Diary of Harold Edwin Salisbury Armitage, 1915 - Part 6
Des. of trip to Imbros 13.7.15
Every yard we got further away from Anzac Cove
made us feel very much better - it was a great relief
to get out of the reach of Beachy Bill & his shrapnel,
and to say good-bye to machine gun fire. Our nerves
were speedily brought back to normal. There is no
doubt about it - but anyone's nerves get shaky
after a few days of shrapnel - especially as we put
in such long periods. Battns in France do 3
weeks in trenches 2 weeks rest - we have done
nearly 12 weeks' trenches - 3 days at Imbros &
4 days 'Hades' i.e. attempting to rest at Beach &
a certain gully at Anzac. We are back in the fire
line again - very much better for our short and
peaceful sojourn. Our battn is well up to Strength
now - my boys arrived while I was away, & I
have many of them in my platoon. Lynch - my
Actg. Sgt. Major is with me in the platoon, & the other
lads are doing well. One has been 'put out' already
Pri. Waite - stray shrapnel pellet got him in the
heart - while Weaver & Harrison were wounded
just before I arrived. 3 of them Wright, Frear, &
Kellett - are invalided to Aussie - so a hole has
been made in my little band already. I wish I had
sole charge of them - they were the best disciplined
& trained troops that have left Australia. Poor little
Gurmoni has been shaken up by shrapnel - His
nerves went after 3 days - & I'm afraid he'll have
to go to hospital to recuperate. Some played up in
[Seppo?]. Some got 28, some 14, some 7 days while there
other warfare than trench. 10.30 dismissed, three
men limited. I got out as much as I could & made
the best use of my short visit. On the first day
4 of us went to Aerial Station - (3 ½ mls rough track)
& were shown over the station, & had the pleasure of
witnessing two or three departures & arrivals of hydros.
They seemed well nigh perfect. We tried to see if there
was any chance of a ride - but only Artil. observ.
officers go as passengers so we had no hope.
Next day a party of 60 of us left camp - 10.30 - on
ponies to visit Parlegere - the largest village. We
had one of the most picturesque rides I've ever seen,
Mt Bera - Cudlee Creek - well we rode up gullies
much similar in appearance - covered with bracken
-paths or tracks rough & stony - & only allowed one file.
As we got higher gullies became narrower - but in
some parts Greeks had managed to grow crops of
wheat, while I stained my jacket with mulberry
juice - & at one farmhouse were able to get apples,
pears, & a poor type of cherry. When almost at
the top - we came to a most beautiful spring - clear
cool, running water -(tip-top). At the top the view
was marvellous - sea in the distance - town & port of
Castro mounted high on leeward side of a bluff, - a
huge, fertile, well cultivated Mt Gambier flat in the
middle of which stood Panegere - nestling among
many green trees. The view was great. Think that less
than 20 miles behind the scene of peace & content
but I blame officers in charge for that. They did
not hold the men, nor take any interest in them
We're glad to have them here anyhow.
-------------
I will give you some news of Imbros - it is only
11 miles by 15 m. roughly - surrounded by the
bluest of the Medit. It was once volcanic, two or
three hills have extinct craters on top - Even now
two or three earthquakes occur or the year is incomplete.
There are 7 villages & 2 ports on it. Kephalos
on E side is a great base - full of war ships, stores,
soldiers, & naval aerial station. We were camped at
Kephalos on a stubble field - Fancy 3 days under
canvas - & sleeping on blankets over 6" of straw -
fancy unlimited supplies of fresh water for washing
& drinking purposes - fancy nice WHITE fresh
bread for every meal - fancy no harassing
'Stand -to' , no sound of shrapnell shells &c -
why we were in absolute Elysium fields - Only
a few chains away were stores. 2 ½ lb tin peaches
3/6 - Apricots 2/6, eggs 1d each - chocs & so on-
& you can guess we did V. well. Lived like kings
for those 3 days - & had an absolute rest - Reveille
was blown 5.30 a.m by C.O did not curse anyone -
so long as camp was cleaned up & men on parade 8.30
From then till 10 - March in file up hills - & then
practice 2 or 3 formations - so as to be prepared for
Imbros.
was a Hell. Anyhow Panegere greeted us in
narrow, winding, flagstoned streets with cries of "Good
Australians" &c. The Greeks seemed very pleased
see us there. We had lunch - & pottered about till
4.30 p.m. & then home about 8 p.m. We had a
very Enjoyable trip & benefits were great - in food
note-paper, fruit, chocolate &c.. Those, who wished,
even obtained 'wine'. The morality of these Greeks
forms a great contrast to the immorality of Egypt
We weren't even chased by small fry for backsh
Greeks anyhow these here - especially appealed
to me - They have a hard simple, agric. life yet
seem quite happy. On their farms we saw the
old method of "treading the corn" winnowing by
tossing, milling in the old fashioned mill &c.
Woman are very pretty when young - & extremely ugly
as they get aged. I tried to get some G. post stamps
but none obtainable. I got an old coin from a
joker I called Spigoli - who was my guide. The
Greeks here were only too pleased to do anything
for us - & in return the conduct of troops was most
excellent. One shop keeper got our autographs,
& persisted in getting us to write 'Australia' after
our names. Anyhow our "peace-period" soon passed
away, & all too soon were we packed on to trawlers,
& sent once more to the Anzac Front lines.
13.7.15 Anzac - after Imbros
Our new position is on the highest point of 7
Anzac position - & Jacko reminds us of this
rather too often. Their shrapnel is by no
means any less - but far more plentiful - but
manage to dodge it somehow.
Your letters are astray somewhere. I got a B.
June 3rd. Wumps letter May 23 - letter from you
May 18 & April 25 - (last one went somewhere
out of my ken) - and 3 Leaders. I suppose the
others will come in a rush - Thanks for papers
tip-top - Must stop now - as I must write
to Carthew - ( heard from him last mail) - so
close with much love - & hope you're as well as I am
--------------------------
Anzac Cove
18.7.15
I've got some ink as you see.- Got an ink tablet
from a returned officer. Have met the greater part of
my men, but 3 or 4 others are missing too. Hayes
my champ. at bayonet - & anchor man in tug of war
has been picked out for a machine gun course, & Raven
whose boy I taught at Norwood will probably be sent
back for physical inability. Goode is somewhere in Hosp
2 Hulceslaters are down with some complaint, Cummins missed
the train - & Winter is a moral derelict in V.D. Hospital.
We are a pretty strong battalion now - but we have a very
extensive and important position to hold. Many of us fee
l the strain already but at each week end we are going
to change watches & shifts- so that the nines will get a
certain amount of relief. The Turkish bombs have
18.7.15 cont
appreciably scarce lately to our relief, but we have such
a supply that for every one we receive we give back two.
Also we have erected at our worst bombed place a wire
netting screen, which we hoist up every night. Candidly
I don't think much of this as a bomb-stopper- but the
moral assurance it gives the men is great, & it is worth
putting up even for that reason.
My chum officers in Aussie were going to post me
up in mil. news - but not a word have I heard.
Paul & his crew are in Egypt now, & we expect to
see them soon. I hope you got that enlarged
photo. from Marchant of my 5th reinforcements.
My arm is pretty stiff today- inoculated against
cholera just now. We have now been inoc. 3
times, & vaccinated once - and one of my boys
today whilst going through the mill - remarked
"we only need to be inoculated with concrete and
we would be shrapnel proof too". My original
batman, Scott, is once more with me, & it is fine
to have my things well looked after & my meals
well cooked again. He is a good fellow and I hope
he pulls through O.K. I will close now with best
love - hoping all are well as I am.
26.7.15
Here we are in a new series of trenches - tunnelled
out underground from our old lines. We have advanced
our firing line about 100 yds, and we are only a
few yards away from well concealed Turkish trenches
26.7.15 contd
We are now having bomb warfare pure & simple - rather
pure & serious. Jacko has just about got superiority at
present but we expect to turn things a bit before long.
The moon just now is too bright & rises in their favour
so we get particular hell from their bombs at this
point - Their throwers are under cover & well out of
sight so that our rifle-fire is wasted over them - our
fuse bombs they laugh at, & we can only stop them
by sending them huge charges of gun-cotton.
Last night or two we regained superiority again
but three of my men were wounded today. Hughes
& Edwards were only 5 yds. away - the former was most
frightfully mauled - I tried to stop the bleeding - but
he was cut everywhere - and I was glad when the
doctor came
McDonald, another of my men, was in a narrow
recess with three others when a bomb landed. If it
had gone off the 4 would have been outed. but
Mac cooly took up a 'lucky' greatcoat, covered the
bomb, & put all his weight on the coat - so that he
smothered the bomb. I have reported this matter
& McDonald should get the D.C.M.
I have been transferred to the Platoon No.9 -as
Jack Hamilton has returned & taken over No.10. These
platoons are 'twins' - nearly all Br. Hill men - and
in firing line together so the transfer is nominal.
Anyhow I've had this lot a fortnight now and
get on well with them all - as it is in an efficient state
Getting to know the men is the chief thing - once that is
done - discipline & so on follow. I have seen & still see
many officers much senior to me, having a most miserable
time - simply because it is too much 'fag' to find out
something about the men under them
I have 9 of my old originals - as well as some 6 of
old B company - Ascot Park - so that ¼ of my Platoon
knew me pretty well from the jump. About 30 of the
5th Rein. are in this Company. Rainey (Scott's Creek)
was outed by a bomb the other day - The Turks will
get bombs when we get at them with the bayonet.
Trench work does not agree with Australians. The
general condition of our chaps after 'summer' in the
trenches is pitiable - God help us if we have to do
the winter here. If we were asked to advance now
I candidly believe we would not get past the first
Turkish trench - we seem to lose our dash - with
too much 'digging' & fatigue, night watching, living
underground, tinned salt meat &c - the constitution of
the men has been much undermined. There are
persistent rumours of the 1st Div. being withdrawn
to reorganize & recuperate. It is necessary, but most
of us prefer to see this thing through come what may.
Some big move is going to be made soon, and
we want to be in it. I'm certain we can never
get this peninsula now by force - something will
have to go wrong with Turkey - internal dissension,
starvation, or intrigue are our best assets.
Otherwise we're certain to lose 1/3 of our men.
We've made the same mistake as in S.Africa. -
not enough men at the jump to carry on after
a favorable start. The Admiralty must bear the
chief blame - the demonstrations of Feb. & March
put the acid on the military question. On Feb 26
the 'Triumph' had an observation station on
Achi Baba!! Now we're struggling for that hill -
and certain of our guns are limited to 4 shots
a day. Ian Hamilton is supposed to have gone
home for a rest - & Smith Dorrien is supposed to
be here - but I don't know if these rumors are O.K.
My O.C. received more than 20 applications from
my old 'G.' boys to be transferred to my platoon - and
he 'shut the lid' on the lot- so that I can't get
an old 79th who wanted to come to me.
We look forward to mails more eagerly than
a civilian does regarding Sunday, we get them
about every 10 days or so. My mails have all come
through & I am content. It is helpful to get your
inspiring letters, & I've had word from Tom Pitman,
Fred Hamish, & Carthew lately.
26.7.15
I have a fine old Sergeant - (Don Chisholme)
with me - an old Cameron Highlander (79th) - & he went
through Egypt & S. African campaigns. He has
been wounded twice already, but is back, & looking
for more. He is a fine old soldier, & with his aid I
am getting up a fine platoon.
'Jacko' has begun throwing 'liquid' bombs at
us - & he has gas too. We are ready with gas
helmets - but devil a bit of gas to reply with.
I doubt if this will pass the censor - I could
tell you much more if I liked to risk it - but
it must remain untold for some time. With the help
of my letters (if you keep them) I will be able to
patch up a full account of everything.
Anzac Cove
5.8.15
1st Lieut
I wrote earlier but did not dare send it in view
of circumstances - but look up the papers of this date
et sequ. Just recd word that Hancock & I
have recd. our second stars - so are now full
blown Lieutenants.
I hope to write next week from elsewhere -
but this must suffice at present.
Good luck - best love.
Jacqueline KennedyThis transcription item is now locked to you for editing. To release the lock either Save your changes or Cancel.
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