Diary of Alexander Jackson Cunningham, 1914-1916, Part 3

quite an exciting the time as shells
from either "Chanak" fort or
the ship "Goeben" started to
fall in the bay among the
transports and a man'o-war
who was coaling from a Collier
had to stop & clear out as
shells were falling round
her, the Collier took a longer
time to get going & a shell
from a 12” gun landed
on her stern & then another
in her Coal bunker – all this
happened only a couple of
hundred yards from our
boat & the shower of water
that came up when the shells droppd
in the water was as high as
our ships mast & the row of the
explosion was deafening  -  The
Collier at last got going & got
out of range but the shell
that landed in her coal
 

hold damaged the steering gear so
badly that she has now gone back
to Lemnos but she is awfully lucky
not to have been sunk, the coal must
have saved her. As the shells were
so close to us & other boats we have
now moved out about another mile
from the shore. One of those shells is
quite enough to settle any boat &
some of them came far too close to ours
to be pleasant. From May 4^th to May 8^th 
Since we have moved out things
have been fairly quiet except
on May 5^th Afternoon an Areoplane
came along flying very high &
at first we did not take any
notice of it as we have 3 of
them flying every day but
suddenly on looking thro’ the
glasses we saw black crosses
on it showing it was German
it passed nearly over us & then
our battle ships started 
 

firing on it so it cleared out. Last
night after dinner we saw
another flying high & saw
thro’ the glasses it was the
German again, it came along
& then slightly turned its direction
& sailed clean over our ship 
one felt awfully helpless as
you could do nothing & suddenly
it dropped 3 bombs two of
which missed our boat by
about 50 yards & Exploded in
the sea  the concussion of one
Killed a big fish which came
up to the surface – the Areoplane
then turned & went back again
Today the Captain has had sand
bags put on top of wireless room
& on top of Bridge & we have 5
picked rifle shots ready now
in case it comes back which of
course it will - probably every
day. They have taken all our 
 

officers on shore now except Major
Holdsworth, Captain Stevenson,
& myself  we have in the ship
about 190 men & 200 horses.
I wish we could get ashore its
rotten waiting here when you can
See everything on land but are
not actually in it, still I suppose
our time will come. We hear
every day of fellows we Know
being killed or wounded Major Young
is wounded & has gone to Alexandria
also we are told Some awful stories
of what the Turks are doing to some
of our wounded, you would hardly
think any human being could do
such things. From May 8^th to May 10^th 
Major Carter our Medical Officer went
away yesterday. Major Holdsworth
went to the “Siang Bee” to day to see
Col Patterson but could not find out
what we are going to do with the horses
or when we will disembark.
(over) 
 

From May 10^th to May 12^th  Lt Col Marsh
came on board yesterday & saw
Major Holdsworth about reorganising the
Divisional Train, Col Marsh is staying
behind with a few Officers but
the rest of us No 1, 2, 3 & 4 Cos are
going back to Alexandria to
reform to suit the local conditions,
a new Supply Column will have
to be formed & a lot of Mules got
for transport. We sailed away 
this morning ^12^th at day break &
in fair weather but wind is now
rising & am afraid will have a
stormy night. From May 12^th to 16^th 
Arrived back in Alexandria
on 14^th and disembarked on
the 15^th and came out here to
Mex Camp where we have now
got our tents & horse lines up
this place is about 10 Miles out
and is by a Salt Lake & about
½ mile from Sea Coast. 
 

May 16^th to 20^th This is a beastly hole of
a camp – dust everywhere, have
a fair amount of running about
in the car but if stay here any
length of time the car will be
ruined there is no shelter for it
& no water to speak of for washing.
Maj: Holdsworth has been made
camp Commandant & is very
busy – ol only Capt. Stevenson &
myself are here besides him in
No 1 Co. From May 20^th to 25^th Nothing of
any importance has happened except
this is the worst rotten hole I have ever
been in, there is practically no work
to do but yet are tied to camp all
day & its as hot as billy-o’ & sand
blowing all over your tent all day,
I am absolutely sick of this potting
about. May 25^th to June 1^st. Nothing new
to say we are now getting up at
4 o’clock in morning & doing our
work before the heat of the day 
 

so can go for a swim or sleep when
it is too hot. Hogg my motor driver
has now been replaced by Farthing
who is a much better man and
should get on well with him, he
Knows a lot about motoring –
From June 1^st to 24^th. No move
yet & none likely. Col Marsh
is in Hospital with bad back
but went back to day - he
came out here yesterday. My
car was sent down to Cairo
3 days ago I was given the
option of going with it or sending
Farthing, as I have been very
unwell for the last week  I
decided to send Farthing &
told him to report every week
to me. I am a bit better today
but not right yet have had
awful pains in head & back
had to go & get eye sight tested
at No 17 General but report 
 

was satisfactory. Col Patterson
spoke to Lt Col Elliot about my
going into the Engineers & am to
see Col Elliot about it. Major
Holdsworth has advised me in
the meantime to put in formal
application for an A.S.C
Officer – I want to see Col E
about his stunt first, so have
done nothing so far – This place
is so hot & rotten that I feel
very weak & not inclined to
do anything but as soon as
I feel fit again I will decide.
From 24 June to 30^th. Capt Stevenson
& I went down to Cairo for a
day and night, he had to see about
some wagons & I wanted to see
about my car which I find is
being used by Col Linton & his
staff which includes Mat
Smith who is a Captain - this
is the 6^th Brigade he is in
over 
 

It looks as if the car will be
down there for a long time &
wonder if I will ever get it
back. We struck a nice cool
day at Cairo & enjoyed the trip
very much, also since coming
back I have felt very much better
I was feeling awfully sick for
about a week before - a touch of
the sun I think. I have seen
Col Elliot about an exchange
into the Engineers but he says
a lot of reinforcements have
arrived from Australia but as
soon as he goes back to Gallipoli
he will see if there is a chance
of taking me on, even though it
may be temporary so I can
get up to the front & get away from
this beastly hole. From June 30
to July 14^th. Nothing changed
I have put in an application
for transfer into the A.S.C 
 

instead of Autom^obile Officer on
Major Holdsworths recommendation
it has to go to Col Marsh & then on
to the General - Thomson came
down from Gaba Tepe ^for a few
days he says very little going on
up there but they are shelling
the beach a lot with very little
dam^age. July 14^th to Aug 10^th - Still
here my car came back
a week ago from Cairo
& found petrol tank leaking
so sent it away to Mustapha
to have cylinders cleaned,
clutch cleaned & generally
overhauling, I am to get
it back tomorrow - Farthing
has been over there with it
all the time. Ramadan
closes tomorrow & they are
frightened of a rising so
a squadron of Yeomanry
have come here with a machine 
 

gun and we have to be ready
for anything - but I do not
think much likelihood of
anything doing - Have just
had a mat house built
instead of a tent it is much
nicer and cleaner – Have
seen last lot of Div: Orders
Milner has been made D.A.Q.M.G.
& Loveridge has charge of the
Depót. Major Young is down
in Hospital again at Cairo –
things are rather unsatisfactory
amongst the Officers in way of
appointments just now - Capt Gibbs
has been given command of the
2^nd Train. From Aug 10^th to Aug 20^th.
Capt Stevenson and I went
down to Cairo as Trevor
and Biddy are down
there now we stayed two
nights down there - Trevor is
out at Abassia and came 
 

into dinner with us. We also saw
Major Young who is going back to
Australia for a spell also Doris
Richards who had dinner with
us & is looking very well - We
had a very nice time down there
& before Trevor goes must try &
go & see him again. Everyone
is very sick at new appointments
going on. I don’t Know what is
going to happen to the train –
From Aug 20^th to 28^th. Major Gellibrand
came back from Gallipoli and
Mjor Holdworth & I saw him
at Majestic Hotel – he asked me
what I was doing & when he
found I had been refused by
C.O. for transfer to 1^st A.A.S.C.
said he would enquire into
the whole thing for me. Have
just heard that Coleman is
going up to Anzac this will Cause
more trouble. in fact at 
 

present there is a seething mass
of trouble & discontent in train.
This rush hut that I am in
now is far more comfortable than
a tent & have a food garden
coming on. Aug 28^th to Au Sept 7^th 
On Sept 4^th Trevor came down
with his Brigade and they sailed
on the “Minawaska” I went
down & had lunch with him
on board, he looked well
that is now the 5^th, 6 & 7^th 
Bde’s gone. The following
Officers are down here now in
Hospital  Dr Jolly, Lt Pike, Hamilton, McHattie,
Loveridge. Our hoping to get away
is further off than ever now –
Sept 7^th to 21^st. Orders came
in a few days ago Sept 16^th that
we were to form an Infantry Battalion
in Mex Camp but it was found
not to be workable so only transport
of Battallions have been formed 
 

but two days later orders came to
form a light Horse Squadron
in A.S.C. details which would
work in conjunction with a
regiment formed by other camps
in Alexandria - The Squadron
is now formed & I am Troop
Leader for No 1 Troop & have now
got all men & horses picked
out & have ^had several parades
& everything so far is going well
I do not Know where we are going
but so far only have orders to
get things going. Have heard
nothing from Trevor since he
left – Nothing news has happened.
From Sept 21^st to Oct 19^th. We
have now been away one
year from Australia as
we left on Oct 19^th 1914. I
wonder how long it will be,
if ever, before I shall see
Australia again ! The Light
Horse 
 

Scheme does not seem to be leading
to anything definite. When Trevor
went away I asked him to try &
see Major Gellibrand & put my case before
him & Trevor did So & wrote me
down about it, since then Major
Williams who is at present C.O of
Engineers 1^st Division has come
out here to see me and make a
short story of it he has now promised
to take me with him when he goes
back which will be in about
a Weeks time if Col Foot will
give his permission – so I am now
waiting for that & should here
tomorrow or next day. It will
be grand to get over with the Engineers
away from this A.S.C. & Col M but I
shall be sorry to say Goodbye to
many good friends such as Maj Holdsworth
Capt Stevenson etc. Trevor
in his last letter said he was
quite well but was leaving Staff 
 

& getting command of a double Company,
it will be risky work but if good luck
will have best chance of promotion
& wish him all luck.
Oct 19^th to 23^rd. Major Holdsworth
& I went & had dinner with some
most charming Greek people
they gave us a beautiful dinner
and music afterwards till
nearly 1 o’clock – enjoyed it very
much thy all talk English & 2
or 3 other languages as well. The
Sister of Mrs Xioanthaxis is something
extra & don’t meet many like her.
Major Williams could not see
Col Foot but I have now put in
an application and Maj Holdsworth
& Maj Williams are going to see
General Walker today for his Consent
if given I shall probably go
next Tuesday - From Oct 23^rd to Nov 9^th 
Got away at last on Nov 3^rd 
on the S.S. Transylvania 
 

a beautiful boat about the finest
I have ever been in or seen
we had a good trip over saw
no submarines & got to Lemnos
on 6^th Nov. where we stayed that
night but sailed on the following
night 7^th on a small packet
boat and got here late at
night where we got on a
barge & came ashore, Major
Williams & two other Engineer
subs were with him were on
same boat but when landed
in dark we got separated &
McIntosh (batman) & myself with
our swags came on and
had an awful climb up the
hill, got into some trenches &
did not Know where on earth
to go eventually some one came
along & we went with him to
“Sprapnel Gulley” got there
about 1 at night and slept 
 

in the mess dugout, this morning
we then came along here to
No 2 Field Co after a lot of finding
walking round ridges etc for about a 
mile to 1½ miles. From Nov 9^th to 14^th 
Am attached here now with Major Hancock
in Command & 4 other subs. We are on
the extreme right & the first day I went
thro’ “Chathams” Trenches - The Turks
had been using 75’s and Knocked a
lot of our boys down etc & Killing a
few men, the trenches are just like
rabbit warrens, Next day I went thro’
“Leanes” trenches and have been on them
since apart from the trenches I was given
a job for some housings for 6^th L.H. & had to
draw sketches & estimate materials. Every-thing
is worked by surveys & plans
and you want to be ^more a civil or mining
Engineer to grasp the work but I shall
battle along & try to pick things up.
Nov 14^th to Nov 16^th. Am getting on well
enough I have several jobs on hand 
 

one of them is a magazine underground
for a lot of explosive. Weather cold &
rainy at night fair in day time. No 2 Co
consists at present of Maj Hancocks, Lt Myrams,
Greenaway, Townsend, Stevenson. Turks
at present are using a lot of broom-stick
bombs which are rotten things
as they come straight down so hills or
dug-outs are no protection. Am
getting a new dug out made the one I’m in
now is only a hole & when rains get swamped
out. Nov 16^th to Dec 2^nd. Up to Nov 25^th I
was up in same spot on right flank
& was given No 1 Section of No 2 Co &
had charge of “Leanes” Trenches making
bomb proof dug outs, drainage, survey
work etc etc  on Nov 25 I was sent
away to Imbros to buy stores for
the 1^st Aust Div Engineers and took
3 men with me, we wanted to get about
£250 worth of stuff we had a rotten
crossing on the Trawler and had to
sleep on deck on very cold night 
 

and took 11 hours to get there instead of
1½ hours we bought stores and had
the cases packed ready for shipment –
I had one day very interesting over
to a small Town on the island called
Panecea  You go over by donkeys
across the ranges, we bought some
more stores and came back next
day & then the fun started as a
terrific storm set in first with rain
and wind & then freezing cold with
11 degrees of frost the sea was so
rough that boats got cast up on
shore wholesale about 10 in all one
being a torpedo boat we had to wait
a week before getting off and then
even I had to leave all stores behind
in charge of the men & come back alone
When I got back (Dec 1^st ) I found
the Company had been split up and
Greenaway & myself have No 1 & No 3
Sections & are now down on the
beach & have taken on the R.E. Park