Handwritten transcript of diaries of Apcar Leslie De Vine, 1 January 1915 - 6 October 1918, Part 5 of 26

Conflict:
First World War, 1914–18
Subject:
  • ANZAC
Status:
Finalised
Accession number:
RCDIG0000335
Difficulty:
3

Page 1 / 10

33 On the high ground to the left, there had been a much horder fight with our artitlee ascisting to keep them off Quins Post the most imptant position on our R plank which was constantly attacked without an success. At dawn the battleships gaveus some help by shelling thiitrenks and gun positions. Was on obserration port fom 59 e saw their trenches eguns simly blown st high with ther vriews running for shelter all over the place, the novol cunner is most deady, whle over lads in the pront line piicked them off with their riples, we had continuous sniping all the morning, all firin ceased E midday, when eerythy rejained noemol quietners. The Tuks gaired obsolutely nothing their losses being extreeme heare, but the foor ocerils never had a chance as owr fire was well contraledtes much concentrobut on their morses. Our carualtie duiing the niht were vey small in comprison, morty them were caused by their shelling, regated we do not exced 500. We had man cosnalties in A Ca. Thy attack again on the left at 3 pm where thy again roose hearily this is only a small local action. The Lytt Horse made a counter attack on the right with some success, next of the day remained quiet. Some 6 shells were fired at our trenches, dairy considerable dannee and Brocken a good deal of it down causing more ensualtie. Ore fell through the rest of the maching gun cover day considerable darage Exlue the shellsare from Twekish waiship in the Dardarelle. An extra rum ration issued tonytt. nd well eent too. 20/4 Expected the triks to attack again early this
40 morning so we had to "stand too ot 3 am, however nothin happened, evident the will not rich it ofter yesterdays set back. Re shell pred at our trench about sam just missed a crau of us while we were horing treckfast, burging itself in the perailos ong just possing ever us, it knocked a good deal of the trench in vuying us all in the dirt, we all lost our becotfast blo buried with us also the remains of our 24 hours rations, as the onf damage was done to He neve waill of the trench eove rations we were huk to cet off so littly, expeciall as the shall did not englate The thenches new are vey dy e licked hard in the sun. very swest out each merning ekext perseelf clean, awy to the flies ite, the swell of the dead naw is cetty arefull some here remained unbueried since the jest week of londy, now the prition is much woese aviy to the heary casuatties of the lost few days. Had a little snipin today monayed to get a few in their trenches in the left, where the here to pass a rather expered fort, the day has been very quiet, we all expect that the will attack later when reinforced. Was detailed for woter patyue rather a heary jol, in which we all take tuns all water being brought up from the lotter of the fully in petral time, the clumb to the prent trenches is ver exhenstion, everythy here has to be man handled no motter wht the weiht is, as we have no horses or mules, white on this fature we was oftensnyed at as the trsks heve conmere of this gull frm the high graund on the "Chess bard on our left. we all pile down with an interral of soyds between each men, all got sofef through we were pleased to be again under the cver of our trenches, the prent time is the sifest placefter
41 as everythy missing the line inmediate finds its restry place semewhere in Sheepnel Culf as our lines are du in just over the top. On orseration post 4-5 pm at 4.30 I rejorted to Cstain Singson that the tueks wee flyin a white pay from their trenshes in pent. Evidenty a Red bress sign as the play consisted of a red cescent on a white luchground. This occured slll to te left of the sector that I am observing over, being the first to notice it I rejated same After a while other plays are wared further to the left, etter a time we arewer it by shawing a white towel, tater a party of 4 tricks came forward corging a white flac, the advanced half way acress no mans land holdry their hands up, we all thought they were gain to surrender, so we peef expesed ouselres may sittin a standiy in the peropet, when the huks saw us dain this the did the same. The deputation consisted of a doctor, staff officers etc, remained mid way between the trenches after a time the Adjutant Mr Masse and an interpreter left our trench and met them to enquire their business, while this nas being done man other Tuirks had been seen heovng theie trenches and were now meoring about arron the dead gathery up rifles, layonets etc hondy them oveer to the occuarts of their frent line. The dejutation said that they had been sent by their G.C.C to arrange an armistace to allow with sieles to collect and lig their dead, whose condition now is simply anfull and are lgin about in heaps in a most puteed state, the stench being obsolute beond description may of them hore been lyin exposed to the sun per three weeke, thereby causing great daner to health on both sides. The request fr an aemisluce wes refued, os the hower was too late in the day
42 Rumoured also that the officies credential were not quite satisfctory also that their trenches are being heavif relnferced, this appears to be a means of gainy time to being up fresh troops unobsleved e without very shelled as all pein has ceased. On theye mem grounds the regered armistace was refused also they had connenced expairing their trenches from the pent. During the negatiations on our front some trauble a good did of firing occured on our left as the twelys were nor keeping their nentratel + had conmensed to repair their paropets etc e to cary ux amunition to the line. Te crmen regat tht behind their lines 5000 rempreemts are beinlanded at Chanace in consiquence of this we all receive orders to "stand too a man the line in case the suddeng gen fice on us or attempt to advance, we are all still sittin on the perapets watchin them closef a senting to them acress "no mansland After armistace had been refused we all scramble down quiet undercover e prin becke out again ot 5.30 He are exccity a general attack allaton the line. He late natien French mertor lent by the Japancese is placed into psition this evening it is said to be the most deadliest gun in the world, we have not seenay trench mertas before, and so the are being marrned 6 a squad of the Royol Marine Brtilley, one somb fired into the trench siml llews beth men a trench to pieces, the oee tierll effective and we have two of them. All through the night awrartilly shell their trenches a the high pround on our left at intervals, in case we are
43 massing for an attack, we have everity read for them but nothen hoppened. Letter from England aeed toda. Over full casualtts jesterdy said to be only 600, not much in comporison to theu 245/15 After eending an anxious nisht nothy hoppered the wcald not attack, so excrytly remains quiet excet yor a few snipers, a new shirt e pair of socks were isgued to each man, firt change since landing ferman areglane dripped a bemb among our ships just off the ccost but missed. At 6 pm a few very laye shells are fired at us which explode with cr teremendous cragh, the rubration shatly the wholl trench for a hundred feet, we are bery shelled from the Tuelush forts on the Dardanelle, on the Ariatic side. we exjest a few more but nothy doing the must be a few ranging shots to get correct elevation on jurs, then the can give us some hucy un. The dead are emetting teribl bad all day, during the night a earl how of the momy the seem toget worse 22/5/15 Eveythywes vey quiet all night, we exected an attack, but it did not come off, everybod ready on the alext, the trench manned of 3 am about gam we get a downjour of rain, e another at II am the trench is vey mudd e strolly, veg little onyiy tody, beth sides miserable a wet through at 4 pr nh give them a few of our new bombs which are veg effective, the give an enoimons explosion, ore fell rother shat in no mansland ewe feel the effects of it. Stellig our trench up e blawig a by crater. A fesh meat stew was served for tea this evening, this is the fist ps
44 meat that we have had since the landing 23/5/15 Sunday Landed 1 month today, exception all quiet day. t Trusish officer came in today don the beach with the necessar crdentiol to make acrazements for the buciol of the dead whch are now in a most sherkig stetea great mence to health, the stench has been singly aufll this lost day or two ofter the rain arranenents are exentuall made and agreed to v - temerew prom 7.30 am to 630 pe all firing i to cease, parties aee to be sent out to collect e Den in the dead for burial during the armistice no militay werll of any discription may be undertaken or any ging removed or thoss rempreed etc, bich ads ajece 24/5/15 A few empny shots fired befoe 7.30 am ut 7.30 everything is head e sed wwo plays ace hoisted on beth sides, we all lay down our rifles The acrangements are pet that the Treks may ony approach, not more than half way accors no mans rand toweds our trenches, we are bound in a smilor was in eyards to there The half way time is kept b a naw of small white plays. All of their dead that we find on our half we hand over to them, a they hand over anrs which are tetlen awar on stretches for buriol ofter being well speirkled with Clerote of time. All sifle that wre found are to be handed back without the bolts. All men enjoed in this work ore to wear a white hand on the A arm Whe collect a huge pill of Twekish dead and hand them ever on the half way line, we collect
45 more than 3000. Our bogs are ver friendly wish the Wellish saldies, and excharge buttons, cegoedle eather souvences with one another, man of their officers are mooring about among their werken partios the Coman officees do not appear to treat the turkish soldies too well, some of them speak a little Enish e tell us that the ferman officers ev60 are vey cruel to them. I saw myself a ferman officer kick a Twellish pente for simety he had were. Once during the da there began to look pretty regg, a few shots were fired on our side but before anythy develosed the were quicty stopped attense everythy naked smoothy. Was out in no mans land most of the day e had a smoke e ajain with ageeup of Tls our wok been completed before 4.30 the cest of the time was token up I making friends with the Turks, who do not seen to be a ver bad gort of chap after all, the all hate their ferman officers. I formed the opinion that the would rather sverender as the cannot understand who the are figtty against England who has always been a good friend to them. After today most of our openiors on the triels were changed, the certain play the came better then the Jermans do Worviz else down today own to the armistice us all work has to completely stop, the onl walk allowed to us is the cerroval e burial of the dead of which there are very many. On conjletion of tence we all ecrambled back to oue line dead on time then the triles apered fire again e next it up at enturals all night. White on jost during nght a smper cret up quite closee unobsered to my loaphole e took a shot it me, We shat actwell breaky the Ciphol as I was observin theane it
46 the flash of the rifle neach blinded me being so close, the bullet struck the with one 1 inch from m head covery fiice with sliter of store etc frtunily not tenched although the plash eneie mracked me down, the myer could not have been Ging dead square with the loop hole hince m ereage, te claut call get expety attack tonytt 25/5/15 Wery cold rain day, trench very muddy a struty Issue of totacco toda, everthy ver quiet, had a bit of empiny to pss the time away, everythin eenegledy ver wet a miserable. The Ctlleshy Prinngh Gurk of lirve beach by submarine rejerted lors of obut so member of the crew, we could see her sink from the trenches. 24/5/15 Quiet day, ver little sniging, we are new dyging a new communication trench through to the sujects during the day, this will make thins logier fr us in cose of attack ewill allow the fient line to be reinforced much quickeg Aclean shirls a a prece of scap ismed todg. vey cold during the nifst 20/5/15 At dawn our ortitley apened fire on the trenches in frent of us, doing considerable damage knockin down a consideretly ammount of them perapet, evey shot was dead on the mack, one shill falley shart killed a few of our men, the firing ceased ot 99e. We remain quiet for the rest of the day. Tore been told that the Majestie hes ven tergodoed in the Dodanelles with heory loss of life
47 28/5/15 Our trenches are shilled this moeny causing considerable damage, the fire is ver acurate a they hit us every time, the shellig being either from the forts or the battleshy in Mewallows. We are shelled again about 6.30 am which cause several easuatties, but we remain farly quiet during the day. All observation forts are now manned o two obsences doin duty together Capt Sinpsen is transfered to D Coeme get Cost Coultman instead. Intellience received that the Tueles are runners short of amunition, so we dress up dunnnies for them to shert at eso woite their amunitian further, thes however had a four effect as Jacks would not bite too easily Mail from Enland accied today 29/5/15 We are allacked at dawn, ofter a prety hot shleand fire which lasted some time and caused several casualties, most of the fightry is on the left where the tils bose vr heovry, some prisonors were taken, the attack flazed itself out ly 9.30 am Weare relieved from the front time today the first time for a month, we camp on the side of Seopnd Gully just behind ovr front line. After a rest we go to Bytton Beach fr a bathe which is very refreshing e the onl good wrsh we can reall fet we will noticed by the observation port on foba Tefe who infrm their artitle who in their turn spirble us with shropnel no lod hit e we take no notice of it. On viter ptyncs to the beach at night carrig for the bos in the line. Mail from Enyland again sisted a issued with rations 30/5/15 Sunday Landed 5 weeks. Messordiely today fatines carrying water tte allday. Sheopnee full ORI
48 and the beach are huref shilled diery day, so me had to do without ove sever, may men have been nit e killed while givening at Brighton Beach and Robertsens Aliz, their actilly want for the men who bothe generall in the ofternoon e give them seme sopal evertidf taken a risk e gread themeeves cut will bnt of course a few get caupt euch day. Fody the are extra liberal with their fiel so bothy is refused Codas, we spend the rest of the day writing letters etc. 3os detaited to mount on observation joot at the top of the Gull which we fore nomed Wire Gully as it is full of barbed wire this Gull is just over the sty line a overlocks the vally of Beath. where the Tueks suffered vey heay lesses in their ottack on the 19/5/15. This jost is ave imprtant one as isolated secuty etc seekig inpomation here may times attengted to fors through e so reach the tep of Sheepne full which is about the centie of our line on the R glank, if successfull the would have a clear observation eitt down Theepnelfully to the beach e could direct all artilly fire, the approach is well kidden of bushes etc on their side, this part of the line is only patretted at night as over front line is broten heref the jully. A logs sector ends on the Ript nile of the jully the In then carries on on the other side. Am retieved at 5 am next morning 31/5/15 He return to ove front line sector toda ofter a sufpesed lest of 48 hours which consisted of nearr pitynes carying, woter amunition, stores etc up the Gally all day, so we return much mere tried than when we left, there being more rest in the pert time than behind it, as the men in the line have

39 
On the high ground to the left, there had been a 
much harder fight with our artillery assisting to 
keep them off Quins Post the most important 
position on our R flank which was constantly 
attacked without any success. At dawn the 
battleships gave us some help by shelling their trenches 
and gun positions. Was on observation post from 8-9 
& saw their trenches & guns simply blown sky high 
with their crews running for shelter all over the 
place, the naval gunnery is most deadly, while 
our lads in the front line picked them off 
with their rifles, we had continuous sniping all 
the morning, all firing ceased by midday. when 
everythng regained normal quietness. The Turks 
gained absolutely nothing their losses being extremly 
heavy, but the poor devils never had a chance as 
our fire was well controled & too much concentrated 
on their masses. Our casualties during the night 
were very small in comparison, most of them were 
caused by their shelling, reported they do not exceed 
500. We had many casualties in A Coy. They attack 
again on the left at 3pm where they again loose heavily 
this is only a small local action. The Light Horse made 
a counter attack on the right with some success, rest of 
the day remained quiet. Some 6" shells were fired 
at our trenches, doing considerable damage and 
knocking a good deal of it down causing more 
casualties. One fell through the roof of the 
machine gun cover doing considerable damage 
Believe the shells are from Turkish warships in the 
Dardanelles. An extra rum ration issued tonight. 
And well earnt too! 
  
20/5/15  Expected the Turks to attack again early this

 

40 
morning so we had to "Stand too" at 3am, however 
nothing happened, evidently thy will not risk it after 
yesterdays set back. A 6" shell fired at our trench 
about 8am just missed a group of us while we were 
having breakfast, burying itself in the "parados" only 
just passing over us, it knocked a good deal of the 
trench in burying us all in the dirt, we all lost our 
breakfast  being buried with us also the remains of our 
24 hours rations, as the only damage was done to the 
rear wall of the trench & our rations we were lucky 
to get off so lightly, especially as the shell did not explode 
The trenches now are very dry & baked hard in the 
sun. being swept out each morning & kept perfecly 
clean, owing to the flies etc, the smell of the dead 
now is getting awfull some have remained unburried 
since the first week of landg, now the position is 
much worse owing to the heavy casualties of the 
last few days. Had a little sniping today managed to 
get a few in their trenches on the left, where they 
have to pass a rather exposed part, the day has 
been vey quiet, we all expect that thy will attack 
later when reinforced. Was detailed for water fatigue 
rather a heavy job, in which we all take turns 
all water being brought up from the bottom of the 
gully in petrol tins, the climb to the front trench 
is very exhausting, everythg here has to be man 
handled no matter what the weight is, as we have 
no horses or mules, while on this fatigue we were 
often sniped at as the Turks have command of this 
gully from the high ground on the "Chess board" 
on our left. we all file down with an interval 
of 50 yds between each man, all got safely through 
we were pleased to be again under the cover of our 
trenches, the front line is the safest place after all 

 

41 
as everythng missing the line immediately finds its 
resting place somewhere in Shrapnel Gully as our lines 
are dug in just over the top. On observation post 
4-5 pm at 4.30 I reported to Captain Simpson that 
the Turks were flying a white flag from their trenches 
in front. Evidenly a Red Cross sign as the flag consisted 
of a red crescent on a white background. This occured 
slightly to the left of the sector that I am observing 
over, being the first to notice it I reported same. 
After a while other flags are waved further to the 
left, after a time we answer it by showing a white 
towel. later a party of 6 Turks came forward carying 
a white flag, they advanced half way across "no mans 
land" holding their hands up, we all thought they 
were going to surrender, so we freely exposed ourselves 
many sitting or standing on the parapet, when the Turks 
 saw us doing this they did the same. The deputation 
consisted of a doctor, staff officers etc, remained mid 
way between the trenches after a time the Adjutant 
Mr Massey and an interpreter left our trench and met 
them to enquire their business, while this was being 
done many other Turks had been seen leaving their 
trenches and were now mooving about among the dead 
gathering up rifles, bayonets etc handg them over to the 
occupants of their front line. The deputation said 
that they had been sent by their G.O.C. to arrange 
an armistace to allow both sides to collect and 
bury their dead, whose condition now is simply 
awfull and are lying about in heaps in a most putrid 
state, the stench being absolutely beyond description 
many of them have been lying exposed to the sun for 
three weeks, thereby causing great danger to health 
on both sides. The request for an armistace was 
refused, as the hour was too late in the day 

 

42 
Rumoured also that the officers credentials were 
not quite satisfactory also that their trenches 
are being heavily reinforced, this appears to be a 
means of gaining time to bring up fresh troops 
unobserved & without being shelled as all firing 
has ceased. On these main grounds the proposed 
armistace was refused also they had commenced 
repairing their trenches from the front. During 
the negotiations on our front some trouble & 
a good deal of firing occured on our left as 
the Turks were not keeping their neutrality & 
had commensed to repair their parapets etc 
& to carry up amunition to the line. The airmen 
report that behind their lines 5000 reinforcements 
are being landed at Chanac & in consequence of 
this we all receive orders to "Stand too " & man 
the line in case thy suddenly open fire on us 
or attempt to advance, we are all still sitting 
on the parapets watching them closely & shouting 
to them across "no mans land" After armistace 
had been refused we all scramble down quickly 
under cover & firing broke out again at 5.30 
We are expecting a general attack all along the 
line. The latest patern Trench mortar lent 
by  the Japanese is placed into position this 
evening it is said to be the most deadliest gun 
in the world, we have not seen any trench 
mortars before, and so thy are being manned 
by a squad of the Royal Marine Artilly, one 
 bomb fired into the trench simply blows both 
men & trench to pieces, thy are terribly effective 
and we have two of them. All through the night 
our artilly shell their trenches & the high ground 
on our left at intervals, in case thy are 

 

 43 
massing for an attack, we have everythng ready for 
 them but nothng happened. Letters from  England arrd 
today. Our full casualties yesterday said to be only 
600, not much in comparison to theirs 
  
21/5/15 After spending an anxious night nothg happened 
thy would not attack, so everythng remains quiet except 
for a few snipers, a new shirt & a pair of socks were 
issued to each man, first change since landing 
German aeroplane dropped a bomb among our ships 
just off the coast but missed. At 6 pm a few very 
large shells are fired at us which explode with a 
tremendous crash, the vibration shaking the whole 
trench for a hundred feet, we are being shelled 
from the Turkish ports on the Dardanelles, on the 
Asiatic side. we expect a few more but nothg doing 
thy must be a few ranging shots to get correct 
elevation on guns, then thy can give us some 
hurry up. The dead are smelling terribly bad 
all day, during the night & early hours of the 
morning thy seem to get worse 
  
22/5/15 Everythg was vey quiet all night, we expected 
an attack, but it did not come off, everybody ready 
& on the alert, the trench manned at 3 am 
about 9am we get a downpour of rain, & another 
at 11am the trench is vey muddy & sticky, vey little 
sniping tody, both sides miserable & wet through 
at 4pm we give them a few of our new bombs 
which are vey effective, thy give an enormous 
explosion, one fell rather short in "no mans land" 
& we feel the effects of it. shelling our trench up 
& blowing a big crater. A fresh meat stew was 
 served for tea this evening, this is the first fresh 

 

44 
meat that we have had  since the landing 
  
23/5/15 Sunday  Landed 1 month today, exceptionally 
quiet day. A Turkish officer came in today 
along the beach with the necessary credentials 
to make arrangements for the burial of the dead 
which are now in a most shocking state & a 
great menase to health, the stench has been simply 
awfull this last day or two after the rain 
arrangements are eventually made and agreed to 
viz - tomorrow from 7.30am to 4.30pm all 
firing is to cease, parties are to be sent out 
to collect & bring in the dead for burial, 
during this armistice no military work of any 
discription may be undertaken or any guns 
removed or troops reinforced etc, both sides agree 
  
24/5/15 A few sniping shots fired before 7.30 am 
At 7.30 everything is ready & red cross flags are 
hoisted on both sides, we all lay down our rifles 
The arrangements are first that the Turks 
may only approach, not more than half way across 
"no mans land" towards our trenches, we are 
bound in a similar way in regards to theirs  
The half way line is kept by a row of small 
white flags. All of their dead that we find on 
our half we hand over to them, & they hand over 
ours which are taken away on stretches for burial 
after being well sprinkled with Clorate of 
lime. All rifles that are found are to be handed 
back without the bolts. All men engaged in this 
work are to wear a white band on the R arm 
We collect a huge pile of Turkish dead and 
hand them over on the half way line, we collect 

 

45 
more than 3000. Our boys are very friendly with 
the Turkish soldiers, and exchange buttons, [[?]] 
& other souvenirs with one another, many of their 
officers are mooving about among their working parties 
The German  officers do not appear to treat the 
Turkish soldiers too well, some of them speak a little 
English & tell us that the German officers & NCOs  
are vey cruel to them. I saw myself a german 
officer kick a Turkish private for somethg he had 
done. Once during the day things began to look 
pretty ugly, a few shots were fired on our side 
but before anythng developed thy were quickly stopped 
otherwise everythg worked smoothly. Was out in "no 
mans land" most of the day & had a smoke & a yarn with 
a group of Turks our work being completed before 4.30 
the rest of the time was taken up by making friends 
with the Turks, who do not seem to be a very bad 
sort of chap after all, thy all hate their German 
officers. I formed the opinion that thy would 
rather surrender as thy cannot understand why 
thy are fighting against England who has always 
been a good friend to them. After today most 
of our opinions on the Turks were changed, thy 
certainy play the game better than the Germans do 
Nothing else doing today owing to the armistice 
as all work has to completely stop, the only work 
allowed to us is the removal & burial of the dead 
of which there are very many. On completion of truce 
we all scrambled back to our lines dead on time 
then the Turks opened fire again & kept it up at 
intervalls all night. While on post during night a 
sniper crept up quite close & unobserved to my 
loophole & took a shot at me, the shot actualy 
breakng the loophole as I was observing through it 

 

46 
the flash of the rifle nearly blinded me being 
so close, the bullet struck the earth only 1/2 
inch from my head. coverg face with splinters of 
stone etc fortunately not touched although the 
flash & noise knocked me down, the sniper 
could not have been lying dead square with 
the loop hole hence my escape. The closest call yet 
expecting attack tonight 
  
25/5/15 Very cold rainy day, trench very muddy & sticky 
Issue of tobacco today, everythng very quiet, had a bit 
of sniping to pass the time away, everythng & everybody 
very wet & miserable. The battleship Triumph sunk 
off Anzac beach by submarine reported loss of about 50 
members of the crew, we could see her sink from  
the trenches. 
  
26/5/15 Quiet day, very little sniping, we are now 
digging a new communication trench through to 
the supports during the day, this will make things 
easier for us in case of attack & will allow 
the front line to be reinforced much quicker 
A clean shirt & a piece of soap issued today. very 
cold during the night 
  
27/5/15 At dawn our artillery opened fire on the 
trenches in front of us, doing considerable damage 
knocking down a considerable ammount of their 
parapet, every shot was dead on the mark, one shell 
falling short killed a few of our men, the firing 
ceased at 9o/c We remain quiet for the rest of the 
day. Have been told that the Majestic has 
been torpeded in the Dardanelles with heavy loss of life 

 

47 
28/5/15 Our trenches are shelled this morning causing 
considerable damage, the fire is vey acurate & they hit 
us every time, the shelling being either from the posts 
or the battleships in the Narrows. We are shelled again 
about 6.30 am which cause several casualties, but we 
remain fairly quiet during the day. All observation 
posts are now manned by two observers doing duty 
together. Capt Simpson is transfered to D Coy & we 
get Capt Coultman instead. Intelligence received 
that the Turks are running short of amunition, so 
we dress up dummies for them to shoot at & so 
waste their amunition further, this however had a 
poor effect as "Jacko" would not "bite" too easily 
Mail from England arrived today 
  
29/5/15 We are attacked at dawn after a pretty hot 
shrapnel fire which lasted some time and caused 
several casualties, most of the fighting is on the left 
where the Turks loose very heavily, some prisoners 
were taken, the attack played itself out by 9.30am 
We are relieved from the front line today the first 
time for a month, we camp on the side of Shrapnel 
Gully just behind our front line. After a rest we 
go to Brighton Beach for a bathe which is very 
 refreshing & the only good wash we can really get 
We were noticed by the observation post on Gaba 
Tepe who inform their artilly who in their 
turn sprinkle us with shrapnel nobody hit &  
we take no notice of it. On water fatigues to the 
beach at night carrying for the Bns in the line. Mail 
from England again sorted & issued with rations 
  
30/5/15 Sunday  Landed 5 weeks. Mess orderly today 
fatigues carrying water etc all day. Shrapnel fully 

 

48 
and the beach are heavily shelled during day, so we 
had to do without our swim, many men have been 
hit & killed while swimmng at Brighton Beach and 
Robertsons Pier, their artilly wait for the men who 
bathe generally in the afternoon & give them some shrapnel 
everybody takes a risk & spread themselves out well 
but of course a few get caught each day. Tody 
thy are extra liberal with their fire so bathg 
is refused by orders, we spend the rest of the day writing 
letters etc. Was detailed to mount an observation 
post at the top of the Gully which we have named 
"Wire Gully" as it is full of barbed wire this Gully 
is just over the sky line & overlooks the Vally of 
Death. where the Turks suffered vy heavy losses 
in their attack on the 19/5/15. This post is a vy 
important one as isolated scouts etc seeking information 
have many times attempted to pass through & so reach 
the top of Shrapnel Gully which is about the centre of 
our line on the R flank, if successfull thy would 
have a clear observation right down Shrapnel Gully 
to the beach & could direct all artilly fire, the 
approach is well hidden by bushes etc on their side, 
this part of the line is only patrolled at night 
as our front line is broken here by the gully 
A Coys sector ends on the Right side of the gully the 
Bn then carries on on the other side. Am relieved 
at 5am next morning 
  
31/5/15 We return to our front line sector today after 
a supposed rest of 48 hours which consisted of heavy 
fatigues carrying, water, amunition, stores etc up the 
Gully all day, so we return much more tired than 
when we left, there being more rest in the front 
line than behind it, as the men in the line have 

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Jacqueline KennedyJacqueline Kennedy
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