Diary of Harold Edwin Salisbury Armitage, 1915 - Part 4

26
"Gaba Tepe" 

[*June 2.*] Just a line to let you know I am at the  
Front - this is my second day in the Trenches.
I can't write much - but I can't realise  
how our boys effected a landing. It was a  
simply marvellous feat.
I am posted to C Co. - under Capt. Shaw. You  
can imagine my joy in meeting Cornish & Giles  
especially as they had been 'Killed' - it shows how
little credit one must give to 'rumors'.
My Co. are mostly Broken Hill men - our
trench is called "Sulphide St," Oxide, &c. - Our
men, all Australians, are well dug in, and
will take a great deal to shift us. Dug outs
and trenches are not bad in fine weather -
but when the wet sets in - things will be
very different..
We are constantly under fire night & day - but
are so well dug in that we suffer little loss -
we lose most when out patrolling - or from
'snipers' who play the very devil with us.
I have already had some close shaves, & one's
hair rises now & then to hear 'ping - thud - just
above one's head in the bushes up top.  64 shells
were lobbed in a small space in 4½ minutes a day
ago, & not one of our chaps was hurt.
We have bully beef & dog biscuits, but we are
cheerful & await the orders to 'advance',
I've lost the habit already of ducking when
shell or shrapnel metal burst just overhead.

27
Gaba Tepe June 7^th

[*7.6.15.*] We are very short of writing material - so send along
enclosed note to Bema & George.
I was only in Cairo 3 or 4 days - & left Alexandria in a
tub called the 'Australind'. - a miserable 3 days on board
& then dropped off at Lemnos.  From Mudros we went across
to Gallipoli in tug-boats, & as a few subs. were knocking
about, we were expecting to swim for it every time, but
fortunately I met Father Neptune a few weeks ago -
so he felt kindly to us.
Anyhow we landed at Anzac Cove at 4.30 a.m. & I
got my "baptism of fire".  My first sensations of the
whizz of bullets, and weird sound of shells commenced
at once as we were under fire all the time.  One shell
landed about 10 yds. off & splashed the men in the
boat.  Then when on shore I had to work like blazes
to take men to 8 different battalions.  I was quite
ignorant of "Sniper's Corner", "Double up Point", "Hurry up
Bend" &c, & ran some heavy risks.  At one place I was
greeted with a good old salvo - three shots quite close -
the others were well above.  Of these three two raised the
dust in the bank alongside, & the third clipped a bush
a yard to my rear. - The Staff forgot to tell me that
I should have waited till evening when troops only are moved,
& there I was trotting around in broad daylight from
5 to 7 a.m.  However it wasn't much of a baptism,
& I've been pretty right ever since.
I reached the 10^th & many old acquaintances at 10 a.m.
& was sent right away to the trenches. These are pretty
comfortable - & we are not much worried by the Turks,
but frequent bursts of bullets & a few shells break the
monotony. We are well dug in, & I have only seen 1 killed.

28 
Gaba Tepe.  7^th June contd

[*Contd. 7.6.15*]   Now for a word about the country. Imagine a
piece of land (the hills about Anstey's Hill will do)
with the sea right up to them.  Some of these hills are
as high & steep as those on either side of Water Gully
road, - well now you have the type of country, our
boys are working in. I can't say how they got
up these hills - but they did it - at a cost scarcely
reckoned up yet.  Now all over the shoreward sides
are dug-outs - thousands of them - & on top, lines of
trenches in all directions. This is as far as we've got.
To a casual observer we will be pushed back into the
sea - but if he looks closer he will see we will never
be pushed back.  I spent a morning or two at Mville
trenching - but I had not the slightest conception of
what a trench was till I got here, & my word my eyes
have been opened.  We are busy all the time – something
doing every night - patrols, night attacks, wire setting,
bomb expeditions &c. to keep us from developing "Ennui".
Trench life consists of 12 days in & 3 days out and
we are resting at present. In the trenches we sleep
when we can only in snatches in one 54 hour period
I got 3 short snoozes of less than 2 hours' duration.
It's a case of 'Mind your head' all the time - for
the scouts & snipers are far from Silenced.
We get bacon for breakfast, onions for stew, & plenty of
"bully" and biscuits, sometimes fresh meat, but bread
so far is unknown. As luxuries we get a tin of milk
or a bottle of sauce - whilst an issue is made weekly of
cigarettes & tobacco weekly & an issue of rum when necessary
The men are tired of waiting about, but are all merry.

29
Gaba Tepe June 7^th contd.  

[*7.6.15.*]  The men are splendid, but their language is tough
The "Jack Tars" have stopped swearing now, & hand the
belt to the Aussies. - whose language they admit
is far more empathic than theirs.  The R.N. officers
say the Aussies' language alone was good enough to
drive the Turks back - & that if the Aussies hadn't
lost their wind climbing those hills they'd have
blasted the Turks right out of the peninsula.  The
sailors are full of all sorts of marvellous yarns of
our boys' prowess - e.g. "a party of the 10^th were
emptied out in deep water & went right under; they
soon came up to the surface (talking of course) but
each man had fixed bayonets while underneath"
The Aussies also tell some good ones re the Navy.
"At the landing, one ship used up all her 4.7 shells
- but the Johnnies not to be beaten - rammed in &
fired 6" shells from 4.7 guns"
However great friendship exists between Aussies & R.N.
This is the last day of our Rest – the first day we all
slept - the next day we slept, & today we're just beginning
to feel O.K.  We've had two washes since I came here -
each in the sea - with bullets dropping all round - but
much we cared - the bath was just the thing.
The sunsets here are lovely - & we get long twilights.  Just
opposite us is "Imbros" & Samothrace has a mountain
which just cuts off part of the sun when setting.
Our mail is 12 days behind & I've not heard from you
since April 20^th - seven weeks ago.  So you can guess how I feel.

30 
Gaba Tepe  13.6.15 

[*13.6.2015*]  Hurrah. mail yesterday.  I got Bulletin, Observer,
Chronicle - S.E. Times & Leader - but no letters - so as
I didn't want to look out of it I pulled out your
letter of April 20^th & read it through twice.
It was a pleasure to get the newspapers - but we
have not taken Maidos nor have the French captured
8000 prisoners near Charnak as the papers report.
Things are in such a state here that we are
no further in than we were on April 25^th - we
haven't enough men - but when we get them - well
"Imshi Turk' - but then we have their super Gibral.
Acha Baba has to be settled - and as combined
Mil. & Naval efforts so far have not done much - we
may be here a long time yet.  Anyhow nothing can
shift us from here we are so well dug in.
The 3^rd Bng. were the covering party in the landing
and got it hottest as casualty list shows - but
things are brightening up now, for many of our
wounded have recovered – and returned - so
we are as strong now - as at the Landing.
B Cy 10^th saved the situation - but only those
in the know as regards true casualties will
realise the cost.  An acqtnse of mine (J Weatherall)
won D.C.M., & T. Smith would have got D.S.O.
Brand was promoted to Lt Col. + D.S.O. & Holmes
was prom. to Capt. & other recom. have been made &
nothin doin yet.  I just got here in time, as
promotions were being made from the ranks -
but as my appt. dates from March 24^th. I am
senior to them. Henword A.H.S. is prom. to 2^nd Lieut.

 31 
Gaba Tepe  June 13^th Contd

Ireland is with A.Co. but we are trying to work
so that he comes over to our Co. Information? well
I've said too much, but I can't refrain from adding
that during the next few days there will be
something doing as far as 3^rd Brigade is concerned.
Hoorah! - imagine a letter has just been
handed to me dated May 3^rd.  It was among
a batch of delayed letters - has been at B.H.Q for
two days - & just sent up to me by Holmes.  It
is great to get news from home - & now this should
come regularly with all other mails.  You are
right re short stay in Egypt - but re a quick
advance to Constan.  I don't think we'll ever
get there - In taking this spot - Hamilton
considers it was too costly - so we won't be
advancing for some time yet - but of course
one never knows.  Wake up Mil. re allotments.
Twice we've had bread 1/- a loaf -, 5 of us in
our mess - & we have a good cook who makes
stews from beef, biscuits, onions, & spuds.
I left Photo &c for Wumps to fix up.
Cairo is a filthy hole & I was sorry to leave
my men there - Bean laid the brush on a
bit thick - too straight for some folks - but I'm
sorry to say his remarks fit some officers too.

32  
Gaba Tepe  June 13th 

[*13.6.15*]  Colonel Weir set a fine example - but this
cannot be said of one or two other battn.
Regard to Casualties - they're short - for
apparently attempts have been made to
conceal from home-folk true casualties.
Anyhow wounded list will never be fully
published, as it was a staggerer - but as
most of these are now back with us - it wd.
only have caused anxiety and trouble.
Whatever you do - don't take notice of rumors,
if anything goes wrong the Def. Dept will
notify you. Rumors don't count.  I know
Adelaide and the cold footed folk - too well.
Dickenson has come - I am glad of that as
I always had faith in Dickie - Tom
Williams & Co. were too keen on getting our
jobs I suppose - but we'll make things hot
for the 'cold-footers' when we get back.  Then
Bob Alcorn - Tom Pitman & Co - where are they?
Weds Possingham is L.Corp. & called this afternoon
- Gib Edwards is a Corp.
Poor Alf Possingham is gone - he was doing
great work - I met his Col. (Eliott) at Lemnos -
& he had a fine opinion of Alfie -
Wumps sent along photo of group 5/10.  Recd. Harry's
blood-thirsty sketches.  Send along envelopes & paper.

33
Gallipoli Penin.  20.6.15  

Last mail week overdue  - but as we have been notified
portion has been destroyed by fire we don't feel too
happy about it - & I suppose it'll be for ever overdue.
I met another Millicent chap - (used to be at Millicent)
named Williams - used to have Gurr's job - now with
A Com. in 9^th L.H.  By the way the L.H. are all here.
dismounted - horses left in Egypt.
We go out "visiting" here & also have "reception" days.
Capt. Shaw & I get on well together & I have met
nearly all the L.H. officers (as well as Inf) who left S.A.
Lance Lewis told me the latest of Frank White -  whom
he'd heard was very seriously ill.  Also met Sid Rowell.
& several others, including A.H.S. boys.  It is nice to have
Henwood (A.H.S.) as a brother officer in 10^th - but of course
it doesn't make up for the loss of Munro.
Promotions are going to be slow in the 10^th- for they
were last made, just before I arrived, & we will have
to go through heavy casualties before more chances arrive.
Holmes has a bit of shrapnel in the stomach & is in
Hospital with a mere fighting chance.  He had been doing
well - & chances are improving.
Jacko is tuning up considerably with his artillery.
which was reported to us as "short of ammun." - but to
judge from the way they keep firing they have far
more than we have to my fancy.
We are supposed to be awaiting the Greeks - but I am
afraid we'll get very little help from them- as they
are very half-hearted.
There is truth in reports of spies in 1^st Contingent
for I've seen official reports of 2 "justifiable homicides"
& a N.Z.. Sergeant was caught signalling to Jacko & shot.

34
Gallipoli  230.6.15

Gallipoli was described by one Germ. general as
being the hardest etrat nut in the world - so our
G.O.C. has almost used the same words.
Anyhow until we get Achet Baba we can't
advance an inch - so we're ignorant of what
is in front of us.  From what we can see, when
we go forward for a general advance we will
get 'hell'.  The Turks & Germans are great - 
marvellous as regards engineering and 
concealment of guns.  I will be able to tell you
a few astounding facts later - but not now.
I don't know how long we are to be in
Trenches - but I'm certain it's for a few
weeks yet.
I was 'officer of watch' in trenches the
other day, & a party of strange officers came
through.  Their badges showed they were
Staff - but no rank badges were worn.  Two
of them turned out to be Birdwood & Walker 
& I treated them as ordinary Staff visitors
looking at our trenches - but nothing eventuated
A Corp. in our Co. knows Spender & was at
Htn for a while - name's Hunter -decent chap
my Men are the 'Blind 50' in Camp or Barracks
but they're grand soldiers in the trenches.  How

35
Gallipoli  20.6.15
  
they will shape in an advance I don't know.
Colonel Weir too is wondering - for if we do get
forward we get into a land of plenty of wine
- that is their weakness.  or was at 'Menai'.
Anyhow they understand it's no light thing
to come up for simple crimes on Act. Serv.
& there will be no leniency from me - if any
funny business starts.
My platoon has a history - & according to
history & reports on conduct sheets they
"made history" in Cairo - but so far I've
had no trouble with them - but when we
return to civilised quarters I expect to 
have a few ructions.  Active Serv discipline
is very diff to Camp or Barracks - and
all crimes committed are punishable by death.
My Reinf. have not yet come but are due. 
[*21^st June*] Just recd. 2^nd mail - 21.6.15  [*23.6.15*]       
23.6.15
Have just had orders to take out 150 men to
dig a new trench tonight on our right flank 
[*23^rd June*] 23.6.15 Too tired to write yesterday. 11^th (W.A)) put 200
men digging - while 50 of 10^th dug Com. trench
[*First STUNT.*] from old to new one. Remaining 50 I had to
take out to front to cover diggers.  With 250
men on pick & shovel nouse was heard by T.