Diary and photograph of John Adams, 1914-1916, Part 6 of 16

April. 
fire was terrific. At night we retired from some 
positions. 
26th. 
I remained with the New Zealanders digging 
all-day, everyone was mixed up, it was impossible  
to find any unit. We had a few casualties in  
our trench mostly from shrapnel. An Indian 
mountain battery behind us kept firing on the  
Turks positions throughout the day & night. 
27th. 
In the morning with 5 others of our Coy we 
set out to find our battalion, we moved along 
the line to the left & found a number of 
the battalion, then we crawled along to the 
front. About 11 a.m, the Turks attacked us, we 
beat them off, as they advanced they shouted Alla! 
we lost a little ground in one place & most of our  
officers with a large number of men. the 
remainder were on the edge of a cleft with about 
200 ft drop. Colonel Braund realising the position, 
attacked with a few men & drove the Turks back 
out of danger zone. the ground was littered with 
dead, dying, & wounded from both sides. All 
night we kept up a terrific rifle & machine 
gun fire, & the Turks did likewise, also sounded 
weird bugle calls, we took them for signals of 
attack, & fired furiously after each call. The navy   
shelled the ridge ahead of us all day.

April 
28th. 
Early in the morning an order was passed 
along the line for the 2nd Bn. to crawl along 
to the left, to a small ridge to muster, we 
assembled at 6.30 a.m. now a very depleted Bn. & 
dead tired, with others I helped to bury the dead, 
during the morning a sniper kept firing at us 
from a cleft, someone spotted him & soon about 
100 opened fire on his position behind our lines, a 
party then went up & found him riddled with 
bullets, he had 3 pidgeons, a plenty of ammunition, 
water, & food stored there. We ran out along the 
beach to the left to bring in some of our boys who 
were either dead or wounded & had been there 
since the landing. 2 boats were washed up along 
the beach between our left flank and Fishermans 
Hut about a mile off. wounded were taken out of 
the nearest boat, several of the burrying party 
were wounded, & 4 killed. At night our Bn. moved 
along the beach to the right, here we saw 2 Bn's, 
of Marines landing, we halted a little further on 
& went to sleep. 
29th. 
A roll call & the 1st brigade was reorganised. 14 
mustered out of our platoon of 59 strong on the 
25th. We lost killed our platoon commander Lt  
Brown, platoon Sgt. Boucher, L/Sgt Wellisch, & 2 
Cpls & I dont know how many men. We were 
told to wash in the sea, and shave if possible. 

April 
Everyones clothes was in ribbons, & flesh torn by 
the prickly scrub. The Turks fired on us 
with shrapnel inflicting several casualties. 
The navy kept up a heavy fire all day. 
30th. 
We dug ourselves in along the beach, suffering 
several casualties during the operation. From 3 
to 4 p.m. the navy bombarded some buildings about 
5 miles away on our right beyond Gaba Tepe, 
soon they were in flames. 
1st. May. 
The Colonel assembled us on the beach 
under a ridge & read us a message from 
Lord Kitchiner congratulating us on our work. In 
the afternoon we were issued with 300 rds. of 
S.A.A. & made ready for the front line. 
2nd. 
2 a.m. the Bn pushed off & dug in just behind 
the front line, occupied by Marines at the top of 
Wire Gully, there is a terrific rifle fire going 
on. From 5.30 till 6.30 p.m. the navy heavily  
shelled the Turks positions, they retalliated with 
rifle fire. 10 p.m. we were called to reinforce the 
front line, held by Marines, after reaching 
there we were not wanted. we are being 
continually sniped at from all directions. 
3rd. 
General Walker came up & gave orders that

May 
everyone must entrench deeper & more secure as 
too many were being lost by shrapnel. We 
dug in all day. 
4th. 
At 2.30 a.m. I heard a rifle shot & a thud  
close by, & later some one said its our Colonel, he 
was killed. He was a great soldier & the loss is 
felt by all. 9.30 p..m. we were called out to 
reinforce the front line, we filed into a  
communication trench. It was a very cold night. 
5th. 
Did not enter firing line, returned to our 
dugouts at 5.30 a.m. 12.15 p.m. we pushed  
off to the right flank, & took over the firing line 
from the 2nd Bgde, we were told that the 2nd 
Bgde were going to make another landing, below 
Gaba Tepe. 5 p.m. we took over the trenches,  
the Turks kept up heavy rifle fire throughout 
the night, we replied with a few shots. Very cold. 
6th. 
During the morning the Turkish artillery 
shelled us heavily, the shells exploding in & on the 
top of our trenches giving us a rough time, luckily 
only 3 were wounded. One of our 18 pdr's. was 
rushed up behind our trenches to slip in a few 
quick shots, the second shot fired exploded at the 
muzzle, blowing in our trench, burying 4 of us 
to our waists. The enemy soon spotted our gun &

May 
gave us a devil of a time with shrapnel fire till 
2.30 p.m. 5 p.m. B. Coy. took over the firing 
line from us, we went into supports. 7.45 p.m. 
we were detailed to go down to the beach, & haul 
up 2. 18 pdrs. to within 50 yds of the firing line. 
The sight of the guns gave us great confidence. 
7th. 
1.45 a.m. the guns were in position & we 
returned to support line. 6.30 a.m. we took over 
firing line. 9 till 9.45 a.m. the navy, & our 
artillery, kept up a heavy fire on to the hill 
in front of us. 4  p.m. the Turks opened up 
heavy artillery fire on our trench, with 
great accuracy, 4 shells exploded in our 
trench within a radius of 6 ft, blowing it 
to pieces, 2 were killed & several wounded. 
there would have been more casualties had 
we not taken cover in our dugouts along the 
sides of the trench. There were numerous 
casualties amongst our artillery. 
8th. 
Early this morning with others I was detailed 
to dig a communication trench, connecting the 
1st Bn. on our left flank, we had not been  
long at it when the Turks opened fire on us 
with rifles & machine guns, several were killed, 
& wounded, we had to abandon digging. After 
bringing in the casualties we returned to our

May. 
Coy. 9 p.m. both sides kept up a heavy rifle 
fire for 20 minutes. Very quiet for remainder 
of night. 
9th. 
During the day the Turks kept up a hot  
fire of shrapnel along the beach, we could see 
their gun flashes on our right, also the shrapnel 
bursts. Very quiet in the firing line. 
10th. 
7.30 a.m the navy shelled the Turks positions,  
about 500 yds ahead of us. Turks & equipment 
were blown in all directions. 9 p.m. with 
others I was detailed to carry on digging the 
trench abandoned on Saturday the 8th. 
11th. 
9.30 a.m. relieved by another digging 
party, then we foraged for food, 2 boys went 
to the beach for water, could only get 2 water 
bottles filled, we collected tins of bully beef 
from our dead lying about, then decided 
to make a stew with a few biscuits. it was 
raining hard & was difficult to light a fire,  
it was eventually accomplished, & a stew made. 
It was a great luxury. We returned to our Coy.  
lines in support very tired, & had a rest 
After 10 days we got a wash in the puddle holes. 
12th.  
6 p.m. our Ptn. & No 3. took over the firing line 
from 1 & 2 Ptn's, this being the system of relief

May 
throughout the Bn. for some time. Very quiet day 
13th. 
At daybreak heavy rifle & machine gun fire 
opened up on our left, later we heard that the 
boys had tried to take a trench, but could not 
hold it. I was detailed as escort for one of our 
fellows arrested as a suspicious character. 
14th. 
6 p.m. we were relieved from the firing 
line by our other 2 Ptns. we going into supports 
During the night we dug a lot, we are continually 
improving our trenches. Our divisional 
Commander General Bridges was wounded 
at the place where we were digging the  
communication trench on the 8th. 
15th. 
With others I was detailed to fetch water from 
the beach. The Turks just having sunk 5 days  
supply we returned without a drop. The 
beach was being heavily shelled, dead mules, 
& wreckage strewn everywhere. 6 p.m. we took 
over the firing line. 
16th 
Very quiet during day, at night much 
rifle fire & bomb throwing. 
17th. 
7 a.m. the Turks opened up a heavy shrapnel 
fire on our trench from 2 directions. 1 direction 

May 
enfiladed our trench killing & wounding 
several in our platoon, it lasted 20 minutes. 
18th. 
5.30 a.m. relieved from firing line, I went 
into supports. Issued with clean clothes, first 
change since landing. 11.30 p.m. called into 
firing line but was not required. 
19th. 
12.10 a.m. called into firing line. the Turks 
was supposed to be making an attack, we blazed 
away rifle fire till 1 a.m. & did not see a Turk, 
we returned to supports. 3 a.m. again called 
into firing line & were told, on information 
received that the Turks were going to attack us 
towards daylight. Every soul stood by on the 
fire step with plenty of ammunition, soon the 
familiar cry of Alla! Alla! was heard, immediately 
we opened fire in the Turks direction & soon we 
could see their dark forms advancing in a  
crouched position, like a mob of sheep, they 
made a bold attempt to enter our trenches, 
none got within 10 yds excepting on our right 
along C. Coys. front, where our 2 Bn. M. G's 
jammed & failed to defend an important 
position. The crews immediately took up their 
rifles, but the Turks in massed formation  
entered a part of C Coys trench, killing & wounding 
several including Capt Wallack, & Lt Barton

May. 
two that put up with others a gallant fight. 
The Turks not getting a proper foot hold 
of the trench were all killed, not one escaped. 
It was a great sight, the continuous wall of 
thousands of rifles firing like - in the 
dark. Daylight came & small mobs of Turks 
kept advancing, & were shot down, everyone 
were sitting on top of the parapet firing at 
good targets. Hundreds of Turks hopped out  
of a support trench to reinforce their front 
line, immediately in front of us. it was down- 
hill & they made great targets, it was like 
rabbits on the run, rolling over & over down 
the hill, causing much amusement. The attack 
subsided & several Turks crawling amongst the 
scrub was attracting our attention. The Turks 
apparently had been reinforced in their firing 
line, & seeing us on the parapet all along the 
line started to fire on us. with result we 
suffered several casualties. Cpl Porteous next 
to me got his skull blown clean off & dropped 
into the trench. 5 a.m. the attack was checked. 
As soon as daylight came our Navy & Artillery 
shelled the Turks positions furiously. 
5.30 a.m. W. Beach & self was sent down a 
sap towards the Turks overlooking a ravine. 
There were several dead Turks & a few of our 
own in the sap, at the end was Sgt Higgins,

May 
& F Thompson on the post, almost immediately 
they were both shot dead. The Turks front 
line was about 100 yds off. W. Beach returned to 
the firing line for a periscope, (as it ment  
certain death to sight a rifle over the top.) 
whilst I kept firing into the blind, he soon 
returned, putting the periscope up he remarked 
look out there are hundreds in the ravine. 
he gave me the periscope & said he would run 
back to notify Capt Dignam. I immediately 
kept a lookout, I saw hundreds of Turks 
formed up in lines ready to attack, their 
officers were striking them across their 
backs & legs with swords to get them into 
position, presently they gave a few faint yells 
of Alla! doubled up the ravine towards me, to 
within 30 yds & lay down, then started to 
crawl, it was a half hearted attempt, luckily for 
me. Having half a box of ammunition by my 
side I kept blazing away, & having looks through 
the periscope, both flanks of the attacking party 
were exposed to our firing line & they were 
killed by the dozens. It was a terrible few 
minutes for me, until W. Beach returned 
with 3 others. The Turks came no closer I could 
see & hear their officers shouting & waving  
frantically for their men to attack, the officers  
was about 100 yds off. Soon the Turks began