Diary of Herbert Alexander Affleck, 1915 - Part 7

11th Month NOVEMBER 1915 30 Days 
15 MONDAY 319-46 Like rain.
Writing home yesterday closing
day for Xmas mails.
On A sub alt. road.
Heavy bombardment to left of Achi
Baba visible two new monitors
& cruiser took part
quiet on this front
Recieved letter from Mr. Peck yesterday, reg. one  
Rained during night

16 TUESDAY 320-45 Fine
On A sub artillery road.
supposed to have taken some more
ground & trenches at Cape part that
was bombarded fm areoplanes up.
Taube over our anticraft drove him off
Assist 'phone, enemys shrapnel
visible in evening near Salt Lake
things fairly quiet otherwise
Heavy firing during night at Cape

17 WEDNESDAY 321-44 Blowy 
On A sub art. road, mail overdue
expected, sea fairly rough bread &
meat issue curtailed
On phone all day
Everything fairly quiet on our front
also Helles.
Several rumours re Kitchener, what he
intends doing etc.
2 issues of gift tobacco about this date.
  
30 Days NOVEMBER 1915 11th Month
18 THURSDAY 322-43 Fine
On A sub art road.
Beachy Bill fired during night
Our anticraft fired at aeroplane hostile
for one first class shot, drove him off
our planes up during day. They observe
nearly everyday, except when too rough,
Rumor re Suez also Salonika
Things fairly quiet, bombs stick over
at night, howitzers silenced him as a rule

19 FRIDAY 323-42 Blowy. Fine
On A sub artillery, road
on cooks job, 6th Bty had premature 1 man killed
Beachy Bill fired on beach during
night, no stores landed on account of
rough weather, bully & biscuits.
rumour re our outward mail
supposed to be sunk
Our inward mail overdue not arrived to
date, Our anticraft fired on hostile plane
Gift tobacco north and Cold,
  
20 SATURDAY 324-41 Blowy
On A sub art. road, 6th Bty had premature Sgt wounded
Official news re the Gaby sinking
with outward mail on board, some
saved. Cruiser firing over to rear of our
front, firing broadsides, aeroplane observing
Beachy Bill firing at night, Waggons, artillery
to be made ready for transporting.  

21 SUNDAY 325-40 Blowy and  
cold, N. wind 
On A sub art. road &
5 drivers arrived 2 to A sub.  Beach & Jordan  

11th Month NOVEMBER 1915 30 Days 
Things quiet             North wind Blowy, cold, icy
22 MONDAY 326-39
On A sub artillery road. B. Jordan belongs
to Doc's class. In new dug out.
Went round with Jordan & saw Mr. Stewart
did he did not look himself.
Capt. Biddle fixing up re iron & timber for
winter quarters.
Recieved Mutal Store hamper sent from home
also parcel addressed by Dorothy, cover
broken some of contents missing.
Turks Charged "Apex" repulsed 
  
23 TUESDAY 327-38 Fine
Proclamation Day, Victoria 
with heavy casualties, ours next to nil (on 22nd
 On A sub art road. mobile
Our gun removed sent away to
Mudros with others also waggons.
Had to haul waggons over through
gap near Pinnicale N. Williams
pier. North Beach. "Beachy Bill" active
Turks charged at Courtneys were repulsed,
     "           "       at Helles whole Division repulsed
with heavy losses 

24 WEDNESDAY 328-37 Dull
moving down to Battery. have to dig
in near old B sub pit. taking down
all iron timber & sand bags.
Heavy firing at Cape, things
fairly quiet on our front. "Beachy active"
attack on "Apex" repulsed with heavy loss
by rifle & machine gun fire
  
30 Days NOVEMBER 1915 11th Month
25 THURSDAY 329-36 Fine
On A sub
Subs. shuffled up
digging in for dug outs

26 FRIDAY 330-35 Bad weather & rain 
On A sub
On duty down on North Beach.
waiting to load waggons
postponed, then weather
too rough!
Stunt keeping off sky line
lasted for three days

27 SATURDAY 331-34 Cold driving Rain
on A sub
Digging dug outs 
On fatigues,
Started snowing about 11 p.m.
Double guard on guns.

28 SUNDAY 332-33 Snow & Wind
On A sub on duty. 7 pm to 7 pm
24 hrs and 24 off. very cold day. 

11th & 12th M'ths NOV. & DEC. 1915 30 & 31 Days
29 MONDAY 333-32 Bitterly cold
On sub at Bty.
Turks had thier trenches marked
out with red flags, yesterday.
they bombarded the Lone Pine
also with howitzers of large
Calibre, - casualities
weather calmer
on iron rations
On fatigue for day On Guard

30 TUESDAY 334-31 Cold
On A sub with Bty.
On duty for day on sub.
Things fairly quiet
Ships bombarded
Lord Nelson or - at Olive Grove
& Maidos

1 December WEDNESDAY 335-30 Fine Sunny
On A sub with Bty
Everything fairly quiet on both fronts.
  
31 Days DECEMBER 1915 12th Month
2 THURSDAY 336-29 Fine Sunny
On A sub with Bty.
Paraded sick M & LD
Had a post card from Jack from No 2 Out
Post. 
Our sub on duty for day. 

3 FRIDAY 337-38 Misty
On A sub with Bty
on fatigues
Paraded sick M & LD
Did not do guard
Heard rumor of advance on our left
flank Suvla way
News in Peninsula Press. good & favourable

4 SATURDAY 338-37 Fine & Sunny
On A sub with Bty
On gun duty. Artillery duels or our front.
Heavy bombardment or our left
flank at Helles. ships taking part

5 SUNDAY 339-26

12th Month DECEMBER 1915 31 Days
6 MONDAY 340-25

7 TUESDAY 341-24

8 WEDNESDAY 342-23
  
31 Days DECEMBER 1915 12th Month

9 THURSDAY 343-22

10 FRIDAY, 344-21
Left Anzac sick
dia}
appen}?
Left by Caledonian Hospital
ship for Mudros

11 SATURDAY 345-20
Separation Day, Queensland—
Public Holiday in Brisbane
Landed at Mudros was
sent to 24th casual clearing
station.

12 SUNDAY 346-19 

12th Month DECEMBER 1915 31 Days
13 MONDAY 347-18

14 TUESDAY 348-17

15 WEDNESDAY 349-16
About this date I was sent
to no 16 Stationary Hospital
East Mudros.
with appendix?
  
31 Days DECEMBER 1915 12th Month
16 THURSDAY 350-15

17 FRIDAY 351-14

18 SATURDAY 352-13
Lasted over two or three days.↓
↓ ← ←

19 SUNDAY 353-12
Evacuation took place at Anzac 

12th Month DECEMBER 1915 31 Days
20 MONDAY 354-11

21 TUESDAY 355-10
Near La Boiselle

22 WEDNESDAY 356-9
  
31 Days DECEMBER 1915 12th Month 
23 THURSDAY 357-8

24 FRIDAY 358-7

25 SATURDAY 359-6
Christmas Day

26 SUNDAY 360-5
Boxing Day  

12th Month DECEMBER 1915 31 Days
27 MONDAY 361-4

28 TUESDAY 362-3
Proclamation Day, South
Australia

29 WEDNESDAY 363-2
  
31 Days DECEMBER 1915 12th Month
30 THURSDAY 364-1

31 FRIDAY 365-0

22 
12
__ 
34

I stayed at No 16 S.H till
12 January 1916 transferred
to boat, Hospital ship
"Letitia" sent to Malta
arrived 14th sent to
"Cottonera Hospital" Malta 

JANUARY-CASH MEMORANDA.
Date, Letters recieved

Oct. 20th from Iris
    "    22nd
    "       6th H.M.S. Triumph 
Nov     4th              Bucchante 
    "       25th               Dublin 
    "        17h                London 
Dec      9th               Vengance 
    "        22nd        S. .B. Destroyers
April 25th, 1915
xxxx Our boys had to retire giving
the men-o-war a chance to
bombard on left which they did
with a caution, the noise was
terrific shells passing right over
the Karroo looking from the boat
it was hard to imagine how
anything could live under it
seemed to be a lot of wounded
on beach the firing subsided

April 26th 1915
more shrapnel going also last
night & evening, B sub got
away early & landed, went on
to right wing. Col. Rosenthaugh was
ashore, left section landed about
10.00 am - JW Walferton in our punt
& sub later got into position
did not fire till next morning
  
FEBRUARY-CASH MEMORANDA.
Date Letters posted
April 25 1915
I was on guard on last shift the
morning we prepared to land, I could
hear the naval guns firing a long
while before I could see anything.
gradually, getting closer, the
artillery transports brought up the
rear, we kept close & parallel with
shore from Cape Helles, could see
ships in close landing troops
fire from battle- ships was
tremendous seemed to being
bombarding all the way along
we slowly came up opposite to
Kaba Tepe the landing was
being carried out, our boys
started to land a daybreak long
before we came up could hear
rifle fire & Turks shrapnel
seemed to be coming from all
directions, we prepared to land
the right section of the 4th Battery
first one gun A subs was landed
B. subs returned to Karoo, infantry
weren't silly over the gun & got it in
to position close to beach shelled
Kaba Tepe - the S.M. No 3 knocked out
gun also at other targets
cont page facing 

MARCH-CASH MEMORANDA.
Monday 12th April, 1915
Arrived at Isld of Linmos from
Alexandria after a good trip
was slightly seasick, we got
to the Isld at midnight but
had to stop outside till
daybreak, we then came in
this entrance to bay, the entrance
was guarded by mines laid in a
chain on buoys, there were in all
about 63 ships inside war
transports & merchantment, also
some supply ships, among the
warships were British, French
& Russian, Queen Elizabeth was
one of the British which took part in
the bombardment of Dardanelles
the Island is about 50 miles
distant from entrance to
Dardanelles, the Queen Elizabeth
steamed out of harbour to sea
& returned in the evening. There
Troops camped on shore probably
3rd Bde Inf. A.I.F. also troops
practising landing 2 or 3
ships came in during day
one torpoeded ship beached in
bay said to be a German supply
  
APRIL—CASH MEMORANDA.
ship, cloudy & rain in evening
had a letter from home
intend counting number of ships
in harbour, one of two or three
villages around bay also number
of old fashioned windmills
grazing & cultivation down to
waters edge country very
hilly our ship Karroo was
visited during the day by
General Birdwood

July 17th Saturday
Wrote home also p.c.
     "       p.c to Jack Egypt
Party went to Imbros for spell
Major and others.
French torpedo boat off Anzac supposed
to be Italian officer. Gen, on board
left for Cape Helles
Friday 6th 1915
We expected general attack on
Turks position, a great number of
K's army, have landed and are in
bivouac, some from Imbros & some
(from Cape ?) everything has been
got readly rations etc. Attack started
I with general bombardment of
enemy's lines field gun & howitzers  

6th Friday MAY-CASH MEMORANDA
howitzer's played havoc with trenches.
we went into action in forward
position off gun lane fired 20 odd
rounds & got knocked out, fifth
Bty. also had gun in forward position
& did well getting off 40 rds
we hope we did damage to Johnstons 
Jolly. Infantry attacked later
charged & took some trenches
which the held at Lonesome Pine
plenty of rifle fire throughout night.
7th Saturday, we saw first thing
that a large force had landed
above Anzac on Niburnesi Point
started at daylight, large no of transports
men-o-war, smaller craft landing
was carried out successfully
without any great opposition; They
advanced over flat country by salt
lake, 31st Div. landed on point Gurkhas
were included they advanced towards
971 Battleship hill etc got 3 or 4
mls inland, rumoured Horse Artillery
& cavalry, landed also that Gurkhas
captured 6 or 8 Q.F. progress favourably
all going well till seeing, heavy
rifle fire at night also little artillery
we also held all positions taken on
our front, centre right did not
warships bombarded chess board. twice
  
JUNE-CASH MEMORANDA.
advance N.Zs. did well advanced
considerably, bomb fight at Lonesome
8th Sunday attack still going
on intend to take chess board
from rear, taking Battleship
& 971 hills so as to command
chess board, we stood by during
day, if we gain crest we command
road leading South so can
cut off supplies about 8 men-o-war
Among the men-o-war off Suvla
Bay or inside boom defence
Swiftsure, Buchante, Dublin
2 or 3 old 2 funnelled shallow
draft cruisers, one 1 or 2 scout
cruisers ballon ship (new)
a good no [[?]] G.B.Ds, one new
seemed to be very fast & rakish
monitors stood off Anzac.
among transports was
[Ascarius?], at commencement  
of attack there was
from 5 to 7 hospital ships.
31st & it landed on left
Indian Bde - Ghurkas, Bengal
lancers? N.Z. M. Rifles. R. F A
They lost heavily, captured 5
machine guns, large quantity of
ammin. Norndefeld gun, a lot of rifles
everyone was complimented
by General Birdwood & Sir Ian