Diary of Frederick Warren Muir, 1915 - Part 2

the Kell a number of windmills on the

hills gave it a quaint appearance

Tuesday 13th It rained heavily all last

night & drove all the deck sleepers

down we went for a practice row

around the harbor this morning

to prepare us for [[?]] landings. Rowed

round the big super dreadnought

Queen Elizabeth.
Wednesday 14th Rowed ashore to day & broke
off for a while. A number of Greeks
came around selling fig (very good
ones) dates oranges etc. Unlike the
Arabs they are clean, honest & obliging
but can speak very little English.
There are a couple of landing
jetties & roads built here by
our engineers & a field hospital
stores & wireless establishment.

The harbour viewed from the shore
is small but very pretty closed in
among the green hills. There are about
30 transports here now, some 10
battleships French & English including
the Russian Cruiser arkold & the
Sydney, a couple of submarines,
several torpedo boats & destroyers,
minesweepers, colliers & supply boats.
The fleet returns here for supplies after
its attacks on the Dardanelles. The
country is hilly & slopes down gently
to the water's edge there are practically
no trees to be seen but the hills are
covered with luxuriant green grass.
The soil is fertile but not very deep.
The volcanic rocks creeps out at
intervals. There are large numbers
of windmills on the hill top reminding
 

one of the well of Don Truscott.
entering one of these we found they were
for garden purposes not for pumping.
An aged peasant with a flowing
beard clad in wide trousers & a short
black jacket & sheepskin cap motioned
us upwards & ascending a winding
stone staircase we came to the mill
room where the grain is ground between
two huge flat stones. The soft wholesome [[?]] flour then falls
to the ground floor where it is packed in
bags by the miller. Leaving here we
walked down the hill into a little
village which lay at the foot. The rustic
street meandered between quaint looking
littlee houses  weather beaten  built of stone with red tiled
roofs. Here & there was a shop displaying
most of the humble ware outside. A few
vines clambered over the houses all
of which were scrupulously clean. A
knot of clean olive skinned children gathered
to look at the soldiers, a heavy cart
drawn by two oxen rumbled by.
A few women stood at the doors of the
cottages spinning cotton, the peasants
clad in their native costumes went
their way: all these were in keeping
with the old world atmosphere of the
scene but the soldiers. French
English, & Italian seemed intrusive
& out of place. Otherwise the scene
was redolent of natural simplicity
& beauty, no gaudy, modern houses
no picture shows no noisy hotels
only here & there a wicker covered flagon
showed that these modern Greeks like
were not averse to passing  count to
 Drachmas , we saw a few fine little
 

island ponies also a couple of donkeys
& a few humbled oxen. In the fields
the grape vines were just springing into
leaf & the young crops & fields were
rendered gaudy by thousands of crimson
poppies, buttercups, daisies, marguerites
primroses & a host of other wild-flowers.
The most pretentious building in the
village is the Greek church a fine
building of white stone with a red
roof & 2 towers. It is well built &
designed within & without artistic though
not ornate. We passed Sir Ian
Hamilton on the way home. The fact
of our being in a war zone was
demonstrated by a Turkish aeroplane
flying over but it did not
attempt any hostile demonstration
we obtained some of the local wine
at 6d. per bottle or 1d^. per glass. It is
sweet & light but rather new.
Thursday 15th The régime of bully beef & biscuits has
now commenced & we now live on this with
the addition of a little jam & cheese.
We have been expecting to leave daily
but are still here. More transports continue
to arrive daily.
Sunday 16th  Went ashore for landing & disembarking
practice this morning. Also did a little
skirmishing. It was very pleasant to
lie down in a field of green grass
again. The slope where we landed was
a mass of wild flowers, poppies, buttercups,
marguerites & purple flowers making
a blaze of colour. Even the barest
spots are carpeted with little
white & pink starry flowers. The rocks
with yellow lichens. We have a
 

Turkish deserter aboard to day. He is a
Greek & looks rather lean & miserable. He
is dressed in a khaki tunic baggy blue

trousers, blue caps & khaki socks. He

gave himself up & has given a lot of

information. He says that the Turkish

army are aware of our whereabouts

& are preparing for us. Roads & depots

etc are being built. The army however

has little stomach for the fight & the

Christians most of whom have been

forced into service are deserting in

hundreds. The enemy have built a

number of enticing looking piers for

us to land on & have carefully mined

these  so that when we land on

them we will be blown up. We

went on guard this afternoon. Tried

very hard to dodge it but were

rounded up on the long run. Only

did 4 hours however as we were

releived at 8am.

Satdy 17 Remained on board all day to-day

The General Staff, Brigadier etc have

gone for another reconnaissance in

the Queen. the have been across to

the Dardanelles several times already

This ship is the centre of interest in

the harbour on account of having

Headquarters on board. Boats  pinnaces 

etc are coming & going all days

leaving naval & military officers.

The harbour now looks like a busy

port with boats coming & going &

skiffs, tugs, etc constantly moving

among larger craft. 

Monday 18th Went ashore this morning & had

dinner on the Island. Dined on bully beef

bread (made on the island & very good) jam

figs, biscuits, dates turkish delight & a few

sundaes. After dinner we went for a 

march through the village & into the hills.

The village & the neighbourhood is crowded

with soldiers of all kinds. Australians, N.Z.

British, Marines, French soldiers in blue

& grey,  Tarcos in flowing white, Algerians

& big black negros in short blue jackets

with red & yellow embroidery & red

trousers looking as if they had just

stepped out of some comic opera or 

pantomime. Their is a great variety

uniforms in the French army but the

colour scheme is mostly the same. After

passing thro the village we followed

the road into a valley between the

hills. The road was rocky & walled

on both sides by a stone fence covered

with moss & lichens. We passed a little

lonely cemetery on the hill side with

a rough stone fence around it & a

rude cross over it. There were a couple

of fresh graves there covered with a

mass of wild flowers. The fields are all

brilliant with wild flowers & all the crops

are inters persed with magnificent red

poppies. The air is redolent with the smell

of flowers & clover. Leaving the road we climbed

climbed the hillside. The rocks put out all

over the place but even these are coved

with flowers and mosses. Little starry flowers

white & pink & purple sprung up everywhere.

Several flocks of small mountain sheep

with black faces broke before us their 

bells tinkling musically. From the top of the

hill we got a fine view of the harbour

crowded with boats. I counted 57 troopships

13 battleships, 11 torpedo boats, 2 submarines

2 hospital ships & 37 miscellaneous

boats, tank steamers & others etc., out

to sea was an aeroplane ship with a 

[[aerplane dingible ?]] hovering over her. Later 

we saw a seaplane floating over the

harbour. At one time we were able to

hear faintly the big guns pounding the

Dardanelles. From the highest

hills here Gallipoli may be seen lying

on the horizon. A boom of torpedo nets

& mines is stretched across the harbour

mouth & all boats have to be piloted in

by destroyers. On the way back we

followed the road which ran side

by side with the little raly stream. There

were a good number of soldiers in the

village. There are a couple of rustic looking

wine shops & beer houses which are well

patronised. The engineers were on the shore with

several portable sets of wireless.

Monday 19th Nothing doing to-day. Did not

go ashore.

Tuesday 20th Went on guard again to-day.

Several Turkish guides have come aboard

they are practical looking chaps clad

in the peasant style with goat skin

puttees. They also have thick heavy

overcoats covering head and body.

We got an issue of bread today after

a lapse of about a week, our

issue now consists of - breakfast

tea, bread, bacon, cheese, Dinner

Bully, beef & biscuits. Tea - Bread

Jam - tea. We still do only one

parade per day at 9.45 till 11 pm

Wednesday 20 A wet miserable day

a forecast of what we will get in the

field shortly. Paid today but as

the canteen is sold out the only

outlet for money is to gamble which

nearly everyone is doing heartily.

Got a mail to-day. Papers etc were

very acceptable as reading matter is

running short.

Thursday 21  Another great day. Our shore guard

returned to-day. They say the French soldiers

are deeply grieved because the red

trousers dear to their hearts have been

taken away. Only the Foreign Legion & the

Reserve Regiments have these now.

Friday 22nd  The first of the transports moved

out this afternoon. Some half dozen

went & two or three battleships. Genl

Birdwood & Staff left us tonight we

hope to move tomorrow. The men are in

the best of spirits. They sat up half the

night gambling & talking.

Saturday 23rd We were wakened at 5o'clock

this morning by the throb of the propellors

& just as the grey dawn was breaking

we crept past the silent line of ships

& out to the open sea again. We did not

go far however as we have now anchored

again on the opposite side of the island &

about 20 miles from Gallipoli, we passed

an island this morning the top of which

was streaked with snow & looking very

pretty through the mist. We have got our

200 rounds of ammunition now also

water bags, sand bags entrenching shovels

Sunday 24th   At about 7 o'clock last night we

left the harbor & resumed our way. We did

not get much sleep as there was plenty

of packing to do & our blankets were

sent away. At 4 o'clock we had a

hasty breakfast & then prepared to disembark.

At about 3 o clock we arrived in

the Gulf of Saros. The 3^rd began disembarkation.

The transports sailed close in

shore & the cruisers anchored a little

further out. Almost immediately they 

commenced a bombardment over a

front of about 10 miles. the scene was

very impressive in the half light.

The sheet of yellow flame from the

ship followed by a cloud of smoke

its loud report & an answering flash

repost on land as the shell burst.

A fusillade of rifle shots broke out

as our men landed and the Turkish

batteries replied to the ships fire. At

7 o'clock we embarked on the T.B.D

Scourge for shore. When we got under

100 yards of the shore we got into the

rowing boats & were towed the rest of

the distance. A Turkish battery on 

the shore opened on us with shrapnel

some of which came uncomfortably 

near & gave us a sinking feeling in the

stomach. we arrived at the shore without

casualty & waded ashore. Lying on

the beach were about 50 of the 3^rd Brg

who had been killed while landing.

The Bacchante standing inshore

soon demolished the Turkish fort.

The country where we landed is

steep sandy bluffs covered with

thick low scrub: very difficult

to work over. The 3^rd had cleared two

ridges at the bayonet point & were

attacking the third but we were

sent to releive them as they were

hard pressed. We were loaded with

our full packs, 200 rounds of

ammunition, 3 days rations &

a pick & water bottle which made

very heavy work over the ridges. The

Turks were very well prepared for 

us roads, bridges trenches shelter

& gun positions had been built

& it is wonderful how our men

drove them out. We left our 

packs & entrenching tools on the
hillside & advanced into the firing

line which had been pushed somewhat

over the brow of the hill. The Turks

were strongly entrenched & had

a number of field guns in position.

Owing to the nature of the country we

all got split up & I eventually got into

the firing line with the 5^th Battalion.

Owing to the strength of the Turkish

position we were unabled to advance

much & were subjected to a very

heavy rifle fire which we were

unable to return as the Turks who were
 about 250 yards away were almost

invisible. The French & British

advanced land on our right

covered by the Fleet. We had however

the worst position both us to country

& opposition. The Turks use dum-dum

bullets which burst with

a sharp crack. We soon got used 

to the whine of the bullets but the

shrapnel makes one rather nervous. I

was on my way to the rear on one
occasion as I was going to our regnt
I stopped for a rest near a mule

train & the enemies guns suddenly

opened on us & the air was filled

with shrapnel bullets, & a big piece

of shell missed me by the faction of

an inch. At about 2 o'clock we

advanced to with 100 yards of the

enemy when we were met by a

terrific rifle & machine gun fire

almost immediately the field guns

turned an enfilading fire on to us

& the air was filled with the fleecy

puffs of smoke peculiar to shrapnel

most of our chaps fell & as the

Turks advanced we fixed bayonets

& prepared for a last stand. But

the Turks refused to advance to
within bayonet distance. So we

retired to our former position which we

still hold, owing to the exposed

position & the ceaseless & merciless

rain of bullets we were unable

to entrench but could only wait

there for nightfall. Towards dark the

rain of bullets became fiercer all

along the front & we were hard

pressed to keep the Turks back,

we were greatly handicapped by

our lack of field guns for although

several Indian mountain batteries

were brought up they ran out of

ammunition & could not reply,

Fresh Turkish guns were brought

up & all our positions were

raked with shrapnel, now

however the fleet including