Diary and photograph of John Adams, 1914-1916, Part 8 of 16

lasting 20 minutes.
4th
Did fatigue duties all - day.  11 a.m
off Cape Helles our navy opened up a
heavy bombardment on to a ridge to the
right of Achi Baba about 10 miles from
us.  firing eased off at 6 p.m.  11 p.m.
our boys along the centre of Anzac
opened heavy rifle fire on the Turks
trenches, we heard rumours that our
troops were attacking on both flanks of
Anzac.  Firing continued throughout the
night.
5.th.
5. a.m. with others I was sent to search
for water, on our way back we got a rough
time with Turks shrapnel fire (one casualty)
The Turks artillery had been active all the
morning.  Later we heard the New Zealanders
had taken a Turks trench without a casualty
The Turks had retired to another trench
25 yards away and as soon as the New-
Zealanders were consolidated the Turks
poured in a fusilade of bombs
inflicting heavy casualties among the
N. Z's who retired to their old position
8 p.m.  I was detailed for guard over
supports.  Very little firing during the night.

June
6th.
5 a.m. finished guard and took over
a post in the firing line along with Nos 3
and 4 Platoons. Throughout the day rifle
fire was continuous. 5.30 p.m rifle and
artillery fire was very severe  2 were
killed in our platoon and several wounded
Much bomb throwing during the night
Very hot weather.
7th.
5 a.m left firing line and went into
supports  6.15 a.m just commenced to eat
our Bully Beef and Biscuit when the
Turks shelled us heavily with shrapnel
robbing us of our meal. We lost several
killed and wounded and the trench
was badly knocked about.  All-night
on our left there was heavy rifle fire
and bomb throwing.
8th.
I made two trips to Shrapnel Gully,
about 1½ miles away, for water. There were
thousands of our boys in quees, waiting
for water 9.30 p.m. Sgt Peisley and
self under Col Browns instructions went
out on patrol, our job was to crawl
along the battalion front to get our
boys used to seeing one of our own

patrols in No-mans-land, also we had
instructions to find out whether the
Turks came out into prepared positions
in no-mans-land by night to snipe, we
are loosing a lot of our boys by night,
observing over the parapet, they get
sniped through the head.  We got within
70 yds of the Turks front line, and a Turk
on our right rear fired apparently towards 
our front line, having just gained
the information we were sent out for,
the Turks on our left from Quinns Post
opened up a heavy rifle fire which
continued right along our front, and
both sides were at it with the Turks firing
flares furiously, Piesley and self hugged the
earth, our boys had been instructed not to
fire a shot for 40 minutes whilst we were
out, but a few got excited and retaliated
to the Turks fire. it was a horrible time
returning to our line until we got into the
Sally Port.  we then went along the tunnel
to the front line Colonel Brown was there
waiting our return and thanked us
both for the information, and expressed
his regrets for the firing. Piesley had been
hit through his equipment whilst out on
patrol.

June
9th.
5 a.m. we took over front line from
Nos 1 and 2 Ptns.  Very quiet morning. 4.30
till 5.15 p.m both sides artillery kept up
a heavy bombardment. To prevent the
Turks from placing out barbed wire in
front of their trenches we kept up a
steady rifle fire all-night.  During our
patrol last night we saw several knife
rests with wire.
10th.
4 a.m relieved from front line and went
into supports 9.30 A.M   9 of us paraded at
Bn Hqs to receive instructions in bomb 
throwing.  1 p.m with five others I was
detailed to fetch water from somewhere.
we went to Shrapnel Gully and after waiting
till 5.30 p.m we could only get 2 gallons
between the lot, the wells were almost
dry.  Heavy rifle fire throughout the night
11th. 
2 a.m intense rifle fire  4 a.m, with
others I was detailed to fetch water, we returned
successfull at 6.30 a.m.  9.30 a.m
with others I was detailed to fetch more
water from the beach, we returned at 11.45
a.m  8 p.m I was detailed for guard over
supports, and relieved at midnight.  Hot day.

12th.
4 A.M went into firing line.  7.30 a.m
heavy artillery fire from both sides lasting
1 hour.  Very little firing during night.
Turks expected to attack
13th
4 a.m relieved from firing line and
went into supports.  P. Smith, and T. Flem
arrived to day from hospital, they were
wounded at the landing, and say they
have had a rare time at Alexandria.
6 a.m  2 cruisers came in close to Gaba Tepe,
and heavily shelled the Turks trenches,
and artillery positions.  6 p.m one of our
areoplanes flew over the Turks lines and
dropped 3 bombs.  Very quiet night.
14th
4 a.m with others I was detailed to fetch
water from Shrapnel Gully.  5.30 a.m the
Turks heavily shelled our Bn. positions
killing and wounding several, we returned
with water at 6 a.m and firing ceased
at 6.45 a.m.  7.15 p.m with others I was
detailed to escort the pack mules from the
beach with rations. the job was finished at 11.30 p.m.
15th.
4 a.m our Ptn. went into firing line.
7.a.m. the Turks heavily shelled us, blowing

June.
our parapet and trenches to pieces, about
30 howitzer shells dropped on our
trenches leaving great crators, in our Ptn,
there were 4 casualties. All night we were
clearing out our trenches and building up
the parapet.  8.30 a.m it was reported a
Turk was seen crawling in no-mans-land
we kept a good look out, but saw nothing
Throughout the day and night a heavy
bombardment could be seen and heard at
Cape Helles, also intense rifle fire.
16th.
4 a.m. relieved from firing line and
went into supports. 1.15 p.m. I was detailed
to fetch the Bn. rations from the beach.
Whilst on the beach the Turks heavily shelled
the stores, and we had to take cover
for some time.  I returned to my Ptn. at
5 p.m.  The Turks had shelled our trenches
all-day, and we had several casualties
6. p.m. I was detailed for guard over well (24hrs)
17th.
6.15 p.m relieved from guard, and joined
the Coy. One of our areoplanes dropped
several bombs on the Turks lines. Very quiet
day.
18th.
1 p.m with others I was detailed to dig the
firing line 1 ft deeper. A monitor standing

well out to sea shelled several Turk positions,
including Gaba Tepe. 6 p.m. we left off
digging and joined our Ptn. in supports.
All-night the Turks heavily shelled the beach, doing
very little damage.
19th.
9 a.m. with others I was detailed to go to the
beach for water and clothing, returned at 11.30 a.m.
One of our planes dropped 2 bombs on the
Turk lines about 400 yds ahead of us.  After
being sick with dysentry for 12 days I am
now feeling much better.  7 p.m with others
I was detailed to fetch up the Bn. stores
from the beach, we returned at 10.15 p.m
On reaching our trench I saw Conn putting
young Peters in a waterproof sheet, he had
been killed by the handle of one of our
own Japanese bombs, that had exploded
behind the Turks lines, the handle was
blow back to our trench and killed Peters
whilst asleep.
20th.
9.30 a.m. I was detailed for guard over
B. tunnel, which ran from our front line
towards the Turks line.  6 p.m I was
taken off to take up firing line duties.
10.30 p.m we saw 2 rockets go up, a red,
on the left and a white, on the right, they

June.
were fired by 2 of our destroyers, and
simultaneously a destroyer fired 2
rounds, and all along the line we all opened
up 5 rounds rapid on to the Turks front
line.  I think we fired more like 50 rounds
each before we finished. This stunt was
prearranged along the whole Anzac front.
The Turks replied with continuous rifle and
machine gun fire for a considerable time
All night heavy artillery, and rifle fire
could be heard at Cape Helles
21st.
T. Flem returned from hospital a few
days ago and was lucky to be away again
to-day with a shattered thumb (by shrapnel)
6. p.m. relieved from firing line and went into
supports.  All-day and night the bombardment-
that commenced at Cape Helles yesterday -
never ceased. Quiet along our front.
22nd.
With 2 others I was detailed to guard an
old support trench. One of our monitors stood
out to sea about 6 miles, and shelled the
Turk positions on the Olive Grove (on
our right front)
23rd.
During the morning 3 of our destroyers
fired a few rounds on the Turk positions on

our left. 6. p.m. took over front line. Very quiet
24th.
5.30  Robinson alongside was wounded
At 6 p.m. relieved from firing line and went
into supports.
25th.
3.15 till 4 p.m. a large battleship off
Gaba Tepe shelled the forts of Shanak and
the town of Mados, both at the neck of
the narrows.  6 p.m we went into front line,
everyone fired a few rounds rapid at the
Turks front line.  The Turks opened up with
heavy machine gun and rifle fire until
11 p.m.
26th.
6 p.m relieved from front line and went
into supports.  Very quiet day.
27th.
5 a.m till 5.30 the Turks opened up
heavy Artillery M.G. & Rifle Fire on to our
front line trenches, our Bn suffered heavy
casualties.  All the morning one of our
Monitors shelled the Turks artillery positions
on the Olive Grove.  1 p.m I sneaked to
the beach & had a swim. it was great.
Just as we were leaving the Turks started to
shell the beach killing 4 & wounding 7 that I
saw before pushing off.  A Glasgow Howitzer

June
Battery that landed recently took up a position
in Victoria Gully shelled the Turks, with
great effect.  6 p.m took over firing line.
28th
9 a.m. several battleships & destroyers could
be seen at Cape Helles heavily shelling Achi
Baba & a ridge to the right.  nothing could
be seen for smoke from Achi Baba to the sea.
At 1 p.m the 9th & 11th Bns on our right attacked
a Turks trench & took it, going beyond the
objective they suffered heavy casualties
6. p.m. relieved from firing line & went into
supports.
29th
3.30 am detailed with others to fetch water
searched Shrapnel Gully & eventually the
beach to get a little. Trench digging remainder
of day.  One of our latest reinforcements 3 mths
for disobedience of orders, sentence suspended
till after the war.  5.45 p.m.  The Turks
who had undermined one of our tunnels, blew
it up, we immediately rushed into the front
line expecting an attack, about 7 of our boys
went up with the tunnel one of them
was dragged out alive.  6.30 p.m. took over
firing line.  9.30 p.m heavy rifle fire on our left
10. p.m The Turks attacked us on the left. It was
a complete failure The Turks leaving about 300 dead