Photostat copy of diaries of Benjamin Bennett Leane, 1915 - Part 23

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a Tommy's tunic, and he doesn't

like that. It fitted him splendidly

everywhere - except the stomach

and it wouldn't meet by inches

there. We have a new 

arrangement now as regards the watches.

Instead of one officer on duty for each

company we only have one xxx

two companys. It gives us more line

to supervise, but makes the work

much lighter. Instead of six hours

on and twelve off we now do four

on and sixteen off. And two. hours

less, especially in a night watch, is

something to be thankful for.

I can hear the motors of an

aeroplane buzzing away up in the

sky. Lucky beggar, I'd give

much to be up there with him.

I've got a digging party on

those improvements I told you about,

and although we are only doing

a little preliminary work just now

I hope to see my ideas carried out

in full before long.

Wednesday. Aug ^Sept 22^nd, 1915

Have been arranging for winter

huts today. Hope we are not here

 xxx occupy them all the same.

Received a letter from mother

(Aug 11^th) this morning, whe enclosing

one from you to her (Aug. 9^th). Dear 

old girl, I am glad you offered to

help her if she wanted you. I hope

she is better long ere this. I am

afraid she worries too much about

her boys. I wish the confounded

war would end. Later on I

received one from Aunt Agnes, written

from Cornwall.

Had a long yarn to Capt. Hamilton

tonight. He, like good old Heritage,

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22                     

is doggedly hanging on. He has

been ill for weeks past, and

can hardly walk the length

of our lines, but still he won't

give in. He is a fine man.

I have written to Heritage today

and enclosed the £2.10.0, as I

think he may possibly be short

of funds, as I know how difficult

it is to get money in hospital.

Thursday Aug Sept. 23^rd 1915

A quiet night and a quiet day.

These beautiful moonlight nights

are rather too bright for either side

to try any funny business.

Had porridge for breakfast this

morning, followed with some nice

rashers of bacon and dry toast.

Also I managed to get hold of a

couple tins of Nestle's milk. It goes

great with biscuits and jam.

Prices are hot though, milk 1/6 tin,

eggs (almost unprocurable) 3/- dozen;

milk chocolate (ordinary P bars)

4c each bar. Worse than Adelaide.

Friday 24^th. -Nothing doing all day.

We have another stunt tonight, so

that will break the monotony a

little.

Saturday 25^th Aug Sept. - The stunt was a

fair success. Between 7.45 and 8pm

we made a pretence of getting ready

to advance. It was bright moonlight

so our movements were fairly

visible from the opposition benches-

trenches, I mean. Bayonets were

fixed all along the line and

dummy figures looked over the

parapet occasionally, and there

was much subdued movement generally.

At 8pm. a flare burned on our

right and was answered by a

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star shell from the left. As though

that was some pre-arranged signal

the military instantly opened

with a bombardment of the Turks'

trenches. This lasted for about

ten minutes, during which the

enemy replied with their '75’ and

shrapnel, as well as rifle fire

As soon as our guns ceased

firing whistles were blown, bayonets

flashed over the parapets and a

general scrambling noise with

jam tins etc, as though we

were advancing to the attack.

This drew a good burst of 

fire from the Turks which lasted

for about 15 minutes and then

gradually died away. A lot

of the shells burst fairly close

to our line, and of course

the flash of light and rush

of air caused by the explosion

made them appear to be closer

than they really were, so that

many of our latest reinforcements

thought they were in for a

bit of the real thing. I expect

I will read some hair raising 

stories when I come to censor 

their letters tomorrow.

Another mail in today. So far

I have received two - one from 

mother (returned from England and

dated July 20^th) one from 

Mrs Wood, of Manchester. It is not

all sorted yet, so I am hoping 

to get some more directly.

Sunday, Aug Sept 26^th. 1915

Saw Ted this afternoon. Also a

number of the 27^th Bn came through

the trenches today, among them

being Norman Cameron (a corporal)

 26

and M^r. Friedrichs (a 2^nd Lieut.)

Another officer (McDonald) to hospital

today, and one (Henwood) no

duty. As they are both in "D" Coy

it makes our combination weak,

leaving us only 3 officers for the

double firing line. Inglis has been

off color the last three days, and

today I have worked up a

blanky temperature and feel

like a bit of "chewed string. I

have had to send away the last

four meals untouched. One of 'em

was bacon and eggs too, and I

can tell you it hurt to have 

to turn it down. I have

to do a night watch again tonight

too.

Monday Aug Sept 27^th 1915

Two soft boiled eggs and a piece

of toast for breakfast - feel

decidedly better. Went down to

the beach for a swim with

Hooper and Armitage this afternoon.

Feel a bit cleaner and fresher.

Oh kiddie I wish this whole blooming

affair was over. I'm horribly homesick,

wife-sick and kiddies-sick.

Will, I'm not sorry I joined, mind

you, and I'm not coming home

until it's all over - unless I

absolutely have to.

Tuesday Aug Sept 28^th 1915 -

Excellent news from France today. A 

wire was received by our G.O.C. from

Kitchener himself stating that a general

advance by the Allies on the Western

Front is in progress and that on a

front of 20 miles about 4000 metres (roughly

2 1/2 to 3 1/2 miles) had been gained, while

23000 prisoners and more than 40 guns

had been captured. The news from

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Russia has also been very reassuring 

of late. Let's hope the Kaiser's

prophecy that the war would be

over by October will be fulfilled

-though not in the way he

anticipated.

Wednesday Aug Sept 29^th.

Feeling very wishy washy

these days. Just the morning

inspection of lines seems to

knock me up. I've got no strength

in my legs. Not enough exercise

I suppose.

Thursday, Aug Sept. 30^th/15

This morning the enemy's

75m.m. got onto our circular

trench and, to use the slang

term, knocked it rotten. They

certainly did get some beauties

into it. Fortunately everybody

got out in time and there

were no casualties, but it will

take me some time to get it

built up again tonight. I am

also going to build up the

firing positions all along the

line, as well as break

through our new bomb position

and investigate the ground in

front. So we'll have a busy

night of it. Went for

a swim with Inglis this afternoon.

Am feeling very fit now.

Friday Oct 1^st/15.

Fixed up all our jobs satisfactorily

last night, and no accidents

although I anticipated trouble

in the circular trench. Tonight

we are going to lay barbed wire

in front of our bomb hole.

I heard today that the French

have taken a further 120 big guns

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from the Germans. Hope it's true.

Feeling very groggy about the

legs again today.

Saturday, Oct 2^nd /15.

This confounded diarrhoea will

be my undoing yet. It's becoming

so blooming persistent that I am

afraid to go to sleep. And the

trouble is that loss of appetite

usually accompanies it, and no

business can be run on these 

lines - all going out and nothing

coming in. Consequently I've got

about as much energy as a sick

fowl, I went over to Ray this 

afternoon and he gave me a 

peg of whisky and insisted on 

my seeing the doctor. I did so,

and he gave me another peg, 

also some ipecocuanha and opium

tablets so I expect I'll be going

to sleep while on watch tonight.

We got our barb wire laying

done alright last night, and

no accidents, although several

bullets came within speaking

distance and once they opened

up with a machine gun. But

they couldn't see us, so only

had the slight noise we

made to direct them. Once I

thought we were in for it, for

a star shell was fired, and

for about quarter of an hour

the place was almost as light

as day. Of course we just

lay flat wherever we were and

didn't move an inch until

the pesky thing had burnt out.

Then we got on with our job

I had seven out with me, three

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with rifles in case of surprise,

and four to help with the blessed 

wire. We were out for just

over an hour, but I guess

we have cooked Johnno's Last

as regards hand bombing. We've

left an inviting little opening

for him to come up close to

our bombhole - the existence 

of which he has no idea -

and then when he discovers our

own bombers and retreats in

a hurry he'll get himself nicely

mixed up in the wire. I don't

think he'll come up a second

time.

Sunday Oct. 3^rd/15

You dear old girl, another

of your bonny letters today.

they get sweeter and sweeter

every mail, and it is so good

to read your dear old thoughts

about me. So xxx you received

all the parcels safely from

London - my diary, 'Punch',

[[?]], and the box of

sundries - and you enjoyed

reading the diary. I am glad

of that, dear, for I was a bit

afraid you might find it rather

wordy. But you see kiddie,

it is the nearest approach I can 

get to a daily yarn with you

so you must excuse me if I sometimes

prattle about nothing in

particular. Ethel also wrote

me this mail, and enclosed a

photo of herself. That photo of

you and Gwen has not come 

again this mail. I do hope it

isn't lost. Kiddie, dear,

whatever you do, please do not

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go altering little Peggy's name

now. It is the sweetest little

name I have heard for a

long while, and any alternative

or addition would only mar

it altogether. I am sure Aunt

Agnes would not wish it, and

it wouldbe such an obvious

afterthought too. I do hope

you have not done as you

said you would do. I shall

indeed be sorry I mentioned 

the matter if you do.

That heavy bombardment 

down South still continues.

I would like to know what is

happening. Our guns have 

been pouring shell into

the open country between

Gabe Tepe and the road to

Krithia these last few days.

From France comes word of the

capture of 121 field guns.

Splendid. The beginning of

the end, I hope.

Another pay today. I drew

£7. (Total for company £400.)

(Gave Corporal Bridley £3 towards

the purchase of a case of eggs

=60 doz.) Another officer

(Capt. Todd, "D" Coy) gone away sick

today. Dr Lobb went two days

ago. We now have a nice

chap, an oculist, by name

Morliet. Must get along to

headquarters to the usual evening

confab, now. Feeling much

better today. An issue of fresh

meat and the receipt of your

letter made a new man of 

me. Steak and eggs for

dinner. Very good.

 36                             

Monday. Oct 4^th. 1915.

This morning for about an hour

we were subjected to our of the hottest

bombardment I have experienced since

those first days. The shells were

coming over at the rate of about

forty per minute and sometimes

more. What with their bursts and

the whistle of our own shells overhead

the air was full of music.

A funny thing happened just

after it ceased. The artillery

observer at Lone Pine sent a message

that the Turks were filling up their

first line trenches at Lone Pine.

This, following on the violent 

bombardment, was interpreted by

Div. H.Q. to mean that the enemy

intended to attack, and we at

once received orders to stand to

in readiness. I was just sewing

up a hole in my shirt at the time,

so I had to finish my job off and 

put my shirt on and get my

firing line and supports fixed up.

We waited for about half an

hour, expectantly ready for a

good morning's shoot, and everybody

was saying "Thank the Lord they're 

coming at last," but when at the

end of the half hour nothing had

happened the General gave the order to

carry on. On further enquiries

being made it was found that the

Artillery observer meant that the

Turks were filling up their front

line trenches with dirt! Wouldn't 

Johnno laugh at our expense if only

he knew.

Tuesday Oct 3^rd 1915.

Quiet again, and a sunny, beautiful day.

Ray and I went across to see Ted

 38                     

this afternoon. Also met Col. Sutton, 

who is A.D.M.S of the 2^nd Division.

Stayed longer than we intended

and returned too late for tea but

just in time for the meeting.

Sent the batmen back to duty in

the firing line tonight and got

new ones. Hope they prove better.

We get relieved for 48 hours again

tomorrow by the 12^th Bn.

Wednesday Oct 6^th 1915.

Relieved by 12^th this morning. 

Went with Inglis along the lines

to the right, Ledge Trench, Tasmania

Post, Leane's Trench, Ryries Post,

and Chatham's Post on extreme right.

We were both decidedly leg weary

at the end, and reached our

own line again just in time

for tea. The inspection was

very interesting, though.

Thursday, Oct 7^th 1915

Awakened early, washed, shaved,

and was quite ready for breakfast

when it came along - a nice,

well cooked piece of steak. The

new batmen are starting well; all

the dixies have been scrubbed

clean, the meals are served in 

a clean, appetizing way, minus

flies, and the tea at last is

quite good and drinkable, and

does not always taste of stew 

and onion. For lunch there were

two soft boiled eggs and toast.

In the afternoon Inglis, Hooper 

and self went down to the 

beach for a swim. "Beachy Bill"

kept us busy ducking for 

cover, but we enjoyed our swim

nevertheless. Two fellows were hit,

one killed and one wounded.