Photostat copy of diaries of Benjamin Bennett Leane, 1915 - Part 19

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with bombs and today they had
been, and are still for that
matter, shelling us fairly continually.
One of our aeroplanes came over a
while ago, and the Turks shelled
it with shrapnel. I could hear
the report, as the gun fired,
then the peculiar tearing sound
as the shell went mounting
upwards, then there would
be a pretty little ball of
smoke like a tiny white cloud
in the blue sky as the shell
exploded, and then quite
a while afterwards would come
the sound of the explosion.
Their shooting was fairly good,
but an aeroplane is an almost
impossible target when travelling
at a great height.
One hears some very funny things
among the men. This morning, while
I was having a 'bath"  (wiping
myself over ^a square foot at a time, a small piece of
rag moistened from my waterbottle) 
I overheard the conversation of two
men who were "chat-hunting"
in their 'possy' just outside my
dugout. They had been talking
about various things as they
'hunted', and presumably one
said "Caught many this morning
Bill?". "Not a one" said Bill,
dejectedly "I'm bloomin' disappointed. 
And only one little
blighter yesterday, too. 'Taint 
worth looking for, s'elp me."
I was talking to big Bill
Montgomery yesterday. He is the
man, who according to the
Broken Hill papers (he is a one -
time 'pug' of B.H.) bayonetted 

146
seven Turks one after the other
during the first charge, and
slung them out of the trench
like so many trusses of hay.
I think if Bill could have
got hold of the editor of that
paper when he read the account
there would have been an
eighth victim. He it was
too, who, during that first
day on the hillside in the
shallow holes we had each
burrowed for ourselves, was
stung across the scalp with
a Turkish bullet, and who
if once jumped to his feet (he
is about 6 ft 2") and demanded
to be "shown  the b--  who
did that". However, that by
way. We were talking
over things, and were comparing
the practical safety of trench life
with the precariousness of our
existence on the hillside. I remarked
on a very noticeable
fact, that the security of
trench life seems to undermine
your spirit and your daring,
so that nowadays men who
charged through a hail of
whizzing bullets and bursting
shells on those first days,
now are afraid to put their
heads above the parapet for
fear of getting hit. Old Bill
enthusiastically agreed. He put
it in his own words: "Gawd, yes"
he said "If I'd got hit out for
good those first days, I wouldn't
have said nothin; but a man
'd  never forgive himself if he
got killed now".  Old Bill

148
is corporal in charge of the
bomb throwers, and he says
they're on great terms with the
Turks — they exchange bombs
very often. The other day
one of the bombthrowers called
out to the Turks in their bomb
trench "How many of you
— are over there?" A voice
came back "'Bout ten".
"Huh! Well this won't go far,
but you can split it up
among you." And over went
a bomb. For sheer nerve
I think this would to be hard
to beat: A bomb came over
into one of our "possies" in which 
were three  men. Quick as
thought. one of them threw a
blanket over it and lay on
it. The bomb exploded,
and except for a bruising he
was unhurt, but he saved
three lives. Old John Turk
has got a sense of humor, too.
Ray was telling me that when
they took that Turkish trench
that is now named after him
one of the first things they saw
was a big placard which the
Turks had been in course 
of printing in order to display
it for the benefit of our trenches
It ran "Warsaw is taken; and
your shooting's rotten."
There was one took Turk who
used to obligingly mark for
our chaps every time they
fired. Of course he always 
signalled a "miss". I think
someone must have got a
"bull" though, for he hasn't

150
signalled lately. Our boys
have a much greater respect
for the Turk now than they
had at first. He is a very
worthy foe, and on the
whole, a clean fighter.
Also the Turk has a high opinion
of us. From thinking us a
tribe of marauding cannibals
who would stick at nothing
he has come to entertain quite
a friendly feeling for us. Major
Shaw was telling me this morning
that at the time of the armistice
our fellows and the Turks fraternized
and exchanged cigarettes. They
have also come to know that
we treat their wounded and
prisoners well. There is a 
funny story [[?]] this. It
is said that our people, in order
to influence the mind of the
enemy, chose three prisoners
whom they treated particularly
well, feeding them on the
best. After a while these
three were sent into the bush
to gather firewood, and they
were sent without a guard
the idea being that they would
escape back to their own lines,
and, when questioned, would
speak of the good treatment they
had received. Thus perhaps
favorably inclining their comrades
minds towards surrender.
They were away a good while
and it was thought that the
plan had worked, but presently
they appeared, staggering under
immense loads of brushwood.
So they were sent out again.

152
and this time they were told
to go "a long, long way out,
right away over there" (pointing
in the direction of the Turkish
lines). They went, but some
two hours after back they came
with even larger bundles than
before . So the attempt was
abandoned.
Saturday Aug 21^st 1915 8 pm.
Things are very brisk on the
left flank this afternoon. At
about 2pm. our guns commenced
a heavy bombardment of the
Turkish right. Later this was
evidently followed by an
infantry attack, for the rifle
and machine gun fire was very
lively. From what little I
could see with a periscope I
thought the objective was Hill 971.
but later in the afternoon when I
went to Battalion Headqrs, I heard
that our 5^th Brigade, which landed
yesterday, had taken a
line of enemy trenches opposite
Courtney's Post. From about 5 p.m
there was a lull in the
firing, but about half an
hour ago brisk rifle fire
recommenced and is still
going strong. A counter attack
by the Turks probably. Perhaps
we will know something definite
tomorrow.
On my way back to Hdqrs,
I called at Ray's dugout, and
as he was out I left a peace
offering in the shape of a magazine
and a couple bottles of sauce.
I had tea with "B" Coy. officers
- Seager, Heritage, Hooper & Baloo -

154
and when I got back to my dugout
I found a note from Ray asking
me to go over to his dugout to
tea as he had some FOWL.
Too late! Too late! But I
shall certainly go round in
the morning to see if there's a
wing left.
Sunday, Aug 22^nd Luxury, 
unprecedented luxury. Had breakfast
in bed, and slept until nearly
eleven. Dressed, shaved, had
dinner, and paid a visit to
Ray. No chicken left, though.
Changed watch this week - 3.30
to 6.30 from 1a.m now. Just
came off afternoon watch an
hour ago. The Turks have been
shelling our firing line all
the afternoon, but with no
effect. A piece of one shell
came into the possie I was in, but
missed us all; fortunately, for
it was a nasty jagged piece.
The New Zealand guns got onto
the Turks line, too, and after
I came off watch I went along
to a favorable position to observe.
Their shells were coming right
over our trenches, and two
of them fell short and got
in our back lines. Nobody
was hurt, but it came so
close to our heads that we
could feel the rush as it
passed over. It tore up a
big hole in the ground and
sent dirt and stones flying
over everybody.
Went round for a swim last
evening. Enjoyed it very much,
but cut my jolly toe on a 

156
sharp stone. Its a long climb
back too. Still, it's worth it.
Monday Aug. 23^rd 1915 2.30 pm
War news, day after day - Position
on the western front remains
unchanged. Now I can
understand why we used to
get that news day after day,
week after week, from the 
French front. We are at the
same game ourselves. Casual
firing, occasional hits on
both sides by snipers, daily
artillery practice doing little
or no damage to the men in
the trenches, nightly bomb -
throwing on both sides, otherwise
no change to either side. That
may go on for weeks, and then
perhaps one side will make
an attack and there will be
a line of trenches gained or
lost, or perhaps the attack will
be repulsed and there is no
difference to either side - except
a number of casualties. And
then things will go along in
the same unending manner
for another period. That is
trench warfare.
Certainly there was a little
excitement yesterday. The 5^th
Brigade landed on our left
and pushed forward to the
left of Hill 971, capturing three
lines of enemy trenches. Unfortunately
the 18^th Battalion got snip cut
up pretty badly while advancing
across the open. During the
afternoon the Turks counter attacked,
but without regaining their trenches.
Indeed in one position their counter

158
attack cost them another trench.
The rifle fire on our own particular
front has been very quiet lately,
and we thought that perhaps
the Turks had withdrawn a large
part of the forces on our front
to send them to the left. So in
order to ascertain we waited for
darkness last night, and then
at about 8p.m. we opened
with rapid fire, the idea being
to give the Turks the impression
that we intended to attack,
and thus to draw his fire. The
ruse succeeded, and they immediately
replied with a burst of rapid
fire which they kept up for
a considerable period, thus showing
us that their firing line was
strong. Early this morning our
people on the rights flank tried
the same trick with a similar 
result.
Tuesday, Aug 24^th 1915
Another day. All the morning
a storm threatened; after
dinner, thunder, forked lightning
and a few big drops of rain.
Then came a strong wind which
blew away the storm and
stirred up the dust - and
there's plenty of it in the trenches.
We had a mail today. I
received two letters from Ethel,
dated July 10^th & 17^th and one
from Roy Goodwin dated July 15^th.
It can't all be in, because
I am sure there will be a
letter from you. There were also
a lot of papers and parcels, but
none for me. I wonder what
has become of all the papers

160
and parcels that have been sent
me - I have received none of them.
We had a medical inspection of
the battalion today, and the
majority, I think, were marked
unfit for firing line duty, so perhaps
they will get a spell directly.
The poor devils need it. They are
absolutely fagged: and then
dysentery has got a hold, more
or less severe, on most. I have
been troubled with it a bit, but
of course I am very fit after
my long holiday.
The Turks got busy with their
75 this afternoon, and for a while
things were very lively in our
lines. I think our guns must
have got onto them, for they
stopped suddenly, and have
not been heard from since.
I have just come back from
seeing Ray. He got a lot of papers
in his mail, so I have got
plenty reading matter for a while.
Wednesday Aug 25^th 1915
On duty till midnight last
night, and up again at 4 am.
for 'stand-to' so turned in
again at 5 am and did not get
up until 11 am. The batman
awakened me at 8 o'clock with my
breakfast, but when I saw it
was bacon again I turned over
and went to sleep. Been writing
letters best part of the day. This
afternoon a piece of shell came
whizzing into my dugout and 
knocked a hole in the wall.
Glad it wasn't my head. Will
keep the piece as a memento.
The news today stated that Italy

162
has formally declared war on
Turkey, and that Greece and
Bulgaria are on the point of
coming in. With a little more
assistance we might be able
to win some day. One thing,
England won't be so damned
conceited in future.
Thursday, Aug 26^th 1915 4 pm
A quiet night and a quiet day,
except for the everlasting shelling.
I went across to see Ray this afternoon
and met there Major Nicholson, who
is Intelligence Officer for the Division.
His conversation was very interesting
and instructive. He considers that 
the taking and hold of Leane's
trench was the foundation of  all
our recent successes.
Friday, Aug 27th 1915 - 6.30 pm.
Very heavy artillery and rifle
fire on our left this afternoon.
Evidently an attack in progress.
"Beachy Bill" has been slinging
shells across us for the past
three hours at the rate of
about one every three minutes.
Received a letter from you (July 14^th
this morning. Replied right away.
This afternoon one came from 
Miss Sanders. Answered that too.
Got some stores this morning - tinned
sausages, tinned fish, curry powder,
coffee, margarine, chocolate, biscuits
etc., also half dozen cigars and some
matches. 5/- the lot. Dirt cheap, considering
Saturday 28th 4.30pm
Very quiet still, as far ^as our line 
is concerned. Brisk work on the
left yesterday - our chaps took
two lines of Turkish trenches I believe.
The firing was very heavy all the