Diary of Samuel Hedley Hemming Hawkins, 1914-1916 - Part 9

4 June  1915
FRIDAY
Sent on fatigue to dig
a communication
Trench which extend
along the beach for
about 3 miles. It is
6 ft wide deep & 4ft 6 wide
so that all transport can
be brought through it
on mules & also to allow
stretcher bearers to carry
wounded to the beach
in safety.
———
Two hours drill daily
——— " ———
Bombardment by fleet of
hill for 24 hours. 200 guns
take part. General advance
along whole line. Tommies, Aust,
N.Zlanders, French. Very successful
along our front all Turkish Trenches
taken & filled in. Tommies


1915  June 5
SATURDAY
Rest day..

This communication
trench afterwards proved
to be preparations for
our big advance of
August 6.

Two hours drill
———
again try to take hill which is
undermined but is to important
a position to blow up.
(Achi Baba)

6 June  1915
SUNDAY
1 AFTER TRINITY
Fatigue work 8 a m to
5 p.m. making large
platform for stores on
beach.
Turks often interrupt
us with shells and
we come back minus
five men.

1915  June 7
MONDAY
Battalion on duty.
Inlying picket

Generals special
reserve. In case of failure
anywhere we are the
first to be called upon.

8 June  1915
TUESDAY
Trench digging 12.30 p m
5 p.m. Sapping along
beach in order to be able
to take troops along in
safety & from there to attack
Turks new position.

1915  June 9
WEDNESDAY
Trench Digging 6 30 a.m
12.30 pm. again 7 p m.
to 11 p.m. but on this occasion
we got bushed & wandered
into a sniping area. For
an hour we were forced to
lie flat on ground when
we crawled back. Five
men wounded.
—
Tonight a Newzealand out-

post met a Turkish Outpost
& the 16 men & officer are cut off
from main body. & They are
forced to such a position
that they cannot move for
machine gun fire. The
officer escapes & next day
returns to his men. They
intend to risk all & try to
return on Thursday night.
Main drawback their wounded
men.

10 June 1915
THURSDAY
Trench digging four hours.
12.30 - 5 p m


1915  June 11
FRIDAY
Battalion on Duty. Inlying
Picket.

Heavy Bombardment from
Capes Helles.

12 June  1915
SATURDAY
Fatigue work in afternoon
Make new road up hill
to enable the Artillery to
take up a new position.

Heavy Bombardment at
Cape Helles lasts all
day.

————————————
June 13
Cruiser comes to our position
& pours about 100 shells into
some very distant position
She is directed by an
Aeroplane.

1915  June 13
SUNDAY
2 AFTER TRINITY
Church Service by Col
Rae & Capt. -
Attend Holy Communion by Col Rae
Sermon on G.O. C of the
Syrian Army bathing
in Jordan. Points out the
necessity of submitting to
& doing small things.
Not Valorous acts will make
man & but it is the man
in himself. Refers to
pinching blankets asks
us to refrain & then be valorous.
———

14 June  1915
MONDAY
Wakened up in morning
by the sound of the
Turkish Guns. They were
trying to get on to our
position

Fatigue Work
Turks appear to have
found out our real
camp & though very
well sheltered give us
no rest

1915  June 15
TUESDAY
Battalion on duty.
Inlying Picket

Meet George, who is in
good health, today. 

16 June  1915
WEDNESDAY
No work to day.
Turks very active
& shell our position
very  heavily

1915  June 17
THURSDAY
Fatigue in morning
Receive a few shells. 

18 June  1915
FRIDAY
Fatigue work digging
trenches. All the time
we are strengthening
our position in case
of reverses.

Turks wake us up
about 5a m by shelling
our position

1915  June 19
SATURDAY
Battalion on Duty
Inlying Picket

Nine months since
joining army

20 June  1915
SUNDAY
3 AFTER TRINITY
Church Service & Holy
Communion

Turks find range of
our position & give
us a few shells. —
Finish Church.
Visit George Richards

1915  June 21
MONDAY
Rest. No duty.

Turks shell our position
heavily 

22 June  1915
TUESDAY
Dig new fire line between
Quins Post & Walkers
Ridge. We received a
great no of shells from
Turks. They were shelling
one of our batteries &
shells were falling short
on to us.

Fearing an attack on
Quinns & expecting it
to be blown up this
posy is chosen to
enable us to deal
effectively with the
Turks should we
loose the Trench.
—————————

1915  June 23
WEDNESDAY
Battalion on Duty.
Inlying Picket.

Turks shell our position
heavily.

Field Service Card
Vera.