Diary of Sydney James Campbell, 3 March 1915 - 11 May 1915 - Part 2

18

January  18 MONDAY [18-347] 1st Month 1915
I found Jim Borrowman amongst the
wounded. His Story - "His Batn Cor (5^th)
landed soon after the first line. They

were waiting ready on board for some time -
When the forts started they were ordered below.
When They were not altogether encouraged when
the boats returned to the ship after taking ashore
the firs earlier parties to see that some of
the boats crew were wounded & that also some of
their own men were coming back wounded.
On landing they rushed for cover under the
small beach cliff. Here they formed &
advanced up the hill & a gully & finally
(I do not know at what time or xxx at what
distance inland) into the fighting line.
They were subjected to heavy fire most 
of the time. At one spot three shells in
succession burst within 15 yards of where
Jim & some of his mates were lying.
Jim had his cap knocked off by shrapnell
& showed me the cap c̅ a hole torn through
back & front. Later in the day he was
shot through the shoulder but kept on
until the increasing stiffness of his
shoulder compelled him to stop & return
to the shore. The going was heavy - the
men became blown frequently - the
climbing was steep. They threw off their
packs at climbing up the gully & left
a baggage guard. Battalions & companies
became mixed up c̅ each other, men &
officers became separated & so on.

19

1915 31 Days  19 TUESDAY [19-346]  January
Jim did not see a single Turk, living or
dead, & this made the experience all
the more trying. Peppered with bullets from
all directions & no chance of replying.
In about ¼ hr his blood was up & he feared 
nothing. This was when a small body
of Australians c̅ fixed Bayonets were
ready to charge but nothing appeared

on which to display their let loose their

anger. Most of the time it was a game
of dodging for cover & a gradual advance
through country covered c̅ thick scrub.
Jack Melvin was range finding - Jim hardly
saw him."
A train load came in during the evening
& the process of clearing off mild cases to Mena
& Luna Park was gone through.
2.4.15. Working at Hospital nearly all day.
Transferred to two other wards, still c̅
Farber. The men cannot give a very
good account of the fight. The country
was too rough & hilly & scrubby for them to
see much. Many rumours of mutilation
of wounded by Turks but I have not yet
got any on first hand information. I have
yet to meet the man who saw a case.
Similarly the reports of the wiping out of
Regimental Staffs regiments are probably
greatly exagerrated.
Heron said to be alive. Young Alf Derham
(Lt - late 5^th yr med. & Lt. University Rifles)
killed.

20

January  20 WEDNESDAY [20-345]  1st Month 1915

Have seen Bob Fowler several times, working
at the Hospital. He brought his girl here
& married her. Others I have met are
Jim Nicholas, Jack Tait, Ben Watson, Southey,
Maudsley, G'ville, Levi
Most of bullet wounds coming in now are
Septic. We are getting Monday 26^th & Tuesday
29^th's wounded. The wound/exit
is usually large & explosive effects
are common. Hence many of men think
they have been hit by Dum - Dums & some
are only convinced c̅ difficulty that it is 
not so. The wounds I see confirm
the descriptions given in Lagarde's (U.S.A)
"Gun Shot Injuries" of the effects of the
sharp-pointed bullet. I have seen no
large wounds from shrapnel.
Interesting cases are - 2 chest wounds c̅
Haemothorax ( ? pneumo as well in one) c̅

pushing of heart over, Wound left

vertex - occiput c̅  Rt hemiplegia,

wound left eye (no entrance wound).

c̅  probn frac. base, Bullet in abdominal

wall (diagnosis agst. intra-abdl. condn),

Injury to abdn by casing of shrapnel s̅

any mark (again diagnosis of abdn. condn

came in such as rupture liver), ?

abdl. condn from falling of trench sand

bags on to a man.

3.5.15.. Working at Hospital - dressings.

no more wounded.
21

1915 31 Days  21 THURSDAY [21-344]  January

4.5.15 Working at hospital in morning.

Rush here is over so far as new cases

concerned but reported that 3 trains

came to Cairo - probly British wounded.

Rumoured that Alexandria filled.

Australians & New Zealanders have

established a name for themselves.

1^st L.H. Brigade said to be going to the

Dardanelles & is mounted, 25% men being

left behind to take care of horses.

Australian Reinforcements &

Territorials left several days ago.

Official Reports in papers of Dardanelles

fighting. 2 letters from George about

Chriss.

5.5.15 - Hospital in morning - nothing

much doing. Ride in afternoon. Since

2.5.15 the daily routine has been

Reveille 5am stables 5.15am B'fast

6.30am, Parade 7.15am, Stables

about 11.45am, lunch 12 noon. This

finishes Brigade work. In afternoons

C.O.s work men at their discretion

but so far officers sword drill is only

work done in afternoon.

No more wounded.

Rumoured that the landing of the

Australians was abt 2000 yds away

from the appointed place.

Visit from Mr & Mrs John Lacy

this evening. Johnny is looking for a

22

January  22 FRIDAY [22-343]  1st Month 1915

job in which he can be of service to the

'cause'. Got lots of University & Hospital

news from him.

Our officers seem to be getting heartily

tired of the Course of events in our Brigade

& regiment. Too much. Brigade Hqrtrs

interference c̅ Regimental training,

too much Rep. Hqrts interference c̅

Squadron O.C.s. Oh! for some

Competent Officers in the higher

Commands. What a disappointment

a great deal of military life has been

to me - the boasted military organisation,

keeness, intelligence. What a large

proportion of the officers are thickheads

& fools, or smoodgers & crawlers, or

wasters & incompetents. And as I

write of them I think of the things I

might & ought to have done. Well, its

not too late to make up lost ground nos

6.5.15. This morning the Brigade Staff & Regimental

Staffs had a pow-wow during Breakfast. Subject

the Dardanelles, so rumour hath it.

Are we wanted at the Dardanelles? Are we

being asked to volunteer or re are the Brigade Hqrtrs

acting on their own initiative? Shall we go

dismounted? Shall we wait in the hope that

we will go later as mounted troops?

Worked at Luna Park this morning. No fresh

wounded. Last night pickets searching Cairo

for 30 British Deserters.

23
1915 31 Days  23 SATURDAY [23-342]  January

7.5.15. The Brigade, it is said, has volunteered

to go in any capacity. Preparations to be

in readiness are the order of the day.

New Zealand Mounted Troops said to have gone -

? our 2^nd Brigade.

8.5.15. Into Cairo in evening - 1^st evening for

over 3 weeks - Started Medical History Sheets

- copying particulars from Attestation Papers.

Ordered 200 sealed bottles containing 1 gram Iodine

& 1.5 grams KI. each gives 4 xxx of 2% soln -

for Stretcher Bearers use.

10.5.15 Decent training seems to have started.

8^th out doing trench digging - very interesting -

instruction by an Imperial Officer Lieut. -

Captain Pelham, an Imp. man, is now attached

to Bde Staff-. 9^th doing Battle firing. Going

to do a lot of night work. Yet to Lt. Col. Antill

the Australian Casualties were very heavy - 5500 -

men & officers were too impetuous, did not take

advantage of cover, did not keep cool. The gen condns,

nature of country increased the general muddle &

confusion. Just lately their position was a very

precarious one & they had a gr difficult job

to hang on. Said to have been reinforced by a

- division. Latest is that we will be here

a considerable time.

11.5.15. Revielle at 3am, moved out at 3.30

dismounted. Back at 8am. No other work

for day except stables & lead horse work

for one hour this afternoon. It was

beautifully cool. 8^th did Battle firing

24

January  24 Sunday [24-341]  1st Month 1915

1^0th continued scheme of trenches, 9^th attacked

a position & dropped casualties for the

3^rd L.H.F. Ambulance working behind. Very

interesting & instructive, I watched c̅ Col.

Downes. Very disagreable dusty day now.