Diary of Frederick Warren Muir, 1915 - Part 5

uniforms & some in electric blue. The officer
appeared to be taking a very keen look at
everything  & we did the same. Almost all
the Turkish dead had small second hand
grenades. The same scenes took place all
along our lines. The number of Turkish dead
must have been huge. The Turks have bayonets
are very long & thin: a murderous & strong weapon.
Our Bn howitzers did some very good work
yesterday, putting 6 shells one after another
right in the enemy's trenches on the hill. The
enemy opened a sap on the hill side this afternoon
which we were able to enfilade & sniped
about 10 of their men.
Wed. 21. The battles hip Triumph was sunk
off Kaba Tepe by a submarine yesterday
at about 1 o clock we suddenly observed
her to be listing heavily while there was
a great commotion amongst the shipping.
in the vicinity. Trawlers pinnaces & destroyers
dashing up to try & rescue the crew. She
gradually heeled over, till her decks were
perpendicular, hesitated for a moment &
turned right over, the sun glinting redly
on her coppered keel. This gradually
subsided & disappeared leaving only a

patch of seething water to mark the resting
place of a noble battleship. We understand
that the big majority of the crew have been saved
but the sight made us feel rather downhearted.
Afterwards all shipping was cleared from
in the vicinity & about 12 destroyers raced
around trying to locate the submarine
without success. Things are very quiet
in the trenches again - only a few desultory
shots being fired, was sentry on the tunnel
tonight, a lonely post. The 4^th reinforcements
arrived to day - about 2000. Very welcome 

Saturday very quiet the last couple of
days. Saw a very good a/c of the landings
in the Times. Have had 3 mails received.
Inundated with papers & letters. Made 
a feint to attack at 11 last night which
drew a little fire but a about 3
o'clock our left flank advanced. Immed.
a hail of rifle & machine gun fire broke out
The Turks shelled our trenches with a couple
of 12 prs situated some 600 yds away.
bursting about 50 shells right on our
parapet. Was knocked over & half buried
under sand bags but not damaged.
Our artillery shelled the Turk's trenches
in from Quinns Post. A very lively
artillery duel ensued alternated with
bombs & rifle fire. The engagement
lasted till about 9 o'clock. When we
got a chance to repair our trenches.
The night was quiet but on Sunday at
[*Sund.*] 1 o'clock the L.H. made a sortie & captured
some trenches in front of Quinn's Post
They were supported by a heavy artillery
fire which was very effective & a
rapid rifle fire from us. The L H did not
meet with much opposition at first, but
the enemy countered by shelling our
trenches like yesterday morning only
more vigorously. Did not do much damage
except to our parapets which they also
cut about with a vicious machine
gun fire. Our Jap mortars also did
good work. This afternoon the L.H. & the
Turks carried on a lively duel with bombs.
The L.H. destroyed the trenches & retired again.
Two aeroplanes were up this a.m. They
dropped a few bombs & the Turks shelled
them with shrapnel sans result. 

Tuesday.  Another submarine scare to-day. All
our warships & transports have departed.
The destroyer flotilla is buzzing round like
a hive of bees. The destroyers make frantic
dashes hither & thither & make huge circles
at huge speed with big wakes of foam & volumes
of black smoke behind them. There has been
much fierce fighting over Quinns Post, constant
attacks & counters taking place daily. The
occupants of the trenches spend the day & night
in the unneighbourly pursuit of throwing
bombs & hand grenades at one another, besides
this both sides are sapping & mining towards
one another. A few days back the Turks
exploded a mine under the Post & captured
a trench which was retaken later in the day.
Last night we exploded a mine under
the Turks with good effect. There was
heavy firing all night. Our Jap mortars
did good works. These bombs never fail to
explode & the Turks seem to regard them as
a dance of the devil. There is a dead silence
followed by a while the bomb is in the air
followed by a burst of fire when it explodes
Friday. Things have been very quiet on our front
for the last couple of days. Hardly a shot
being fired except for an occasional
burst of fire at night. Sounds of a very
heavy bombardment from the South have
been heard all day. Have had quite a
number of newspapers the last week or
two all kinds from Truth to the
Methodist & Catholic Press.
Saturday.  The L.H made another attack on Quinns
Last night & captured a trench. There was
very heavy firing about 11 o clock & our
artillery & trench mortars joined in. We
stood to arms but were not needed. About 

2 a m we were roused out & lined up
again & told that we were to make
an assault on the front trench, to
destroy the machine gun & damage the
trench & return. We filed into the trench
about 60 in all & in silence lined up
along the parapet. Suddenly a whistle
blast sounded & we were over the parapet
& towards the enemy's trench. We fixed
bayonets as we ran tripping over our
own barbed wire & other obstacles. At
first not a shot was fired by the enemy
but just as the first of our men reached
the trench the alarm was given & a
murderous fire from rifles & machine
guns broke out. We found the trench
very strong with a firm sandbagged
parapet studded with loopholes on
the ground level fronting upwards
which gave the enemy a great advantage
There was also also a strong overhead
cover on the trench with bayonets projecting
at intervals which we could not shift.
In addition the Turks threw a number
of bombs with good effect. Under these
circumstances we were forced to retire
amid a heavy fire having however
put the machine gun out of action.
We retired to our own trenches & threw
ourselves in leaving however a few
still forms as witnesses of our endeavour.
At the most the whole affair only occupied
some 10 minutes but nearly every second
man was injured. the total casualties
27 wounded 5 killed. Later in the day the Turks
counter attacked Quinns & forced our chaps
to vacate the trench under a deluge of bombs.
They also shelled our trenches & the Chamber
of Horrors & our tunnels doing considerable 

damage.
Sunday.  6 We were relieved by C. Company to-day
& have retired to Shrapnel Valley down
near the Beach for a weeks rest. Was
suprised to see the quantity of saps &
trenches which lead to the Beach from
Monash Valley. Col. Green happened
along soon after we arrived & gave us
a short lecture - really a sermon but
the hell was well concealed - & told us
the lastest war news. We are now fighting
over the ground which St Paul journeyed
over & where populous cities existed in
Biblical times. Some of the N.Z. say that
when digging trenches they have come
across pottery etc having Greek inscriptions
& apparently belonging to some ancient
city. The Rev Jas aptly described the
Turks as "a baksheesh nation".
Monday.  Today has been a day of blissful
quiet. We have a nice deep dugout
which is quite well fitted up & comfortable.
It was a relief to get ones clothes
off last night & to sleep in this morning
Sunday.  We have now been resting a
week now & having a most restful time.
Most of our time is spent sleeping &
cooking at which latter we are becoming
quite experts. We see a good deal of
the Indians here. They are fine simple
fellows. They bring us flour, curry
chipattes & rice in exchange for jam
& cigarettes. The 7^th A.L.H. are
camped on the other side of the gully
& I have paid Harold a few visits.
On Friday the remainder of the Battalion
cane down & we removed to Brainds
Hill where we had to dig ourselves in 

again. Last night we acted as
supports for the 2^nd Batt. till daybreak
Col. Green conducted a short Church Service
this a.m. Two cruisers were bombarding
this morning. They were conducted by
about 10 T.B.D. which made rings
around them as they sailed. Rooking
like a hen with a family of chickens.
We are getting fresh bread & meat here but
water & wood is scarce. Got a
mail to-day. Several letters & papers,
very acceptable. Col. Green gave us a lecture
on the Boer War tonight. An aeroplane came
across this afternoon & dropped a few bombs
near Quinns. The detonation was terrific. She
was flying low & some of the enemys shell

went very close. One could see the bombs
falling through the air.
Wednesday.  Went to the beach for a swim
yesterday there were hundreds in the water. Saw
Charlie Grieve. Heavy bombardment down
South to-day.
Saturday 19  Still resting. Our section on fatigue today
Went for a swim. There were hundreds on the beach
looked like a holiday seaside resort. We have
landed a couple more 6" howitzers here. A few
big shells were coming across from the enemy
without doing much damage. The aeroplane
was up to-day & dropped a couple more bombs
Sunday 20 Celebrated my 22nd birthday to-day
very uneventfully. we were called out this
morning to dig a road from the beach
for a 6" howitzer. The Indians here are very
amusing. The mule train is composed
of Punjabi & the mountain Batteries of
Sikhs. the former shave & cut their hair
but the latter do neither. They are most 

particular about their food always
killing their own meat & sheep & goats are
kept for the purpose. Otherwise the staple
diet seems to be rice, curry & chupatties
then cakes of meal & oil. They speak of us as
their 'Australian brothers" & extract all
manner of things from us giving us in
return chupatties etc. They are very fond
of jam but will not smoke our tobacco.
In their spare time they gather together &
chant native songs to the accompaniment of
weird music. Tonight Col. Green & the
Dean conducted a joint service &
communion. at times parts of the sermon
were blotted out by the roar of the guns
behind us & the crack of the Turkish
shrapnel in reply. while the rifles cracked
merrily over the hills. There was considerable
fire & bomb throwing all along
the line tonight. we were in reserve
Friday 25^th  Things have passed over uneventfully
during the last three weeks that we have been here.
The weather continue extra ordinarily perfect,
long days & beautiful warm starry nights.
Have been down to the beach for a swim
almost every day & to wash a few clothes. A gun
called "Lonely Liz" on the point sends over a
few shells which however only cause a temporary
scatter. Two or three were killed yesterday &
about 16 wounded. Everything is well organised
on the beach now solid dug-outs, piles of stores
a big pier & so forth. Several 5" & 4.7 howitzers
have been landed during the last few days
also a couple of 6". near the piles of stores
on the beach may be seen little groups looking
sublimely innocent & only waiting for the
M.P. to disappear to make a raid on the stores
Have received a few letters & papers during
the last few days & have written several 

long letters. The Invisible came along this
afternoon & violently bombarded a point some
2 miles down with her 12" guns. The Turks replied
with field guns & we could see the shrapnel
bursting all around her. She was accompanied
by a destroyer flotilla of about 15 vessels. The
balloon was also up again this afternoon. A
few days back we were able to get a few things
from the Canteen  sauce, spice, coffee, & porridge
& so have been living well. Matters are very
quiet on our front especially the big guns but are
progressing down south. The flies are our chief
hostile pest at present, they swarm around us
in thousands & can hardly be persuaded to move
off the food. A Turkish aeroplane dropped a
number of papers over our base to-day exhorting
us to surrender saying that if we surrendered in
3 days we would be well treated otherwise we
would be wiped out. The ship's bombardment
this afternoon set fire to Chanak.
Saturday 26 was caled out at 3 o'clock this morning
to dig some platforms for reserves in the valley. Was
finished by 7 o clock. Went to the 2^nd Battalion
to night Sir Ian Hamilton & General Birdwood
were through here this afternoon. The
enemy seem to have some new guns up in
position as they send a few 4.7 over at our
guns. They did a little damage on the beach.
June

Sunday 27. June Had church service by Col. Green this
morning. Genl. Birdwood was present &
addressed us after the service. He said, he was
pleased at the work we had done. That the
Turks were now completely afraid of us & regarded
us as wonderful shots. They were afraid to expose
themselves in the trenches & only pushed their rifles
up & fired. He said he was sending us over to
Imbros for a few days
Monday 28 There has been a heavy bombardment at
Cape Helles all day. From the hills here we can 

see the ridge line with bursting shells & shrapnel.
The valleys filled with smoke & fumes. The enemy
were observed to be retreating toward us & so to
hold them here & prevent reinforcements we commenced
an attack. We lay in support to the 2^nd Battalion.
There was a heavy bombardment for about 2 hrs
About a couple of hundred shells & bombs came
over us without doing any damage. We
came up again at night but there was nothing doing.
Tuesday 29.  We received our order to shift today &
had the old trouble in packing up. It is wonderful
how a man accumulates good even in this
remote spot. At about 7 we moved down to the
beach & were the target for many envious
remarks from the other battalions each of whom
thought they should have gone first
Monday.  A couple of 4 7 shells came over this afternoon
& burst right among groups of our men at tea No
damage was done but their was some
miraculous escapes. About 20 shells were fired [[??]]
Tuesday.  We were taken off in a punt & transferred
to a trawler which took us across. Just as we moved
off heavy rifle fire broke out and we could see the
flashes & coloured flares going up. Spent
bullets were falling in the water all around us
& one chap was shot through the chest & thigh. However
we soon drew out of range. The night was rather fresh
& it was pleasant to feel the sea breeze again. The

journey occupied about 2 hours & the ship tossed a
little several of our fellows being sea sick. We
made Imbros about 12 o clock & after landing
marched along to the camp & were soon asleep
in a stubble field.
Wednesday 30th We awoke this morning to find
ourselves under canvas again & the bugles blowing
Reveilé. Thought for a moment we were back at
mena again & the events of the last few weeks but a
bad dream, a glance out of the door however dispelled
this thought. The camp is well situated on a flat piece of 

country near Kithales Cove. The country is somewhat
like Lemnos but more hilly. Behind this flat
range after range of 5 long hills rise in constant
succession to the left is a small salt lagoon
The flat & valleys are green & planted with many
fruit trees. The fields have just been reaped & are
yellow with stubble & in others the young crops are
now springing up. The fields are marked out with
hedges & low stone walls & there are a number of
wild flowers, cornflowers, poppies & great purple
thistles. A couple of tiny villages are situated on the
hillside, their stone walls & roofs blending in to
the landscape. We had to move camp this morning
as we went into the wrong tents last night. The 50^th
Manchesters are camped here also the 6^th Lancs &
some Egyptian Engineers. The bakers who supply our
bread have their ovens here & G.H.Q. is situated by
the side of the Cove. There is a number of warships
trawlers etc. in the harbour. A number of Turkish
prisoners are camped over the hill, they are employed
in odd jobs about the bakery etc & seem very
contented. A few little shops have sprung up selling
fruit, vegetables chocolates etc It was very pleasant
to get a little fresh fruit again. Discovered a mulberry
tree this morning with a nice lot of fruit on it - most
decidedly pleasant. There are a large number of
big fig trees in the valley, also almond trees, & big
hedges of blackberry bushes. There is a plentiful supply of
water from a couple of little streams & wells. The band
from H.M.S. Exmouth played ashore this afternoon it
was very pleasant to hear some good music again
Thursday 1  We are settling down to camp life again. The
following is the daily routine, 5.30 Reveillé, 6.30
muster, 7 breakfast, 12 Dinner 10 Inspection, 12 Dinner,
5 Tea 6 muster, 9 lights out. we have camp
concerts every night in which the other units join
although there is no outstanding talent. Went for a
swim in the bay this morning. The beach is nice &
sandy & shelves downwards very gradually.
There is here the mixture of nationalities to which we