Diary of Samuel Hedley Hemming Hawkins, 1914-1916 - Part 7

25 April  1915
SUNDAY
3 AFTER EASTER
Arrive at entrance of
Dardenelles about 1 a.m.
At day break the warships
open fire on forts & also
fire on Turkish troops on
land & affect a landing
for Tommies who land
Artillery & drive Turks
about 9 miles inland.
We then steam to the Gulf
of Gillipole Saros where Australian
Troops are to land. Although
the warships fired shell after
shell at Turks they were little
harmed as they had excellent
cover. Thereupon the 3^rd Brigade
went ashore (9^th Battalion
taking the lead first taking
three machine guns & then
charging the heights. Drive
Turks about 3 miles inland
but were forced to retire to
heights on account of having no
7.6" artillery to back them up
 

1915  April 26
MONDAY
Fourth Brigade land 10pm in midst
of enemy's fire. Sleep for half hour
then carry ammunition up
hill about 300 ft & very steep to
2^nd Brigade. This takes till noon
when we had dinner. In afternoon
we had to dig in on account of
shrapnell a no of our men being 
wounded. W. Rose from my section
being first. At 7 p.m. we
leave for firing line & take up a
new position. Occupy night in
digging trenches for protection
against bullets & shrapnel.
Enemy fire a great no of shots
at us but very few were wounded.

Shrapnel Gully

——————————
only 80 men could be mustered from 9^th &
270 from the Brigade. Mostly
wounded a no also were lost.

27 April 1915
TUESDAY
Day rater quiet although Sharp
Shooters do a little damage.
In evening about 7 the enemy
approach singing & very
joyful intending to frighten
us. About 10 p.m. to 12 p.m. they
were engaged praying to
Allah. Then all was joyful
again. at The Battalion on our.
left fired on them heavily
but our front did not
answer which afterwards
helped us greatly.
 

Shrapnel Gully
 

1915  April 28
WEDNESDAY
At 2 a.m. the enemy came
over a little ridge in front
of us. Still not a shot was fired
& every man kept covered.
This gave the enemy great
confidence & they advanced
to within 20 yards of our
trench. Then we opened up
a murderous fire killing all
who cared to approach.
This was the last we saw of them
except for their dead who
lay strewn around us.
Later on the warships opened
up with shrapnel on the
retiring enemy & did great
damage.
Today we had another enemy
to contend with viz rain.
Our overcoats were drenched
& in them we slept the result
being a no of men get severe
colds.

29 April  1915
THURSDAY
At daybreak enemy again
appear but were careful
not to approach too near to
our trenches. They were
easily driven back.
At 10 p.m. we were relieved
& went down the beach
which proved to be more
dangerous than the trenches.
A no of men being wounded
by shrapnel & also snipers
——————————
The main Turkish body
are utterly useless.
They rely on their snipers
& artillery. Shrapnel being
responsible for 98%
of wounded & dead & bullets
2%. They run from the Bayonet.
All officers are German &
Germans handle artillery
 

1915 April 30
FRIDAY
About 4 a.m. we were forced
to move on account of Shrapnel
& we retired onto the side
of a hill where we dug shrapnel
proof trenches & had a sleep.
This was the first sleep we had
had since Sunday except
for a few hours snatched
in between fire.
At 7 p.m. we leave for the
firing line this time to
a different position. To get
to our position we had to climb
up a very steep hill 400 ft
high. To do this we had to
pull up by a rope which
was very hard & tiring.
We reached our position at
11 p.m. & at once began to
improve our trenches.

Monash Valley

1 May 1915
SATURDAY
Remain in trenches.
About 23 wounded in
our line. Snipers alone
fire on us in order to
draw our fire & so do
more damage. We do
not reply as we like to
encourage Turks forward.

As regards this 3 days previously
Turks became very
confident & attempted a
charge. At 20 yds the Batt
in the trenches opened fire.
The Turks came to ten
yards then retired.
Needless to say they were
simply murdered.

Monash Valley
 

1915 May 2
SUNDAY
4 AFTER EASTER
Remain in trenches. No
casualities to us. We
allow Turks to entrench about
500 yards in our front.
Our artillery fire on Turks.
At Night there was a general
advance of our forces.
Although we secured our
enld we did it with great
loss. The Turks having
machine guns on our right
& left simply mowed our
men down. The Turks numbered
about 10 to 1 so that we
really had a big victory.
Turks fall back on trench
about 20 yds from our new
front & a great fight lasting
for two days goes on with
bullets & hand grenades
Popes Hill
————
No2 Coy did not take part
but remain in trench.

3 May 1915
MONDAY
As new line had been
occupied on our front
our company now
forms supports.
Incessent fire between
front line & Turks.
Our company is relieved
at midnight & nobody was 
sorry. Go into dugouts
& sleep for night.

Popes Hill
 

1915  May 4
TUESDAY
Rest. No work.
Engineers are employed
making a road from
beach to firing line
a distance of about
1½ miles. This proves to
be very risky job - being
mowed down by snipers.
Again they were working in
mud about a foot deep

5 May 1915
WEDNESDAY
Rest all day.
Firing very continuous
all day.
Called on to go into trenches
at night. Very strenuous
& nerve racking night watching
for bombs which the
Turks are using in great
numbers against us.

Quinn’s Post
 

1915 May 6
THURSDAY
Day very quiet. Our men
are engaged in sapping
& making connecting
trenches with the firing
line. Turks also are
quiet & are entrenching
& attempting to undermine
our trenches.
Hard fighting at night.
Many bombs were thrown
by Turks who run up
without equippment & throw
bombs into our trenches.
Our men always try to throw
bomb out before it explodes.

7 May 1915
FRIDAY
Sapping on our part
& Turks entrenching still
continuing. Very quiet
during day. Things begin
to look very lively at
night when we are relieved.
 

1915 May 8
SATURDAY
Rest today. Spend a
little time improving our
dug out. Have a good
sleep & prepare to
again man the trenches 

9 May 1915
ROGATION SUNDAY
Day Quiet. We are
called upon at 9 p.m
to go to firing line as
reserves. But we instead
form firing line & take
up position which had
just been captured from
Turks. Are engaged digging
connecting trench &
keeping turks off our
trench who are trying
to bomb us out
——————————
We loose 350 men killed
& wounded. What remains
of us are all worn out
& we were pleased to
be relieved at 8 a.m.
 

1915   May 10
MONDAY.
At daybreak the Turks
attacked & took up such
a position as to wipe
out the whole firing line.
I was sent with a message 
to our O.C. & before
I had time to return
I was met by my Sergeant
who told me only two
had escaped. The Turks
who were ten yds off us
used bombs & almost all our
men were blown to pieces.

our old firing lines

Con trench                        OOO
                xxxxxx                 Turks
New our front                   
                        O  Turks
Crosses our front. O. Turks pos 

11 May 1915
TUESDAY
Rest. We had a m
muster parade today
and in our Company
we could only muster
99 men out of our
original strength of 
216. In my section
only 5 men remain out
of 14.
——————————
Employed building barricades
for protection of motor transports
[*which are to be
landed*]
Receive letters fromt
Home & Vera written
22 March
 ——

XXXX 3 Light Horse Bdes from
Egypt land tonight.
 

1915 May 12
WEDNESDAY
Leave dug out for firing
line this morning at
11 a.m. but on arrival was
made a reserve. At night
went on outpost duty.
Position  In a break between
two firing lines to induce
snipers to come by that
route... They generally come in
like living trees so that sentry
has to keep very sharp lookout

Quinns &  Courtneys

Send card home today 

13 May 1915
THURSDAY
Relieved at 12 a.m. today
by 2^nd Light Horse who
have volunteered as
Infantry men. Rest
for remainder of day
Fatigue 8 pm till 12 p.m.
——————————
Object of charge. Drive
Turks from their trench &
then fill it in. So to stop bombs.
——————————
were completely cut up.
Only 30 charged a
trench containing 30.
40 diggers followed
to fill in Turkish Trench
but were almost all
shot down: Perfect
Farce.
 

1915 May 14
FRIDAY
After a good sleep go
down to beach & have
a very refreshing swim.
Leave for Trenches at
noon. Very rough
time with enemys
shrapnel. Trenches blown
down at our back. One
shell lobs in my dug out
about 2 inches above
my shoulder. Improve
Trenches. Bombs going
all night. Light Horse
make charge a 2 a m
in next morn &