Letters from Frederick Warren Muir, 1914-1915 - Part 9

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at sunrise & sunset - in addition every morning one of the Turkish ships 
in the Dardanelles sends over a couple of big shells in the hope of ^sinking a transport
They send up huge fountains of water but do little more damage
In the afternoon the H.M.S. "Euryalus" bombarded Kaba Tepe again & 
judging by the terrific explosions which followed her shots & the great columns
of dirt & smoke which we could see must have done considerable damage
Around here we could see some of the preparations which the Turks had
made for our landing - roads built over the hills, trenches dug commanding
the beach & gun positions prepared - in the valley just to our right were a
number of tents & mud huts on the hill side apparently the headquarters for this part
of the coast - the enemy had expected us to land further south & down in that
direction had prepared a network of trenches & barbed wire entanglements, By
a lucky mischance we landed further north than was intended & though
striking much more difficult country evaded many of the little surprises which
the enemy had prepared for us. The spot where we landed is nameless on the
maps but has been named Anzac Cove - Anzac being the official 
abbreviation of our title the Australian New Zealand Army Corps.
For two days we spent a quiet peaceful time eating, cooking
& sleeping & on Saturday night followed our winding road which led up the
valley towards the left front ^where we were held in reserve sleeping in the valley for the night. In the morning we
climbed up the hill to where our trenches are situated & dug ourselves in once
again.  The hill here rises steeply from the valley for a couple of hundred feet
& so abrupt is the slope that we have to pull ourselves up with a rope.
Our trenches were dug by the New Zealanders & Royal Marines at great cost
but are were very shallow so that our first consideration was to improve our
old trenches ^& dig fresh ones.  On account of the Turkish fire this could only be done
by sapping - a slow & laborious process. Almost every time we threw up
a shovelful of earth we got a bullet through the shovel - some having

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as many as six or seven holes in them. The Turkish trenches in front were
from 50 to 200 yards away, but at one point on our left they lines of trenches
were only about 20 yards apart. The Turks for their part were busy digging
& improving their trenches & we in turn sniped them whenever they incautiously
showed themselves - the artillery of both sides too shelled the each other's
trenches at intervals to the great discomfort of the workers - our artillery in
particular put in some very good work on the hill in front of us.
Lying close to our trenches were several marines & New Zealanders who had
been killed while trying to entrench themselves & who could not be brought in
owing to the heavy fire & the smell from these at times was overpowering.
By the time of course of our situation was quite secure and our
supply & communication well established. Our ammunition & supplies were brought up
by mule trains of which we had two an Indian train & the Zion Transport
Column. The latter was formed of Jewish refugees from Palestine who had
fled to Alexandria to escape the Turkish persecution & had volunteered for
service with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force. The Indians in particular
were fine workers, they never seemed to rest & took their meals while they were
walking. We brought with us from Lemnos a number of little shaggy haired
donkeys which were used for light transport work & for carrying the wounded
down to the rear. They had a red cross badge tied on their heads & seemed
quite at home wandering up the gullies regardless of the bullets & shells. By
means of wells sunk in the valley we were able to receive a fine supply
of good drinking water close at hand but there was none to spare for washing
so we were compelled to cut out this item of our toilet.
A number of trenches to our left were manned by Royal
Marines & the Naval Brigade. These Tommies were filled with admiration
for the Australians & were constantly wondering how we managed to capture the
positions. They held a private view that the all the Australians were mad as they

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argued that no sane troops would have charged the hills as our men did.
One of the navy men who saw the landing on Sunday morning said that all
the Australians deserved a medal the size of an (adjectival) soup plate. All
these Tommies were very keen after souvenirs & hoarded up with all manner of
things as trophies, our badges etc were eagerly sought after & it was the height
of a Marine's ambition to become possessed of one of our felt hats. Soon after
they arrived the hills were strewn with their helmets while almost every marine
wore a slouch hat & some of them one of our khaki shirts, when they flattered
themselves that they "looked like Australians"
Ever since we have been here we have been greatly troubled by snipers.
During the first few days there were many inside our lines hidden amongst the scrub
who picked off our men as they went to & fro. In some cases they dressed up in
Australian or New Zealand uniforms obtained from our dead so that it was some 

times very hard to detect them. When we obtained an idea as to where they were
hidden we would organise parties to hunt for them & in this manner gradually
cleared them out of the hills but not before they had done considerable damage.

They were mostly well concealed with large supplies of food & ammunition &

in several cases were found to be in possession of a great deal of English

money. On one occasion a couple of men going to the rear heard a couple of shots

close to them & looking round saw what appeared to be a tree moving.

On closer investigation the tree turned out to be a Turk. his clothes, features &

rifle stained with green & daubed with mud & green sprigs tied all over

him. Fortunately his movement betrayed him & his career as a vegetable was

nipped in the bud. In addition to these snipers within our lines other Turkish

marks men took up positions in their trenches commanding the valley through

which our road led & took daily toll of the passers by. Barricades were

built across the gully & trenches dug but they still continue to get a few

every day. I think that it was from one of these that Genl Bridges received

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the wound which caused his death.

Although there has been l we have had no fierce fighting since the first

few days nevertheless each day has its roll of two or three wounded & killed.

in our battalion. Sometimes a shell bursts over the trenches and accounts for a

couple, the snipers pick off a few & now & again a lucky shot carries off one

our men in the trench. Owing to the fact that we are now entrenched there is a 

much larger proportion of serious & fatal wounds than formerly as in the trench

practically the only part exposed is the head & head wounds are generally fatal.

In the fierce fighting of the first week the dead were often buried very unceremoniously

& indeed in many cases were not buried at all but now they are

laid reverently to rest & the hillsides are dotted with little wooden crosses erected

by the men over their comrades graves. Down by the sea shore may be seen a

number of lovely little graves each marked by a small cairn of stones - which

eloquently mark out the landing place of the Australian Division. Looking at these

graves scattered over the hillsides I often think of Sir George Reids words when

addressing us in Cairo. Speaking of  the Pyramids towering at our backs he mentioned

that even these vast monuments had not availed to keep together the ashes of the builders

adding "but yet imperishable memories sprung from nameless graves on land

and sea".

Day by day now we would notice a slackening of the enemy's fire in front of us.

Morn Each morning & evening were characterized by artillery duels but throughout the

day only a few desultory rifle shots were exchanged and at times there would be

quite a long spell of silence. After nightfall there was usually a slight recurrence

of activity followed by occasionall bursts of rifle fire through the night but

as a rule the fire went high & did but little damage. At those spots

where the trenches were very close a few bombs were thrown nightly by both

sides doing at times some little damage. We took advantage of the quiet

spell to improve our trenches & link them up with those on either side of us &

could see that the Turks were doing the same. Life in the trenches under these

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circumstances became rather monotonous & we longed for action although we

had a pretty shrewd idea that the Turks were preparing some surprise under

cover of the unusual inactivity. We were delighted to find that our mails reached

us here quite regularly & letters & papers from home were eagerly looked for. Reading

matter was as a rule very scarce, my own staple literature being an

Arabic Grammer & a Pocket Atlas both very instructive but hardly amusing, so

you will understand what a blessing a few papers were.

I must close now for the present in order to catch the mail.

When writing to me it would be a good idea to enclose an envelope in each

letter as these are very scarce. Capt. Robins was wounded during the first
few days but is now back again. Les Newman is still in Cairo & also Dr

Stuart Kay in case I want anything from there, but as a matter of fact we

are doing quite well here at present. I had a letter from Aunt Minnie by

last mail, I think I told you that I had seen Harold.

Remember me to everyone in Unanderra,

Love from

Yours affectionatelly

Fred

This is rather a lengthy epistle but I suppose you will all be looking forward

to hearing of our doing here. I have just remembered that I celebrate my birthday

tomorrow (Sunday). I suppose I will have to dispense with the cake this time.

[Envelope]

PASSED BY

No 2202

CENSOR

FIELD P.O - 1st AUSTINF BDE

Mrs R O'Donnell

Unanderra

NSWales

Australia

Gallipoli

24 June 1915,

So pleased to get a letter from you yesterday, also a copy of the Sunday

Times. Do not forget to send along a few papers. I also got letters from Aunt 

Nenish and Aunt Em. We are still resting - have been doing so for 3 weeks 

now. Have written you three long letters lately hope they arrived O.K. Let 

me know if they came to hand. The Dean of Sydney was here last Sunday & has 

conducted a service in conjunction with Col Green. my birthday passed ever 

uneventfully. We are a bit short of stationery here but I hope to geta supply 

before long. I suppose you still pass on my letters to Malcom Robertson,

if so will you get 3 or 4 extra copies I will tell you who to send them 

to - William Kirby is still O.K. I saw Charlie Grieve a few days back, he 

is with the A.S.C & looks well. Things are very uneventful just now but 

seem to be more lively down South. Have just returned from a swim, the 

water is very pleasant these days & this is the only way we can wash, as

there is no fresh water to spare for toilet purposes. Have been keeping very 

well & seem to be putting on weight. Remember me to everyone I 

may not be able to send a letter again for some time but will do 

my best         

Yours affectionately

Fred

Gallipoli

14 July 1915.

Dear Mater,

Have just received a mail which included three letters & several papers 

from you which were all very acceptable. Am glad to know 

you received my cable O.K. I suppose by 

now you have also received some of my letters. We returned from Imbros on Wednesday last & now

in the trenches once again. We had quite a good time over on the Island, plenty of fresh fruit etc only rather 

a shortage of cash. Have had plenty of work since as landed back here apparently to compensate for our 4 weeks 

holiday. Things are very quiet on our front just now although there is a good deal of artillery work. 

The Turks made another effort to "drive us into the sea" about a fortnight ago which was as complete a

failure as the rest of their attacks. The forces at Cape Helles are progressing slowly but surely towards 

us. The general situation is very favourable but I am afraid we cannot look forward to a very speedy

termination of this little affair.

 I think I told you in a previous letter that Dean Talbot is here now. I passed him in his

dug-out yesterday but failed to recognise him for a few minutes. He was lying stretched out on his back 

clad chiefly in a seraphic smile & an abbreviated pair of trousers so I may be pardoned for failing to 

recognise him. I will look him up one day through the week. Allan Kirby has gone into hospital suffering 

from asphyxiation. One of our mines was blown up & he entered the tunnel before the fumes had cleared 

off. However I understand that he only received a slight dose & will soon be well again. Captain 

Robins has gone back to Egypt attached to the staff, where he will remain till we return. Am 

glad you remembered to give that Empire Day prize, I thought of it myself but of course could not 

do anything on the matter.

I was inoculated against cholera to-day - it is quite a harmless procedure & I am 

suffering no ill effects. The weather is becoming decidedly hot in the day time but the nights are still 

cool. We find the flies very troublesome just now -they are the most obstinate flies I ever struck 

& you have to remove them from your food by force as otherwise they will remain there & be eaten. 

I do not think there is anything more to add at present. Will write again shortly, best wishes to everyone.     

Yours affectionately

Fred

THE YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION

ARMY DEPARTMENT.

Mediterranean Expeditionary Force

Alexandria, Egypt.

Anzac, Gallipoli

17 August 1915
Dear Mater,

I am very pleased to say I am

well. We have just come through a very severe

engagement from which with my usual luck I

came out unscratched. We had a very warm time

for a few days, shrapnel, all day & bombs all

night but things are quieter now although they have

not yet settled down altogether. We captured a

number of Turkish trenches & gained considerable

ground. I cannot say much about the battle at

present but I suppose you will see about it in 

the papers before this reaches you. From what I

can see in one of the papers, however, official news of our

doings here seems very scanty & the unofficial news

especially the soldier's letters need to be taken

with the proverbial grain of salt.

+ I got a letter from you the other day with a

P.S. by Miss McK also several papers. I think I

already told you I received a letter from Mrs

Veit & by the last English mail I had a letter

from Mrs Talbot from Manchester. By the same

mail I also had a letter from one of our

wounded who was wounded & invalided to England

where he is now staying at Lady Northcott's

residence in Kent where he is having a fine time

according to his accounts.

      I have seen the Dean several times

lately; he is quite well, although I think he is

rather fed up with the war. I was very 

surprised to get a note from Les Newman yesterday. 

He is installed on the branch 

Medical Comforts Depot, I looked in on him

to-day & found that he had been here 7 weeks

He is OK & having a fairly quiet time. Through

the week I also saw George Lewis & he had been

wounded & has just returned from Malta.

It is a year to-day since the First

Battalion was formed at Randwick & we are

the old hands (there are not many left of them

unfortunately) are celebrating the occasion by

a double issue of rum & cigarettes. We It