Diary of Harold Edwin Salisbury Armitage, 1915 - Part 3

Conflict:
First World War, 1914–18
Subject:
  • Documents and letters
Status:
Finalised
Accession number:
RCDIG0000396
Difficulty:

Page 1 / 7

23.5.15 Aclmich Egyht 1st Bathe Banhotal Off. Mess Arrval Egypt. 18 Quez 10a.m. 20. 5. 15 Desembark today for Cairo. Well we have landed, &entrained to caws from Lueg as soon as possible we will be sent to the front, Egyht is not a bad place as regards climate, the heat does not affect me - but the glave of the sand does. This letter will be a sad one in many wrys - Gordon Munro has gone - he was in action only a few minutes. I dug up a wounded 12th man (100 wounded here) the was alongside Lordon when y happened. I daresay you know the account of the Cussies landing - a brilliant feat. Well Hunn jumped out of the bowe of his boat followed by his platoon, up to compits in the sea suiter nichine gun five from Sandhills, 150 or less yets away, got ashore safely with some men The Tassies were ordered to fix bayonet's charge then machine guns by short, shoop rushes, wwhen about 70 yets away charged. Meenro led this charge with no bayonet or rifle - merely his revolver - when a few yards from the enemy - called to his men. Keep together, & give the beggars a got tthen immediately fell. shot in the stomach. I felt nuserable all day yenterdlay on account of this news - Poor old Gordon- he &I had been close commares since we first met at A.H.5. 1910- &I had been so looking forward to jrining with him again. 1003
may 23 Cot Arrrval Enght Gordon Giles, Alec Fraser - (see Pyr. thote. Cone with the helmet) Talbot Smith &many others are reported to have fone under- salmost avery 10th officer was wounded. The 10th got it very hot, being the second batt to land, the 9th (Qncembanders) being first of all, & getting much cut up. about 75/0 & both batts. reported killed or wounded. Every S.A. officer in 12th was killed or wounded - Rayser had half an ear shot off. Jorgensen wounded - Som Holland got a ccalp wound which will part his hair for ever. He has two brothers with us. Ime lads. He has regoined his unit. Birt was slightly wounded too, swe hear sinnce he has been done for The 9th had 39 men at the close of 25.4.15 &all reinforcements are up The 10th were badly bit, & have already drawn on 4th Reinforcemts. altho. Ireland Monle have not yet gone. I hope they are not being kept to take our lot - we want to stick to our own men. Our chaps after being teetotallers for over a month, could not all remain straight when we got on land - 16 were A.W.L. this morning - but all except two or three have turned up. Yesterday. (Sat. ½ holiday) Ireland took Hancock & me for sightseeing. Te ment to the Citadil, svirited 5 mosques. Ie Citadil is a fine old place &so are the mosques - but I was very trved before we finished. The morgues are something to talk about - it would be useless trying to write about them. It was a pleasure to meet Ireland & monte in this strange land. you can't realise what it meant to us. Hed had a fairly nnerable time on the bont . the Vic officers with one or two exceptions, were pups - dit was good to see a fresh old face - such as Irelands & Montes. I will now describe our disembarkation. He thought wed go to Pt. Said for orders but we were stopped at Suez, (19th) snotified to land at once, but for some reason remaind on boast, I was officer of the guard & had to remain up all night, to see m Cappol
Pette. 3 23 Rescit Coy Egght 23-5-15 Reveille was at 5a.2 (2l) tthe 18th mase Baggope Greard, & Tonge party - so we got it pretter bst going hard at it ret we enmond at to pm. Then we selled to Cairo saw a beutful sed as it a morniligs had a fer view of the country absolutely mable hit there were statious here &there guarded by Andeonr troope these i seof our men bought thanks to this our fellows saw practically its effects one of our chapes went norly ma. Ihad to be pid u Hosp when we got here. Native liquor is vill. Desentsaned 11.45 p.m. had to murch 3 milds to canrf tthen had to put 146 men in t tostof to flankt Wibs Sheets came on by an carlier tore but we declitt ft men <tm g g slpt in our clothes had be ad gd to fint madical Dent get we Cant loud) filid specbi it took me th hours. Then we hsd to knis mond for the oleifeeds & w.1d getting the former of juxt ot despeoade. We got no aleck that night- commenced with to went to av an afteroon eurned m at prad fell c in my clotkes - in sleep sonce Kenlle 19 I was to have gone with Hoock & Ireleved to thes tolig but was t tbome Expect to beat frind wen you get thes in nk best wiakes- bothday pti to sange a thope gvee in the same tip-top Penith as a aur ti Sst Coup Ters Per Bock. 9.13 1.26 12-36 Prase 4S 6
Bare Retants Egypt Helmich 22 M 50 My marching orders have come a but sooner than espected, for I notified that Common at 5 a.m.I am to start out. I am returning with 115 wounded to the front. some beauties among them so I am anticipating a rough time. There is one comfort as Ireland is going up with 65 - remainder of his Teiyrem This place (Caro) is absolutely rotten - Bean's state ments are correct in every detail. Frank white has been returned from the Dananitles. to Helopolis Hosp, suffering from Khewir, fever. stan & I heard by chance that he was there, Inade time to see him. He was looking firstly miserable when we went him - but left him more chaerful. I feel loving touch withy men almost as much as the loss of Gordon Munro. I have put in many of my best hours with them - Hheard General Spens- (A.O.C. Egight) state at his inspection that the $/10 were a very satisfactory sefficient body - so you can imagine what a pill it was to take away abolute strangers. My old men feel it too, & got up a patitiin to get away with me - but this is so imilitary that I stapped it. So after wearing my heart out - Feb 15 to May 25 - I have to leave my men. They are a very fine lot, & I am awfully disappointed at leaving them - it outs into me very deep indeed. I am afored I am unlikely to do my dity to you as a son, for I must confers our chanrces of coming back from the front are very small. I have done my best IRI
e Egghtegyht 28 to better myself, and so do my share to help you along. You have schooled me, and until I was 20 years old I was relying on your kell - sit is only sune I have been in the military that I have been able to fix myself up. It is rather hard to think that just when I should be doing my least for the home our impive gets thrown wnto the throes of thi terrible war. I foresaw everything when I votunteesed +I feel more been than ever to got away to the Bn I have Gordon to avenge - amy keenness has only been slightly blunted by leaving my men - but Irelauds company to a certain extent comitenats that I did not get much time to see Cairo - the Ctadil and the mosques were all I rreited. If anything happens my Frunk is at Thrs. Cook Son cawro - &they will forward when you write. It contains bank-book - &about £22 in o ti box - my clothes, books &c. I will write again as soon as I get a chance hoping it will be my luck to get back. Good forture, good health, kappiness &prosperity I wish you all. Let Benva - George & Havry read this letter Box is addressed Lient- H.E.S. Armito 5th Rei. 10th Infantry 3rd Brgade A. J. Force address letters 10th Buthn. 3rd Brigade. Aust. Division
2616 27 May At Sen - Near Gallipoli 24 Harry's birthday brought me good luck for I shifted from the worst hole on God's earth after 4 days stay. I have a pretty tough job as the men consider themsalues the head, has I am the nipper of the crowd of officers I am somewhat at a dundvantae. They are a mys crowd - but I will coon hard them over, &anyhow have taied them considerably. I will get one of the ship's officers to post this - Im afoaid my puture correst will be confined to pointed cards. I could let you have lots of news- but as my letter might get wit wrong hands it would be useless to write much. - I am hopeful of pulling through, and will then tell you fully. Anyhow hctory with tell what a fine fight our boys are putting up, if we do go down you can rely that were all aome our best for King & Country. Gine my love to all the recatives & Houghton fothe I can't write to them - but they are not frogotten. I had no time to get curios, &c in Caie - tor busy fixing up my men, but there are badges, my stars, & in that tray in my trunk a also a lattle way Elephant I picked up at Colonibo. Harry will likes ot I was disappointed at being moved on without receiving any home mail but I will got it sometive Things are only middling with us. I must not state what is in or on the water- but tormorrow we land, &I hope in a day or two te meet your old school-mate Col. Heer. Diles is much alive It may be some time before I write again don't know how to alove this letter for I feel 100.
Maye May 129 At Sea. near Lemnos. put a wee bit funny while writing this. But at all times I have endeavoured to do my duty to you, astouggled hard to be a coedit to you. Thank lnd that I have prvents who brought me up in such a way that I have a bit of backbou I have always tried to live up to your advice, wnot never do what you'd be ashomed for hm & Berna to know - Faltho. Im not perfect - I have nothing to hide from anyone I intended to send you a lest of my men so that you could look them up after the war- but time has been against me I can't write what I feel - it is a bit hard to do so when the gis are fiving only a few mull away. - so It close now- wishing you all the best of goon luck. On trawler Im getting to front 1 day ahead of Stan Have to be my own cansor. Instruct anyone writing to addresse 10th 1 Let Bottons know. 3d Brg.

18 
Arrival Egypt.
  
[*23.5.15 Helmich Egypt 1st Battn Base Details Off. Mess*]
  
Suez 10. a.m. 20. 5. 15 
Disembark today for Cairo. 
Well we have landed, & entrained to Cairo from Suez & 
as soon as possible we will be sent to the front. Egypt is 
not a bad place as regards climate, the heat does not 
affect me - but the glare of the sand does. 
This letter will be a sad one in many ways - Gordon 
Munro has gone - he was in action only a few minutes. 
I dug up a wounded 12th man (100 wounded here) & he 
was alongside Gordon when it happened. I daresay 
you know the account of the Aussie's landing - a 
brilliant feat. - Well - Munro jumped out of the bows 
of his boat followed by his platoon, up to armpits 
in the sea, & under machine gun-fire from sandhills, 
150 or less yds away, got ashore safely with some men. 
The Tassies were ordered to fix bayonets & charge these 
machine guns - by short, sharp rushes, & when about 
70 yds. away charged.  Munro led this charge with 
no bayonet or rifle - merely his revolver - & when a 
few yards from the enemy - called to his men- 
"Keep together, & give the beggars a go" - & then 
immediately fell - shot in the stomach. 
I felt miserable all day yesterday on account of 
this news - Poor old Gordon - he & I had been close 
comrades since we first met at A.H.S. 1910- & I had 
been so looking forward to joining with him again.

 

Arrival Egypt 
  
[*May 23rd Contd*]
  
Gordon Giles, Alec Fraser - (see Pyr. photo - (one with the
helmet) Talbot Smith & many others are reported to have gone 
under - & almost every 10th officer was wounded. 
The 10th got it very hot, being the second battn to land, - the 9th 
(Queenslanders) being first of all, & getting much cut up. about 75% 
of both batts. reported killed or wounded.  Every S.A. officer in 
12th was killed or wounded - Kayser had half an ear shot off. 
Jorgensen wounded - Tom Holland got a scalp wound which will 
part his hair for ever.  He has two brothers with us - fine lads. 
He has rejoined his unit.  Birt was slightly wounded too, & we 
hear since he has been done for. 
The 9th had 39 men at the close of 25.4.15 - & all reinforcements are up. 
The 10th were badly hit, & have already drawn on 4th Reinforcemts. 
altho' Ireland & Moule have not yet gone.  I hope they are not 
being kept to take our lot - we want to stick to our own men. 
Our chaps after being teetotallers for over a month, could not all 
remain straight when we got on land - 16 were A.W.L. this 
morning - but all except two or three have turned up. 
Yesterday - (Sat. ½ holiday) Ireland took Hancock & me for 
sightseeing.  We went to the Citadel, & visited 8 mosques.  The 
Citadel is a fine old place & so are the mosques - but I was 
very tired before we finished.  The Mosques are something to 
talk about - it would be useless trying to write about them. 
It was a pleasure to meet Ireland & Moule in this 
strange land - you can't realise what it meant to us. 
We'd had a fairly miserable time on the boat - the Vic. officers, 
with one or two exceptions, were pups - & it was good to see 
a fresh 'old' face - such as Ireland's & Moule's. 
I will now describe our disembarkation. We thought we'd 
go to Pt. Said for orders but we were stopped at Suez, (19th) 
& notified to land at once, but for some reason remained on board. 
I was officer of the guard & had to remain up all night, to see 
specially that no-one 'hopped it'.

 

Egypt       
21 
Cover 23.5.15 
[*Letter 23.5.15 Disemb.*]                                        

Reveille was at 5 a.m (20th) & the 10th were Baggage 
Guard, & Fatigue party - so we got it pretty hot - going 
hard at it till we entrained at 4 p.m.  Then we travelled 
to Cairo - saw a beautiful sunset, and as it was moonlight 
had a fair view of the country, absolutely miserable - but 
there were stations here & there guarded by Indian troops. 
At these stations some of our men bought native 'Cognac' 
thanks to this our fellows saw practically its effects - as 
one of our chaps went nearly mad & had to be put in 
Hosp. when we got here.  Native liquor is vile. 
Disentrained 11.45 p.m. had to march 3 miles to camp, 
& then had to put 146 men in 8 tents!!  Our blankets 
W.P. Sheets came on by an earlier train but we didn't get 
them so we men slept in our clothes.  I had to prowl around 
to find Medical Tent - to get Pte (Cumberland) fixed up - but 
it took me 1½ hours.  Then we had to hunt around for the 
blankets & W.P. getting the former up just at daybreak. 
We got no sleep that night- commenced work at 6 am 20th 
went to Cairo in afternoon - & returned here at 10pm.  I 
fell asleep in my clothes - no sleep since Reveille 19th. 
I was to have gone with Hancock & Ireland to Pyr. today 
but was I was too tired, stayed in camp, wrote home. 
Expect to be at front when you get this - much love & 
best wishes - birthday greetings to Harry - hope you're in 
the same tip-top health as I am. 
Camp Hours. Rev. 5.30 
                          Par. 6 - 9 
                          Brek. 9.15 
                          Lecture 10.30 - 12.30 
                          Parade  4.30 - 6.

 

Egypt 
22 
[*Base Details Helmich  May 25th 1915.*] 

My marching orders have come a bit sooner than 
expected, for I notified that tomorrow at 5 a.m. I 
am to start out.  I am returning with 115 wounded to 
the front, some beauties among them so I am 
anticipating a rough time.  There is one comfort as 
Ireland is going up with 65 - remainder of his reinforcements 
This place (Cairo) is absolutely rotten - Bean's statements  
are correct in every detail. 
Frank White has been returned from the Dardanelles - 
to Heliopolis Hosp, suffering from Rheum. fever. 
Stan & I heard by chance that he was there, & made 
time to see him.  He was looking pretty miserable 
when we went him - but left him more cheerful. 
I feel losing touch with my men almost as much 
as the loss of Gordon Munro.  I have put in many of 
my best hours with them - & heard General Spens- 
(G.O.C. Egypt) state at his inspection that the 5/10 were 
a very satisfactory & efficient body - so you can 
imagine what a pill it was to take away absolute 
strangers.  My old men feel it too, & got up a petition 
to get away with me - but this is so unmilitary that 
I stopped it.  So after wearing my heart out - Feb 10 
to May 25 - I have to leave my men.  They are a 
very fine lot, & I am awfully disappointed at leaving 
them - it cuts into me very deep indeed. 
I am afraid I am unlikely to do my duty to you as a 
son, for I must confess our chances of coming back 
from the front are very small.  I have done my best 

 

Egypt  Egypt
28 
[*25th contd.*] 

to better myself, and so do my share to help you 
along.  You have schooled me, and until I was 20 
years old I was relying on your help - & it is only since 
I have been in the military that I have been able 
to fix myself up.  It is rather hard to think that 
just when I should be doing my best for the 
home our Empire gets thrown into the throes of this 
terrible war.  I foresaw everything when I volunteered 
& I feel more keen than ever to get away to the front 
- I have Gordon to avenge - & my keenness has only 
been slightly blunted by leaving my men - but 
Ireland's company to a certain extent counteracts that. 
I did not get much time to see Cairo - the Citadel 
and the mosques were all I visited. 
If anything happens my trunk is at Thos. Cook & Son 
Cairo - & they will forward when you write.  It 
contains bank-book - & about £22 in a tin box - my 
clothes, books &c. 
I will write again as soon as I get a chance, hoping 
it will be my luck to get back. Good fortune, good 
health, happiness & prosperity I wish you all. 
Let Bema - George & Harry read this letter. 
Box is addressed 
Lieut- H.E.S. Armitage 
5th Rein. 10th Infantry 
3rd Brigade 
A. I. Force
 Address letters 
10th Battn. 
3rd Brigade 
1st Aust. Division 

 

At Sea - Near Gallipoli 
24 
[*27th May*]

Harry's birthday brought me good luck for I shifted 
from the worst hole on God's Earth after 4 days stay, 
I have a pretty tough job as the men consider themselves 
the head, & as I am the 'nipper' of the crowd of officers 
I am somewhat at a disadvantage.  They are a mixd 
crowd - but I will soon hand them over, & anyhow I 
have tamed them considerably.  I will get one of the 
ships officers to post this - I'm afraid my future corresp. 
will be confined to printed cards. 
I could let you have lots of news - but as my letter 
might get into wrong hands it would be useless to 
write much. - I am hopeful of pulling through, and 
will then tell you fully.  Anyhow history will tell 
what a fine fight our boys are putting up, & if 
we do go down you can rely that we've all done 
our best for King & Country. 
Give my love to all the relatives & Houghton folk 
I can't write to them - but they are not forgotten. 
I had no time to get curios, &c. in Cairo - too 
busy fixing up my men, but there are badges, my 
stars, &c, in that tray in my trunk - also a little ivory 
Elephant I picked up at Colombo.  Harry will like it. 
I was disappointed at being moved on without 
receiving any home mail - but I will get it sometime. 
Things are only middling with us.  I must 
not state what is in or on the water - but tomorrow 
we land, & I hope in a day or two to meet your 
old school-mate - Col. Weir. - Giles is much alive. 
It may be some time before I write again- I 
don't know how to close this letter for I feel 

 

25 
At Sea. near Lemnos.    
 [*May 27th*]

Just a wee bit 'funny' while writing this.  But 
at all times I have endeavoured to do my duty to 
you, & struggled hard to be a credit to you. 
Thank God that I have parents who brought 
me up in such a way that I have a bit of backbone 
I have always tried to live up to your advice, Dad. 
"Never do what you'd be ashamed for Mum & Bema to 
know" - & altho' I'm not perfect - I have nothing 
to hide from anyone. 
I intended to send you a list of my men so 
that you could look them up after the war - 
but time has been against me 
I can't write what I feel - it is a bit hard to 
do so when the guns are firing only a few miles 
away. - so I'll close now - wishing you all the 
best of good luck. - 
  
[*May29th*]      On trawler 
Am getting to front 1 day ahead of Stan 
Have to be my own censor. 
Instruct anyone writing to address 10th B 
3rd Brig.  Let Boltons know.

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