Diary of Frederick Trouton Small, 1915 - Part 10

146 

May  26 WEDNESDAY  1915

We went to the "dug out' at 3 am

& slept soundly till 6 am

when I was awakened by a

brisk fusilade of bullets

coming from close by.  I sat

up just in time to see

3 NZE's toppled over.  It

afterwards transpired that

the Turks had made

themselves comfortable at

the head of our valley &

were "putting us off" in all

directions.  They kept things

fairly lively during the

day but were eventually

legless at their own game.

It sometimes appears to

me that the 'heads' could do

a lot to prevent this sort  

of thing.  On two occasions

we have reported incidents

such as this in their early

stages & its is not till the

damage is being done that

any effective measures are taken.

Yesterday for instance the

artillery could have blown them

to blazes for they were right

on the spot & yet only 5

shells were fired & these at

the rate of 1 an hour. 

147

1915  27 Thursday  May   

Did not go on shift as my 

old enemy "the knee" has come

back.  I am funked to go to

the Doctors for fear they send

me away.  A few days rest may

set it up.

Sent the regulation P.C. to

"Shirty" & Mrs Woolcock, & a letter

to Mum Baldwin.

Two of our drives Cpl Watson

& Coppin rejoined us last night

It appears they all returned to

Alexandria but could not sit

idle while their mates were "hard

at it" so they sneaked on the 

first transport & returned to us.

Two of our wounded Sergt

Croker & Cpl Sinclair also

rejoined the section.

148

May  28 FRIDAY  1915

The knee is still troublesome

Received a mail from Dick,

Auntie, Con, and the Mater 

it brought splendid news of Dicks

health.

There seems to be a bit of a

scare up a Quinns post because

the Turks are reported to be

mining.  The Snipers are also

making things very warm in

the gully.  Quite a number have

fallen to their bullets.

A light cruiser paid us a 

visit today.  Since the Triumph

has gone we have only had

the destroyers here.
149 

1915  29 SATURDAY  May

In the early hours of the morning

the Turks blew up portion of

the trenches at Quinns Post.

It was immediately rushed under

the protection of a heavy artillery

fire.  Our howitzers & field pieces

were soon at them & it was

not long before the 15^th drove 

them from the portion of the

trench they had been able to 

occupy  We got 20 prisoners &

many dead.  About 15 of the

prisoners were prevented from

retreating by the fire of their

own machine guns  They

huddled into one of our tunnels

& shot at any one who happened

to pass until the interpreter

fixed matters up.

We got about 5 visits from

our aeroplane during the

day & every time the enemy

appear  fired 8 to 10 shells at

her.  During the last visit

she hovered over the enemy's

lines & dropped 3 missiles

some say they were messages

some say artillery marks

They were certainly not bombs

So far we have been

unable to find out what

they are

150

May  30 Sunday  1915 

Five weeks today since we landed

in Gallipoli.  Things have been

rather quiet today up till 1 30pm.

when our artillery suddenly broke

out: up on the hill at Quinns

Post or rather in front of it

seemed to be their objective.

I heard our fellows were going

to make a sortie & it was to

be entrusted to the L.H. (  )

We hear that it has been

successful & that they captured

a machine gun.  As I write

the rifles are still rattling out,

so how this news came thro'

I do not know

As usual the attack was

mixed up.  Every time, there

seems to be a misunderstanding

somewhere. There have been

4 attacks arounds this quarter

& all have been messed up.

Wrote to M.E. Trouton.

Later  I have spoken to a man who has just

returned from the Turks trenches. He says that about

20 of them got into a trench that would not hold 15 comfortably.

The Turks Machine Gun soon got on to them & began

to nibble away their parapet or cover bit by bit it was

only a matter of time when they would be exposed.

To add to their danger the enemy started to throw

bombs but they were able to get rid of those before they

burst. As the Engineers had not sapped to them by 3

p.m. they withdrew but not before they had bandaged

& given some biscuits to a wounded Turk. This chap showed

his gratitude by shooting one of his own men who was

grappling with the L.H. Cpl as he was getting out of the trench

- the Turks having rushed it by this time. The other 22

of our fellows were still holding the other trench.

151

1915  31 MONDAY  May  

There is a general quiet all along

the line today but on the

water there is certainly something

astir. The aeroplane has been

circling aro^und over the stretch of sea

in front of us. First of all she

was a appeared a black mass & then as

she circled, she became almost

transparent. Meanwhile the 3

destroyers were zigzagging

all over the place. The plane

seemed to be flying very low 

when all of a sudden she

dropped a bomb. In an

instant there was a big explosion

& an huge column of water

just about the spot the "Triumph"

went down but as the

destroyers continued to cruise 

around for an hour afterwards

we surmised that she missed

her mark.

Wrote to Dick.

Billie Hill & Fred Hooper

rejoined the section.

Poor Dave Downie was bombed

yesterday at Quinns Post he

lingered for some time

although unconscious.

Sergt or rather Lt Croker told me

they had sapped to the rest of the

L.H. & now held the trench

152

June  1 TUESDAY  1915 

So far the line is exceptionally

quiet today.  Occasionally there

is an artillery duel but it is

not very heavy.

Knee very swollen.  Apparently

a lot of fluid has accumulated 

153

1915  2 WEDNESDAY  June

Some new men - Henderson

Herbertson & Bruce - joined

our section today

My leg was still troubling

me so I decided to go on

to the beach with Charlie

Dunsdon.  A few shrapnell

shells disturbed my otherwise

sound sleep.

154

June  3 THURSDAY  1915 

Interviewed the Doctor shortly

before 9 am.  I was ordered

on to the Fleet Sweeper.  At

10 am with a barge in tow

the pinnace took the serious

cases to the Hospital Ship

first.  These were hauled up

in a special case made

to take stretcher & patient.

The sweeper was next reached

at 11 a.m. & after making

ourselves comfortable we

had lunch.

As we were going to sleep

the cove presented a pretty

appearance.  It was brilliantly

lit up far different to the

inky darkness that greeted

us on our first visit

The only thing that disturbed

the tranquility of the scene

was the fierce fusillade

from the rifles up above.

Quite a number of bullets

found their way on to

the sweeper. 

155

1915  4 FRIDAY  June

We left Anzac Cove in the Fleet

Sweeper at 2.30 am for Lemnos

The Harbour was reached about

8 am  One was struck with

the number of ships that were

still anchored there.  The

"Clacton" drew alongside the

"Aragon" & after a hasty breakfast

we were transferred to a

barge & towed to the "Ascania"-

one of the Cunard line.  Here we

were treated like toffs.  The

officers gave us magazines

papers etc & made everything

as comfortable for us as was

possible.  Our meals were grand

some distance down one

could see the "Mauretania"

anchored.

I saw Dick Diamond on the

Aragon.  He informed me

that Lt Boase was recovering

& that Ray Shirley was also

improving from the effects of 5

wounds.

156

June  5 SATURDAY  1915

Spent a quiet day in bed

as I want my knee to

better so as to be in time

for the big advance

Quite a number of wounded

came on board last night

- 3 boat loads.  All

available space is now taken

up with the crowd that

arrived tonight

It is a sickening sight.

Heads damaged, arms blown

off, legs ditto all the

result of the attempts to

storm Aki Barber.

Two officers were lowered

into the Captain's gig for

burial on land. They

were covered with the Union

Jack & rowed ashore.  Some

of these men were at Mons

Antwerp & were invalided

home & when volunteers

were called for Gallipoli

these great hearts offered

their services.

157

1915  6 Sunday  June 

Left LEMNOS.

Shortly before breakfast we were on

the move again, this time

for Alexandria

The sea was calm & until

tea time nothing of interest

occurred till two French

destroyers & a submarine

passed us. There was a

lot of conjecture on board

as to whether the submarine

was captured or not.

One of the officiers afterwards

told us they were

all french.

The Medical staff have had

a trying time today.

Operation has followed operation

Mostly amputations too.

The Ship's doctor was busy

all day dressing wounds.

I was in hopes that

I would be sent back to

the Peninsula but the

early departure of the ship

has spoiled my chance.

158

June  7 MONDAY  1915 

We are just 24 hours out from

Lemnos.  The trip - as regards

weather - has been perfect.

The meals are the best that

have been supplied to us since

leaving home.

I am surprised at the cheery

way in which the wounded

are taking their misfortunes

Australasians & Englishmen

alike.  Some have lost limbs

some hands or fingers & yet

they do not grumble or bewail

their loss.

There is one thing I have

noticed where the Englishman

is quiet & of unobtrusive the

Australian is boisterous & forward

even foulmouthed.  I do not

mean to say the majority are thus;

but where I was quartered,

there were over 3 times as

many Englishmen as Austlns

& yet there were only 2 of the

former to 7 of the latter, that

were at all coarse. 

159

1915  8 TUESDAY  June 

Alexandria.

Wrote to Allan Row.

The muggy heat which prevailed

during the day up to 12 

indicated that we were close

to land.  By 2 pm we

could ^see Alexandria thro' the

thick mist that hung over

the shore  At 3.30 pm we

had dropped the anchor

within the Harbour.

Some time after tea I was talking

to a Londoner.  Naturally the topic

was the War.  He stated that the 

English people could not appreciate 

enough the attitude of the Colonies -

Canada, India & Australia. He

said Australia's offer came as a great

surprise for it was freely rumoured

in England that we would

seize the opportunity & cut adrift 

from Gt Britain.

One cheerful English lad with us

was in the retreat from Mons &

the charge of the Worcester (500) against

the Prussian Guard (3000).  He has

received 3 wounds & was put on

"home service" but when troops were

wanted for Gallipoli he volunteered

again.  In the charge of Aki Barber

portion of his hand was blown

away.  Yet he still smiles & is as

happy as the day is long.

160

June  9 WEDNESDAY  1915 

Cairo.  Hot bath.  What!  Oh!

The "Ascania" pulled into the

wharf shortly after 8 am. There 

was a hospital train awaiting

us there After the stretcher

cases for Cairo had been put

on board we filed on.  By

10 we were away. Papers were

handed around by the Indian

Red Cross.  At 1 pm we were given

a pot of Bovril, Roll & butter & an

orange.  Cigarettes were given to

the troops both before & after

the meal & with an Indian Orderly

to light them  I may state that

two English ladies stood at the

foot of the gangway when we were

disembarking & gave the troops cigarettes.

On arrival at Cairo we were given

tea & biscuits. We were then motored

to Hellipolis.  Some were stationed

at the Hotel but some went to Luna

Park.  I was amongst this number.

The beds rather amused me

here  They were made of cane

The doctor a Sydney Uni man

was up top & I do not expect any

difficulty in getting straight back

to Gallipoli

Regular Australian heat here

now.

161

1915  10 THURSDAY  June

When the doctor was making

his rounds I asked him if it

was possible for me to get out.

He said I would be sent to

"Base Details" next day instead

of the Convalescent Home on the

Nile.  Good news.  I don't like

Gallipoli but I miss the

fellows. My hardest job is to

keep from being afraid

162

June  11 FRIDAY  1915 

Unfortunately my knee is not

too good so I have to spend 

a few more days here.

I notice the 3" Contq has

arrived.  I wonder if Shirty

is with them

Just saw Norm Gill of

Ipswich & he told me that Shirty

has been here for over a fortnight

& has been inquiring for me

As the boy was stationed at

the Palace Hospital.  I sent him

a letter to him asking to call.

& at 8.30 pm, I spied him down

below. I "cockied" & he was soon

bounding up the steps in that

characteristic style of his 

163

1915  12 SATURDAY  June

Knee more puffed than ever.

Doctor says it may take six 

weeks.

164

June  13 Sunday  1915 

Cartilage loose.  Knee swollen

may have to operate to remove

cartilage.  What an inglorious

casualty - water on the knee

from a hit by a clod of earth

thrown up by a black

powder shell.  It was damn

near the shell itself.  It failed

to explode