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

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everything fatigued for them by the men supposed to be  
resting behind the lines, we all much prefer to remain  
in the line & take the front line risks. Before  
returning we visit the beach for a last swim. The  
day has been vy quiet, we keep up the ordinay trench  
routine of observing etc 
  
1/6/15 Easy day nothing doing, we started today to  
sap out from our front line towards the Turks this  
sap is entirely underground, & is making good  
progress daily, not a shot fired today, absoluty nothg  
to fire at, & vey little sniping alog the entire front  
both sides watchng one another & preparing surprises
Water fatigue again, tin of tobacco & box of matches  
issued, these issues are now becoming a regular  
thing each Monday. A small amount of stores have  
arrived for the Bn, managed to buy a packet of 8  
boxes of matches for -/6 from Padre McKenzie 
  
2/6/15 We are again relieved for a rest, this time we  
have a longer & better one. Nos 3&4 platoons are  
given the job to dig a new communication trench  
for supports, we dig all day, but get a good rest at  
night, being exempt from all other fatigues & duties 
we all managed to get a good nights rest 
  
3/6/15 Fatigues all day & digging communication trench
"Stand too" at 9pm however there was nothing  
doing, False Alarm. "Stand down" 10pm 
  
4/6/15 Fatigues for the Q M Stores & digging new  
latrines all day. Very heavy artilly bombardment  
on Achi Baba a large hill on our R on the  
English Tommys front, we can hear the vy heavy

50
guns all day. Fresh meat stew on issue for tea  
tonight, also lot of rum. English mail in tody 
  
5/6/15 Fatigues all day digging. very quiet day, many  
shells pass over us on their way to the beach which  
gets attention at intervalls during the day, as it is  
always crowded with men it is now just like  
a small city. The Turks lost a trench to the 1st Bn  
early this morning 
  
6/6/15 Sunday Landed 6 weeks. Returned to front line  
today at 9 am, this time we take up a different sector  
of the line on the L of our old position, which is very  
badly protected from rifle & shrapnel fire, the post  
I am allotted to is exceptionally dangerous, when I  
stand upright am head above the parapet, sniped  
at several times, the Coy we have relieved evidently did  
not believe in making for their own safety, this throws  
extra work on us as we now have to build overhead  
cover for our own protection besides our ordinary  
trench duties. We have been shelled a little today
Our naval areoplanes dropped several bombs on  
their trenches with great effect, blowing up a  
good portion of it, otherwise we have a quiet day 
  
7/6/15 Very quiet day, did not fire a shot, the smell  
from the dead that are again accumulating is very  
bad, and swarms of huge flies worry you all day  
the heat now is vy considerable. Turks made  
another heavy attack on Quinns Post tonight, but we  
had a complete success again. Water is reduced to 1 1/6  
pints per man for all purposes including tea, cooking etc 
owng to its scarcity it is being towed from Egypt in flat  
punts & pumped into tanks on the beach.

51 
8/6/15 A little sniping today, tobacco issued vy 
quiet day on the whole, our artilly shelled the 
"Chest Board" this afternoon 
  
9/6/15 Had some good sniping today otherwise  
nothing doing, The Turks continue to sap towards  
us, we snipe at them all day but to no effect  
untill thy turned a machine gun on us at 6 pm  
in reply no one hit. Our artillry shook them up  
a bit this afternoon, we get a quiet night, no alarms 
  
10/6/15 Relieved at 9.30 & placed in the support lines
Mess orderly & water fatigues all day & trench digging  
all night. A fight started at Quinns Post at 2.30 am  
but we remain quiet on our sector 
  
11/6/15 Very windy all day, the parapet of the trench  
is slowly being blown away on us covering all food etc  
& making things gritty & miserable. trench digging &  
repairing all night 
  
12/6/15 The whole 4th Bn is now moved to the R  
of Wire Gully, previous to this A & B Coys were on the  
R & C & D Coys on the left of the Gully. A Coy now  
mooves further to the R & the other Coys move over,  
making an unbroken front for the Bn. Our old line  
on L of gully are taken over by the 2^nd Brigade.
Fatigue at Co Hdqrs all day & digging at night, heavy 
mail from Sydny arrived received 2 letters. Sapping  
all night 
  
13/6/15 Sunday Landed 7 weeks, very quiet day, the  
battleships shelled a Turkish position for about 1/2 hour  
pourng in several heavy broadsides, we watched this

52 
bombardment during breakfast, as on our new Coy post we  
can see the whole of the Turkish left & across country  
to Achi Barba on our front, and the whole fleet at  
our rear simply by turning round. quite an unique  
position to observe effect of shots, advantage taken  
of this by naval observers. We are digging trenches again  
all day, half loaf of bread issued today, One of our naval  
areoplanes flew over our position under a heavy shrapnel  
fire from the Turkish batteries without being hit. It  
then dropped three bombs on their trenches with a  
terrific roar, this was our entertainment during  
the evening meal. Fatigues & sapping all night 
  
14/6/15 Return to the front line today, quite a relief from  
the last four days fatigues, digging etc, feel very much  
knocked out after our reputed "rest", rather quiet day  
only a bit of sniping on our sector, we get a little shelling  
at sundown, trench knocked about a good deal 
  
15/6/15 Reported sick today, bad attack of Cholic &  
Dysenty, our sector heavily bombarded with heavy shells   
from Chanac forts. issue of tobacco, relieved of all  
duties durg day 
  
16/6/15 Worse today, relieved of all duties. Coy relieved  
from the trenches and take up a position at bottom of  
Gully on a rather badly exposed position to shell fire
shells are dropping at intervals trying to find our guns. Our  
next camp being situated in front of Brighton Beach and  
near the Indian Mule Batterys, we get plenty of   
opportunities for bathing here. 4^th reinforcements landed  
and joined us during evening 
  
17/6/15 Unfit, resting all day, pains in stomach slightly

53 
better, many men are down with dysenty which is  
now very prevelent amongst us  Clean shirt issued 
  
18/6/15 Unfit again today, worse if anything, very  
feverish & feeling vey weak. 1/3 of a loaf of bread  
issued tody. All "hands" have dysenty more or less  
some worse than others, many men are evacuated  
to hospital 
  
19/6/15 Doctor again marked as unfit, fortunate to  
get a tin of milk and a handful of rice today from  
Major Storey, quite a treat, first food I have eaten  
for four days. We were shelled in our camp during day  
nobody hit 
  
20/6/15 Sunday Landed 8 weeks. marked unfit, easy  
day, nothing doing, 1/3 loaf of bread issued, a good deal  
of dysentry and other sickness is breaking out, but our  
rest is doing us some good, this is the first actual  
rest we have had 
  
21/6/15 Unfit, large mail today. Doctor issued tin  
of milk for dysentry 
  
22/6/15 Still unfit, tobacco issued today. visited the  
Indian Mule Batty camp to get some of their curry  
& damper bread. feeling better. 
  
23/6/15 As we are returning to the line today did  
not report sick, but joined the platoon & reported for  
duty. Detailed for night work 8 pm till 8 am next  
morning, with no fatigues the next day. Three men are  
now being placed on observation post, two keeping watch  
the other sitting down beside them, but must not go to

54 
sleep, we relieve one another each hour - 2 hours  
observing & 1 hour rest. We find two hours are rather  
too long a strain for the eyes. 1/2 loaf of bread  
issued today 
  
24/6/15 Resting all day, nothg doing. The Turks are much  
closer than when we were in the trenches last  
time, and thy are still sapping towards us. We  
get a quiet night with vry little sniping, no casualties
As I am off trench duties during the day, I get a very  
good days sleep in the support line from 8 am 
  
25/6/15 Resting all day, observation in the front line 
changed again hours now 7 pm to 7 pm the next day
The Turks are now throwing trench bombs similar 
to ours but less powerfull, hit about 10 men during 
day otherwise very quiet. We draw the Turks rifle  
fire by volley firing & so discover the position of two  
of their machine guns 
  
26/6/15 In front line all day, it is now very hot  
weather and steadily gettng warmer, the flies are a  
great nuisance, it is imposible to keep food free  
from them, thy are the cause of all the dysentry  
and hundreds of our men are down with it, but  
must carry on just the same as we cannot get the  
necessary reliefs. Several bombs are thrown at us  
today, without doing much damage, we are to remain  
another 24 hours in the line before our relief is due 
English mail in today 
  
27/6/15 Sunday Landed 9 weeks. In front line all day  
untill 9 pm when we are relieved by Nos 1&2 platoons
We are being shelled today by some new high explosive 

55 
shells, probably captured from the French, otherwise  
quiet day, 1/3 loaf issued today 
  
28/6/15 Had a good nights rest, fatigues all day in  
the support trenches. Attack on our R by the 3rd  
Brigade & Light Horse. orders to "stand too" from 12.30  
untill 4 pm ready for an attack on our front.  My platoon  
& No 4 are in the reserve trenches behind the front line  
however we are not wanted, although we were  
shelled a good deal. The attack on Right successful 
  
29/6/15 Fatigues all day, we return to the front line at  
7 pm. There is no moon now untill early mornig. the  
nights are vy dark. About 9.30 a dust storm arose  
with a very heavy wind, under cover of the thick  
dust we expect the Turks to attack, as the dust is blowg  
in our faces, and the light is slowly fading fading
We are "standing too" constantly and firing several volleys  
at their trenches through the dust which is vey thick  
this has the effect of keeping them there, after a while  
they think we are preparing an attack on them, so thy  
reply in like manner, which of course keeps our heads  
down, & so each side bluffs the other. The Turks  
however miss a great opportunity, as the dust & grit  
is blowing direct into our faces, nothig happens  
on either side. We expected them to liberate gas  
on us  similar to that used on the Western Front
Respirators have been issued, simply a gag soaked in a  
chemical & placed in a gause which we tie over  
the mouth & stuff up our nose, tying gause at  
back of head, said to be vey effective but seem  
to be vy primitive in idea. The direction of  
the wind changed at 10o/c, no gas was liberated  
although we have received the information that 

56 
they are equiped with it, both sides have succeeded  
in keeping the other in their trenches, and the  
expected attack dies out when the wind drops at  
10.30. everythg remained quiet for the rest of day &  
night. Issue of tobacco today 
  
30/6/15 Quiet day, only a little sniping, very dark tonight  
absolutely no moon, similar to last night. Heavy rain storm  
with vry brilliant lightnig at 9.30 pm, we all stood to  
arms for 1 hour while storm lasts, expectng an attack. We  
apply the same measures as yesterday keeping a steady fire  
on their trenches & they do the same to us with the result  
that neither side attempt to leave their trenches, the  
lightning is very brilliant, we can see the whole of their  
trenches & "no mans land" as if it were daylight
another downpour at 1 am, we all get wet through  
and the trench very muddy & sticky, the night passes  
vry quietly 
  
1/7/15 Nothing doing today. Had a narrow escape from  
being blinded, an explosive bullet hit my periscope  
while observing.  blowing the top of the periscope to pieces,  
breaking the glass into small fragments all over my eyes  
cutting my nose badly between the eyes, many fragments of glass  
enter the eye, fortunately without cutting the pupil  
knocking me down & completely blinding me for 24 hours  
face also badly cut & bled freely. Removed to Bn dressing  
station where Dr Tebbutt placed me under observation  
will know definately tomorrow condition of eye. 
  
2/7/15 Under observation at Bn dressing station, eyes  
examined & pieces of glass removed. fortunately no permanent  
damage has been done, bandages removed from eyes & I  
return to Coy for duty. No duties rest of day

57 
3/7/15 Attended Dr, marked light duties, sight quite  
normal again 
  
4/7/15 Sunday Landed 10 weeks. Dr marked me fit  
for duty. Orderley man 
  
5/7/15 Back to full trench duty today, relieved one  
of the boys on night duty. Stomach again troubling me, vry  
sharp attack of Cholic again 
  
6/7/15 Reported sick, light duties, 2 ozs of tobacco today
Several 10" shells fell on our trenches today & in the  
Gully tearing up a lot of ground, nobody hurt, two  
cigarette lighters arrived from England which are worth  
their weight in gold, as we cannot get matches at  
any price. At 11.30 pm the Turks spring a small  
mine under one of our saps blowing it up 
  
7/7/15 Reported sick, no medicine available, light duties  
Guard on L 3 sap which is blown up again tonight 
  
8/7/15 Did not report sick, useless as there is no  
medicine, so was put back into front line, feeling vry  
weak. Half loaf or bread issued today. Heavy bombardment  
of the trenches opposite to us this afternoon at 5o/c. We  
are relieved from the front line tonight 
  
9/7/15 Resting in the supports all day. lazy day, light duties  
The Turks blew up a sap on us this evening, doing  
very little damage, the crater is very near our front  
line, two or three men being hit by falling clods of  
earth, otherwise no harm done & no casualties 
  
10/7/15 Orderly man, water is now getting vry scarce

58 
in the Gully , had to wait for 3½ hours for water for  
the tea. Australian mail in today. Return to the   
front line this evening 
  
11/7/15 Sunday Landed 11 weeks, firing line all day  
nothing doing quiet day 
  
12/7/15 Attack made on our Left to gain "The  
German Officers trench" which was subjected to a lot  
of shelling, to which they vigereusly replied knocking  
several of us out. Watched the bombardment of Achi  
Baba by the fleet during afternoon from an observation  
post. The top of the hill vry heavily bombarded  
which could be plainly seen being slowly blown away  
by the continuous rain of shells on it 
  
13/7/15 Firing line all day, quiet, we expect an attack  
at night, several flares being used which is quite unusual
The religious feast of Ramadan starts today, we expect them  
to go mad & attack us in their religious frenzy, but  
they keep pretty quiet, we are ready for them and all the  
supports & reserves are brought up close behind the lines  
for instant use if necessary. Tobacco & matches issued  
today 
  
14/7/15 Relieved from the front line, went to the rest  
camp where we have a quiet day. Col Benett transfered  
to 1st Bn & Col Macnaughten return to 4th 
  
15/7/15 Rest camp. Orderly. half loaf of bread issued  
today. We are all innoculated against Cholera over the  
heart, afterwards all hands visit Brighton Beach for a  
swim, & do their washing. Paid £1