Diary and photograph of John Adams, 1914-1916, Part 7 of 16

May.
to crawl back to their lines. We had no bombs.
but took the risk to have a straight aim
over the top, with result 1 of our party was
killed & another badly wounded we took no
more risks. The Turks could fire at us with-
out danger to their own men in No-mans-land.
W. Beach cried with anger to think we could
see so many Turks & unable to fire at them.
Things quietened & we had a good look around
with the periscope until it was put out of action,
we could see hundreds of bodies lying just
around. Beach remarked that he could attach
a periscope to a rifle & fire it from under
cover. We carried out our dead from the
sap into the firing line & took up a post
there. In some parts of our line prisoners
were taken including an officer. Every thing
quiet we were issued rifle oil & a tot of rum.
Throughout the day & night our artillery &
battleships poured in tons of shrapnel on
the Turks positions. Every man stood too
all night expecting another attack.
20th.
Everyone ready on the fire step for
another attack, we had been reinforced
with all kinds of details. Just before daybreak
we heard weird bugle calls & cries of Alla!
followed by little rifle fire from both sides, but 

May.
no attack took place, being ready for them
we were much disappointed. No's. 3 & 4 Btns
filed out of firing line to supports & rested. 5 p.m.
returned & took over firing line. Immediately
Turkish Red Cross flags could be seen waving
from the Turks front line, as far as I could
see beyond the Draft Board they were
waving. Presently an order was passed along
the line to cease fire, not knowing where it
came from we did not, until Capt Dignam gave
the order. Everything seemed so strange &
quiet, after continuous fire for the past 26 days
Everyone's eyes were skinned watching
events, presently, the flag bearers stood on
the parapet of their front line, still waving
their flags, & accompanied by another Turk, they
came towards our front line & halted 20 yds
off. The nearest flag bearer to me was
about 40 yds away, on my left. 2 of our
staff officers appeared on the parapet (General
Walker, & an interpretter) they conversed
with the Turk (escorted by the flag bearer)
for about 15 minutes. Whilst the conversation
lasted the Turks in the front line were
waving & shouting to us, exposing half their
bodies to our view, some of our boys did like-
wise. A few Turks with Red Cross armlets
hopped out of their trench & started to collect 

May.
rifles from their dead, this we spotted &
fired on them The Turk talking to our
officers, shouted back to his men apparently
saying to drop the rifles which they did.
It was very strange to everyone to look
over the parapet without being shot. In
some cases our boys sat on the parapet.
When the conversation ceased the Turks
made towards their lines, before reaching
their lines the Turks commenced rifle and
machine gun fire from their front line
apparently to catch us napping. If
anyone was caught it was the Turks
in No-mans-land, trying to reach their
lines. Our Artillery and Rifle fire became
terrific. Both sides continued firing
till midnight.
21st
5.30 a.m we left the firing line. Nos 1
& 2 Btns taking over. 5. P. M Nos. 3 & 4
Btns reinforced the firing line. From 6.
till 6.30 P.M the Turks shelled us with
heavy howitzers, making very large
craters. 7 shells were fired. Throughout
the night the Turks fired hundreds of
rockets, apparently expecting us to attack
The rockets lit up their trenches & we
could see numerous faces looking over the 

May
parapet.
22nd.
7 a.m our trench was shelled.
Rained heavily this morning. Everything
quiet. The Turks have been reinforcing
their front line all-day, we expect them
to attack. We are reinforced with the
Light Horse and ready for them. but
not a sign of them. There was much
bomb throwing during the night and
heavy shrapnel & rifle firing during
the day.
23rd.
7.30 till 8.30 a.m our Navy off
Gaba Tepe shelled the enemy artillery
positions & trenches on our right. One of
our battleships appeared to be aground off
Gaba Tepe, the Turks spotted this, and poured
shrapnel on to her from 8 or 9 guns on the
Flat (to the right of Gaba Tepe.) The battleship
blazed gun fire for its life, until another
battleship came close in and appeared to
tow her off. The battleship silenced several
batteries of Turkish artillery. Soon a
Taube flew over our lines at a great
height and dropped several bombs, one
fell about 200 yds off, killing one and
wounding two others, our Naval aircraft 

May
guns gave her a hot time, she soon flew
back over her own lines. Prior to the
Taube's appearence one of our areoplanes
over the Turks lines had a hot time with
Turkish shrapnel fire. Heavy bomb throwing
on our right during the night. The Turks
losses on the 19th. of May are estimated at
2,000 killed, and 5,000 wounded.  We are
notified of an armistice taking place
tomorrow from 7.30 a.m till 4 p.m.
24th.
7.30 a.m both sides ceased firing. The
Turks came from their front line in
batches of about 50 about 400 yds between
batches and halted in the centre of 
No-mans-land, all were dressed in blue uniform
(apparently picked from the artillery for the
job) and a big stamp of men. Our
party were picked men, out they went and
met the Turkish parties The Turks are
much bigger men. Together each party
walked along the front in the centre of
No-mans-land dropping from their parties
one of our men and a Turk every
50yds, when this was completed, both
sides stretcher parties came out of their
front lines and commenced to carry
the dead bodies to the halfway line 

May
of No-mans-land where we dumped the
Turks dead, and they ours, Each party
collected bodies along their own front and were
not allowed beyond the centre of No-mans-land,
where the Turks sentry and one of our men
were posted. Here the parties sorted out
their dead and burried them in their
alloted half of No-mans-land. Thanks to
the Turks having more to bury than us.
Either sides rifles were dumped minus the bolts,
at the halfway line where either party picked
up their own stocks, (only rifles found in
No-mans-land) here the Turks scored. For
2 hours I took over a stretcher bearers job.
during the afternoon. It was a nasty job as
the bodies were decomposed, cigarrettes were
much in need. The Turks had either a
handkerchief tied over their mouth or
smoked freely all day. A Turk pulled a
couple of us up for over stepping the half way
line, he was fixed later and dropped in
No-mans-land. I noticed every dead Turk
had 2 bombs tied to his equipment. 4 p.m
both parties started for their front
line, soon a few shots were heard, then
a hustle for the front lines by both parties.
A few Turks were dropped, I have not heard
that any of ours were. Both side with Artillery 

May
and rifle fire kept up a murderous fire
for 2 ½ hours. During the armistice
a Turk gave one of our boys a cigarrette to
smoke. About midnight the Turks did not
fire a shot, general opinion is, they are
preparing another attack. Our artillery
and rifle fire continued, but nothing eventuated.
25th
7 a.m relieved from firing line by another
half Coy, and went into supports. 10 a.m I
was awakened by someone saying the
battleship Triumph was sinking off Gaba-
Tepe. I got up and saw a large part of
her red keel disappearing, several boats
were rescuing those in the water, and steam
pinnace's were arriving from all directions
2 destroyers were standing by the sinking
ship rescuing and others were steaming
towards at full speed. Throughout the
operation the Turks heavily shelled
with shrapnel those in the water, and
did not cease until all boats cleared off
with the survivors. The Triumph was
torpedoed by a German submarine.
Some of our boys saw the submarine
and the torpedo. It was during the
bombardment of the Turks artillery, the
Triumph was sunk, she came in under 

May
Gaba Tepe, too close. 7 p.m I left for the beach
to escort mules to our lines with rations
returning at 10.30 p.m.
26th.
Took over front line at 6.30 a.m. Very
quiet day. 6 p.m several Turks field guns
were observed firing from positions about 500.
yds. away, our areoplane flew over their
positions and dropped bombs, since then the
guns have been quiet.
27th.
Relieved from firing line by other half
Coy. at 6.30 a.m. and went into supports. 6. p.m
our areoplanes dropped bombs on the Turks positions.
28th.
6.15 a.m. A Coy. took over D Coys. firing
line positions also positions occupied by the
Light Horse (they were mixed with D Coy) We
are now to the right of the Dimple & about
150 yds. from our old position. The usual
artillery and rifle fire during the day, we
have a beautiful view of the flat country
on our left, looking towards Gaba Tepe and
Achi Baba.
29th 
2.45 a.m the Turks opened heavy artillery
fire on to our trench, killing and wounding
several. I bandaged up and carried out Hills 

he was badly wounded.  when returning I saw
Capt Dignam well secured in a dug out, he
asked me how things were in the front line
5.30a.m the firing ceased. Throughout the
shelling we expected an attack from the Turks.
At 6.15 a.m the Light Horse relieved us from the
firing line and we went into supports. 6.30
a.m heavy firing on our left. Later we heard
that the Turks had attacked the 15th. and 16th.
Bns. near Quinns Post taking part of their
trenches, immediately the 15th & 16th Bns.
counter attacked, took back the trenches lost
and gained fifty or more yards of the
Turks front line, inflicting very heavy
casualties amongst the Turks. Our losses in
comparison were slight. Prior to the Turks
attacking they blew up part of the 15th &
16ths. trenches. The Turks had undermined
them. 6 p.m A French and one of our planes
flew over the Turks lines dropping several
bundles, they looked like papers as they took
a long time to drop. 7 p.m I went to the
beach for rations, whilst bringing them up
one of the Indians with the mules was
killed. Returned to our lines at 10.30 p.m.
30th
4. a.m we took over the firing line from
the Light Horse, there was much firing from 

May
both sides 1.30 a.m. our artillery enfiladed
one of the Turks trenches in front of
us. The Turks got a hot time, some of them
hopped out and ran back to another trench
more were dropped than reached the
trench alive. During the night bombing
and rifle fire were continuous.
31st.
5 a.m. relieved from firing line and
went into supports, Did fatigue duties
all day. Turks quiet during the night.
1st of June
Did fatigue duty all-day
digging trenches. 6 p.m. 2 others and
self sent into firing line to take over a
post. 11.15 a.m. the Turks opened a
heavy rifle fire and artillery fire on
to our trenches lasting 10 minutes.
2nd.
4.30 a.m. the remainder of our
platoon took up positions in the firing
line including our post. Very quiet
all-day. 11.15 p.m  much rifle fire from
the Turks.
3rd.
5. a.m. relieved from firing line
went into supports and rested all-day
11.15 p.m heavy rifle fire on our left