Diary and photograph of John Adams, 1914-1916, Part 9 of 16

30th. 
Very quiet all day. 6 p.m relieved from  
firing line & went into supports. 7 p.m I was detailed 
to fetch water from the beach. returned at 9.45 p.m  
without it, the wells are dry & no supplies in by 
boat. Whilst at the beach I heard the British had 
attacked & advanced 1,000 yards at Cape Helles, also 
had suffered 2,000 casualties. The attack was on the  
morning 28th June. 11.30 p.m heavy thunderstorm 
we stood too expecting an attack, the result was a 
wet skin & lost a chance of a drink of water. 
1st July 
Trench digging all - day 6.p.m took over 
firing line. We were told the Turks attacked the 
British at Cape Helles yesterday. The Turks left 1,500 
dead on the field & their attack was a failure. 
2nd 
1.p.m. our trenches were shelled very little damage 
done. 6.p.m relieved from firing line & went into supports 
All night at Cape Helles a terrific bombardment 
General opinion amongst us, that the poor devils 
at Cape Helles get a worse time then we. 
3rd 
3.15 a.m detailed to fetch water from Shrapnel 
Gully returning at 7 a.m.  7.30. till 11 a.m detailed to 
dig a sap head between front line & supports. 6.p.m 
took over firing line. Very quiet & hot.

July 
4th 
1.30 a.m till 5.30 a.m a battleship shelled 
Achi Baba. 6 p.m relieved from firing line & went into 
supports. 
5th 
4.30 a.m to 6.15 our trenches were heavily 
bombarded with 8" Howitzers & Naval guns, also field guns 
we suffered very few casualties through their guns 
ranging badly 6 a.m look over firing line  9 a.m with 
others I was detailed to fetch stores from the beach 
returned at 11.15 a.m.   3.30 to 5 p.m detailed to 
dig a pit 6. p.m went into firing line in time to go 
straight on post 
6th 
6 p.m relieved from firing line, & went into supports 
as we were leaving the Turks opened up a heavy howitzer 
& field gun fire on the 3rd Bn front, also blew up one 
of their tunnels 
7th 
4 a.m detailed to fetch water from Shrapnel Gully 
returned at 6.30 a.m   4 p.m one of our monitors 
shelled the Turks artillery. 6 p.m took over firing line 
7 p.m our howitzers shelled the Gully behind Quinns Post. 
8th 
Mid.day D. Coy took over front line. A Coy took 
over C. Coys support line on the right of the Pimple. 
not being enough possies we had to dig more. Disturbance 
between Ptn Sgt's & Capt Dignam our Coy Commander

9th 
1.30 p.m detailed to fetch water from Shrapnel  
Gully, returned 6.30 p.m after a hard struggle to get 
2 gallons each. 8 p.m took over firing line. I had change 
of guard in B.4 tunnel lookout (approx 60 yards in 
front of firing line). 
10th 
4.a.m relieved from tunnel guard. 9.45 a.m 
I saw the Doctor about my hands. they are much 
cut about. he dressed & bandaged them. 11.30 a.m 
I went to beach for water. 3.30 p.m one of our battle- 
ships shelled Hill 607 ceasing at 4.45 p.m. 
when she pushed off a 1st class cruiser took up her 
position & shelled Achi Baba. I was detailed to take 
charge of B 4 tunnel guard.  9.10 p.m one of our 
tunnels 50 yds off, on the left was blown up. it 
shook our tunnel tremendously. 
11th 
Relieved from tunnel guard. Went to the beach & had 
a swim.  8 p.m. The Doris 3rd class cruiser poured in 
several broadsides to the left of Quinns Post. 9.30 p.m 
the Turks opened up heavy machine gun & rifle fire. 
12th 
4 a.m detailed to fetch water from Shrapnel 
Gully. 8.45 a.m our artillery concentrated fire 
on to the Turks positions along the centre of Anzac 
& use a rapid machine gun & rifle fire along our 
immediate front. We were told that both our

flanks were going to advance Later we heard the New 
Zealanders had taken two trenches, with few 
casualties. 3 p.m terrific bombardment at Cape Helles 
One of our battleships heavily shelled Achi Baba from 4 till 
5.30 p.m. The bombardment ceased a 9.p.m. 
During the night our artillery fired several Star 
Shells, simultaneously we opened up heavy machine 
gun & Rifle fire.  9. p.m detailed for orderley room 
guard (dugout) 
13th 
3 a.m relieved from guard. Very quiet during day 
6 to 7p.m our howitzers & field guns heavily shelled 
the Turks. 7.p.m took over firing line. We 
read in the Gallipoli Peninsula Press, The Germans 
in German East Africa had surrendered 
unconditionally. During the night an Indian Mountain 
Battery fired several Star Shells. 
14th 
2 till 8a.m heavy firing by our navy could 
be heard coming from the direction of the entrance 
to the Dardanelles. Large columns of smoke 
could be seen coming from Mados.  7. n.m 
relieved from firing line & went into supports 
15th 
8.15 a.m detailed to fetch water from the beach 
had a swim & returned with 6 palls each at 10.30 a.m 
Both sides artillery active from 3 till 5 p.m.  5 p.m 
the Turks heavily shelled 4 of our oreoplanes. machine

guns & rifles also assisted without effect. 11.30 p.m 
battleships heavily shelled Achi Baba. 
16th 
8 a.m took over to midday & dug part of tunnel 
60 yds ahead of front line. 2p.m went to the beach 
for water & a swim, returned at 4p.m. During 
afternoon one of our Monitors shelled the Olive Grove 
8.p.m took over tunnel guard. 9.30 Pat Daley threw 
one of his made up bombs from our observation 
post, towards the Turks. Colonel Scobie was present. 
Daley said he threw the bomb into the Turks front 
line. The Colonel disputed it, we knew Daley to be 
a boaster. Daley lit the bomb in the tunnel 
it had a 11 seconds fuse & the Turks were 50 to 70 yds 
off. The bomb was made from a Turks 10 Pounder 
Shrapnel Case, filled with Shrapnel collected lying 
about the ground, cartridge cases, & any pieces of 
metal lying about. The handle was made from 
the handle of an 18 Pounder shell box. 17th 4.a.m 
relieved from tunnel guard. 8.30 a.m detailed to 
dig a gun pit at the head of Gun Lane. finished 
the job at 1.P.M.  7. p.m took over firing line 
7.30 p.m the Turks shelled Brown's Battery killing 
2 & wounding 6. All night heavy fire at 
Cape Helles. 
18th 
4 a.m the Turks dropped 40 heavy howitzer shells 
along our trenches. whilst this was going on, I was observing,

July 
the remainder in the immediate vicinity were 
instructed to lie flat in the bottom of the trench 
I could see several Turks heads apparently watching 
the effects of the shelling. A Turkish officer standing 
up behind their parados in view from the 
knees upwards observing through field glasses 
was too good to miss. I fired & he fell across the 
parados he was plugged again & remained in full 
view for remainder of the day. He wore a blue 
uniform & must have been observing for the artillery 
I had a few good shots at good targets, soon I could 
see no more heads. I could see the 9 inch Howitzer 
shells coming through the air. presently 
one seemed to be coming straight at me. it 
dropped in the next bay 3 yds off killing the 
two occupants & completely burying W. Bonner 
lying in my bay & my self to the chest leaving 
me senseless. about 1 hour afterwards I 
came to my senses & was told of what happened 
later I saw the damage done, the shelling 
ceased at 5.45 p.m. we had 18 casualties. Two 
of our Coy Ptns came in & shovelled out the 
earth & repaired the parapets. 8 P.M they took 
over front line. we went into supports 
half an hour later we hastily returned to front line 
& remained in a very narrow communication 
trench for the night. there was no attack.

19th 
7 a.m detailed to fetch water from Shrapnel 
Gully, after 3 hours search we got 2 gallons each 
1 p.m detailed to dig in tunnel till 4 p.m when 
we hurriedly stood too expecting an attack. the 
same time 2 monitors & one cruiser heavily 
shelled the Turks artillery in the Olive Grove & 
Rear of Achi Baba ceasing at 5.30 p.m  5.p.m 
detailed to fetch water from Shrapnel Gully 
returning at 10.50 p.m. with 1 ½ gallons each 
20th 
4 a.m with others to Shrapnel Gully for water 
1.30 p.m to the beach in search of water, had a 
swim, returned at 3.45 p.m  7.p.m took over front line 
throughout the night & day heavy firing at Achi Baba 
21st 
Everyday our areoplanes are up over the Turks 
lines. 2 were up for most of the day. Turks persistent 
sniping all day. 4.15 to 4.45p.m a monitor & 
cruiser lying in close to shore shelled the Olive Grove 
severely. they remained till dark 7 p.m relieved from 
firing line & went into supports. 
22nd 
3.30 a.m went into firing line & stood to 
expecting the Turks to attack  4 p.m issued with 24 hours 
Iron Rations 4.30a.m detailed for tunnel guard 
as soon as we took over we had to fill sand bags 
& stack them to support the roof our our underground

July 
firing line to prevent the Turks from falling through 
& manning the line should they attack 11.p.m 
the job was finished. On our post we had plenty of 
Jam Tin Bombs & flares. In the event of an attack 
we were instructed to throw out all the flares as 
soon as the enemy passed, that they may 
easily be seen from the front line. & by a second 
line manned at the rear of front line parados. 
On the Turks being spotted we were instructed to 
throw out a red flare as signal of attack. then 
the kerosene flares. with bombs & rifles we had 
to put up a scrap & prevent the Turks from 
occupying the underground firing line. 
Ready all night nothing happened. 
23rd. 
4.30 a.m relieved from firing line & tunnel guard 
our platoon went into supports. 3 p.m 4 monitors & 
one battleship shelled the Olive Grove & rear of Achi 
Baba till 7 P.M  5 p.m. detailed to strengthen 
sandbagsupports in underground firing lines. finished 
at 8.30 p.m. 
24th 
8 a.m detailed to fetch water from beach 
returned at 10.30 a.m 1 p.m we blew up a tunnel 
in front of our Coy on the Pimple of Lone Pine 
apparently catching the Turks napping. prior to 
blowing it up the Turks were heard digging close 
by. 5p.m detailed to fetch water from Shrapnel

Gully returned at 7.pm just in time to go into 
firing line with platoon 
25th 
2.15 a.m just before the moon disappeared, 
all stood too on the fire step till day break 
7 a.m went on tunnel guard. relieved at 7 p.m. 
went into supports with remainder of platoon 
8 p.m detailed to take charge of communication 
trench guard. 10 to 11.30 p.m our destroyers shelled  
Gaba Tepe. 
26th 
4 a.m dismounted guards, went into supports 
7 p.m detailed to take charge of tunnel guard 
very quiet day & night. 
27th 
4 a.m dismounted guard. went into supports 
Platoon orderley for the day. Afternoon 1 monitor 
shelled the Olive Grove. The Turks frantically 
fired hundreds of shells combined with M.G & Rife 
fire at 2 of our areoplanes. without result. Very quiet. 
28th 
8.45 a.m much rifle fire from Quinns Post 
as though an attack. Later we heard the Turks 
had attacked without success leaving approx 
100 dead in No-mans-land. 7.30 a.m detailed 
to take party to beach for water returned 10 p.m 
with 4 gallons each.  About 20 heavy howitzer  
shells had been dropped along our front line

July 
doing little damage. Detailed to take over Nos 4 & 5 
posts to right of Pimple 
29th 
Midday, little artillery fire from both sides 
7 p.m relieved from firing lines, went into supports. 
7.30 p.m a Taube & one of ours flew close to each 
other neither fired a shot. 
30th 
Platoon C. Cpl for day 5.30 p.m Taube flew over 
us 5.45 till 6.30 p.m a French battleship shelled  
Achi Baba. Received news, our troops achieved 
great success & on the road to Bagdad, we gave 
several cheers & fired a few rounds to celebrate 
it. The Turks frantically replied on to our sandbags 
7. p.m took over firing line. Detailed to take over 
B.4 tunnel guard. During the night we could 
hear our Coy pulling in the Barbwire from front 
of firing line, later we removed ours from 
Observation Post. Now we know we are to attack /nothing official 
31st 
5 a.m relieved from tunnel guard & went into supports 
G. Holt being sick I did his 6 Cpl duties. 5. p.m detailed 
to take party for water. 5.30 to 8 p.m our howitzers 
did a lot of firing. The weather has been 
simply scorching for weeks past, the flies are 
sickly. & I dont know of one free of dysentry 
9.30 p.m heavy machine gun & rifle fire on our right 
later we hear the 3rd brigade had carried out