to make it a tamped
charge as the cover over the tunnels
is light & crater here would be
a menace. Fell asleep Sturdee
put me off duty.
315
1915 11 Thursday November
Nov 10
Awakened with a request to visit
H.1. where Cutler was having some
trouble. He believed the enemy
had obtained control of H 1. I
could not see how this could be
unless the second charge had
so graded the interconnection
between the two tunnels that
the Turk had easy access.
An investigation showed the
position to be slightly more in our
favor than previously as the
debris formed a natural
protection. This we roughly
graded in the dark & later
used a torch light to attract
the fire to the right while I
pushed the charge to the left.
In driving so I caught sight
of the flash of the Turk's revolver
some twenty yards to the
front left whereas we had
expected him to see him
immediately on the other side
of the heap. He was firing
over a barricade & at an
angle of about 80o
Diagram - refer original document
Lowered the charge, fired but lost
about 12 ft of trench.
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