Photostat copy of diaries of Benjamin Bennett Leane, 1915 - Part 26

80

thumb and portion of the hand)

were flying over into their lines

from the explosions of bombs.

We have got word today that

the Turks have received reinforcements, 

so we are expecting

another attack tonight.  Very

appropriate too — 5^th November.

Possibly the Turks have been told

that the 5^th November is a religious

festival with us — the Feast

of Guido Fawkes, perhaps - on

which occasion it is our

custom to fire off large quantities 

of explosives.

Anyhow it's now 8pm, and

I'm not in bed yet, so you can 

see how seriously I regard

the matter.  Also I've had

my revolver thoroughly cleaned

and oiled today (not before it
needed it) and I'm going to bed

with my boots on — if I go to

bed at all.

The Light Horse were unfortunate

in having 19 casualties last night

4 killed and 15 wounded.  We had

3 wounded.  The Turks must

have suffered very heavily, though,

as they were the attacking party.

Their shellfire has been fairly

severe this afternoon, but I

don't think they have done much

actual damage.  One of our

guns got into a battalion

of Turks in close formation,

and played havoc for a

few minutes.

Bob Seeth and Lance McLeary

came over to see me this

afternoon.  They are stretcher

bearing in the 4^th Brigade, and

82

have just returned from a

six week's spell at Lemnos.

They both look very well.

They say that Reg. Shepley is

at Lemnos doing duty in one

of the hospitals there.

I gave them some cake and

some cigarettes, and then

as I had to attend orderly room,

passed them on to Joe Waine

with a pass to inspect our trenches

Saturday Nov. 6^th.

Mail today, chicken, and

three bonnie letters from you,

and one from Mother.  Great

rejoicing.  You were a bad

girl to miss a mail though.

Nothing happened last

night after all, but the 11^th Bn

are going in to reinforce the Light

Horse tonight, so possibly
there'll be something doing yet.

This afternoon Ted's batman came

over with a couple big packets

of chocolate and a powerful

electric torch for me.  I gave him

a couple London Punches in

return — a fair bargain, I reckon.

Later, Ray's batman came

along with a bulky parcel,

and on opening it I discovered

three singlets.  Just what I wanted.

And now the Quartermaster

has come to light with a pair of

underpants, so I'm fixed up.

Nothing much to report today.

Feeling in good nick, bar indigestion.

Sunday, Nov. 7^th 1915.

Still nothing doing.  Tonight

I shall go to bed without all

my clothes on.

Another good mail today

 

84

We're getting a flood after

the drought.  I received four

out of it - one from mother

(29^th Sept.) one from Miss Barton,

one from Aunt Agnes, and

another from one of my English

friends.  I must get busy

and answer them all, as

mail closes today.

I have just been down

to the beach to draw pay

for the battalion — £2000 odd.

It would pay our expenses

for a trip round the world.

I felt quite important with

my armed escort, and

all tonight I'll have a

sentry armed to the teeth

just outside the door of my

dugout.  I ought to be able

to sleep quite soundly. Let's 
hope I don't talk too much

and let out some of my awful

doings in England and Egypt.

My blooming old teeth are

beginning to go.  I've discovered

a decidedly 'live' nerve in one

of them, and it lives me up

at times.  Hooroo old girl.

Monday, Nov. 8^th 1915.

Last night I was awakened

about midnight by someone

striking matches up near my face.

My first thought was of the cash

and what had become of the sentry.

And then, as a match flared up

I said 'Good Lord, where did you

spring from!'  It was Major Lorenzo.

How he had got past the sentry

I don't know - his usual bluff

I suppose.  He had just come

from Lemnos by the night boat.

 

86

I hadn't seen him since April

26^th so he sat on my bunk

and we yarned until early

morning, and then he turned

in in the mess room.

Fortunately Major Shaw was

transferred (temporarily) to the 9^th Bn

yesterday, so there was no

hitch about Major Lorenzo

taking over 2^nd in Command.

I've had a busy day altogether.

This morning there was pay etc.

Immediately after lunch I took

Major Lorenzo along to the 11^th Bn to

see Ray; then I had to dodge

back to meet the C.O. by 2pm

and go with him through the

lines of the 1^st Brigade and 2^nd

Light Horse Brigade, where

they have a new sort of withdrawal 

trench for protection
against shelling.  Then when

I got back about four the stuff

from Imbros had arrived — 

about a fifth of what we

had ordered, so I had to set

to and portion it out to the different 

companies.  I got a bottle of

lime juice cordial, some epsom

salts, three cards batchelor, buttons

(very welcome) a hair brush, a

tooth brush and some writing

paper and envelopes.  About 5/-

worth instead of £1 worth as ordered.

We won't bother to send again.

The Light Horse people had

a brush with the Turks last

night.  They went out and

occupied an old Turkish trench

about 30 yds. in front of their own

lines.  When the Turk discovered

it he tried to get it back (dog

 

 88

in the manger).  There was very

little rifle fire but a good deal

of bombing.  The Light Horse lost

one killed and 14 wounded, but

they stuck to the trench.

This morning a '75' caught

three men (two of whom were

Catholic priests) in the gully

where the 11^th Bn. are camped.  They

were all rather badly wounded.

Tuesday Nov 9^th 1915

The Anniversary of the

'Emden'.  Twelve months ago

today I was on board the

'Ascanius' and everybody

was alternately cheering and

drinking beer in honor of

Australia's first win.

There was a great deal

of activity among the Navy

this afternoon.  About midday
three torpedo boat destroyers began

careering wildly about, doing

figure eights, switchbacks, and

all manner of fancy manouvres

over the very placid face of the

waters.  We brought all our

field glasses to bear in search

of enemy submarines, but

couldn't see a thing.  Eventually

one of the 2 B.D.'s fired a shot

at something in the water, but

I don't suppose it hit it because

they still continued their wild

capers.  Finally they quietened

down, and we went on with

our pancakes.  Later in the

afternoon the 'blister boat'

(a cruiser with a patent protective 

bulge in her hull to guard

her against sinking by torpedo)

stood off Gaba Tepe and poured

 

90

broadside after broadside at

some target she had evidently

spotted ashore.  From our

position we could not see

where the shells were bursting,

and I haven't been able to find

out yet what her target was,

but I should guess it had

suffered.

Tonight we have received

word that the Turks have received

a gas plant, so we are

expecting to smell Chlorine before

long.  I don't think it will

work very well in this country,

except by means of bombs.

We have also heard officially

that Lord Kitchener has left 

England for Greece, Egypt,

and the Dardanelles.  I believe

he has already been to Greece
and is now in Egypt, so perhaps

we may see him here shortly.

Everything points to the storm

centre being transferred from

France to Turkey.  Germany has

practically abandoned her hope

of getting through to Calais, and

is now thinking of an outlet

through Bulgaria to Constantinople

and the Dardanelles.  Her ambitious 

imaginings take her ever

so far finally as Egypt.

Well, we shall see.

Wednesday Nov. 10^th 1915.

Rather a dull day, with

occasional light showers.  Nothing

of importance occurred.

Thursday Nov. 11^th 1915.

The promise of relief seems

fairly good.  Last night we

received word to cancel regulations

 

92

for clothing etc as they it would

all be drawn at Mudros.  Also

that we would hand over

gas helmets to incoming unit.

I haven't seen the 'incoming

unit' yet, and I'm not

going to believe anything about

relief until I do see it.

I was up till midnight

last night with the C.O. drafting

orders for combatting gas attacks.

I meant to have written letters

too.

Captain Gee, of the A.F.A. came

across last evening to get the

names of three of our men

who helped his gun crew

extinguish a fire the other day.

Their battery is on the hill just

behind Artillery Road, and

a few afternoons ago the
Turks planted a shell right in

the gun position.  The gun,

fortunately, was uninjured, but

two of the crew were knocked

out, and the brushwood

round about caught fire.  Had

it not been for the prompt actions

of our chaps a store of about

600 high explosive shells would 

most probably have been reached

by the burning shrubbery and

have been blown up.

Today we are having a "rehearsal"

gas attack.

Friday Nov 12^th 1915

Fairly quiet day - usual

shelling and bombing.  Went

over to see Ray for half an hour.

Brigadier told us definitely

tonight that we move on

14^th and 15^th; commencing with

 

94

9^th and 11^th Battalions.

Big mail on the beach.  Most

likely come up tonight they

say.

Saturday Nov 13^th 1915.

Kitchener at Anzac!!!

Didn't get up this far though.

Believe he inspected the

trenches over towards Suvla.

Must be something in the

wind when Kitch. comes

over.

There was great "strafe-ing" 

this morning when Brigade

sent us word that our

mail was to be sent back

to Lemnos to await us there.

I at once sent a wire

asking for permission to

send a fatigue party down

to the beach to manhandle
the mail up.  Ray did

likewise.  This afternoon

we got a reply to say that

the mail would be sent up

tonight at 7pm.  It pays 

to push your barrow in

sometimes.

The Turks have been

whizzing their shells over here

this afternoon.  Wonder if

they knew Kitch. was about

and thought they might catch

him!

Sunday Nov 14^th 1915

Terribly busy today kiddie,

getting out orders for the move, and

packing up etc.  The 9^th & 11^th go tonight.

10^th & 12^th tomorrow.  Don't know whether

I'll have time to get any letters

away this mail.  Will try and

get a short note to you anyway.

 

96

Lot of shell fire this afternoon.

One shell hit our new Headqrs.

Officers' latrine and knocked

it rotten.  For a wonder none

of us were in it at the time.

Ted and Ray came in for

a few minutes this afternoon.

An unfortunate accident

happened this afternoon:  One

night when I was out in

the front laying wire entanglements 

or something I picked

up a Martin Hale bomb which

had not exploded, and as

it was a complete specimen

I thought it would be a

nice little memento to bring

home to you.  Next day I

took out the striking pin

and cleared the powder

out of the detonator.  This
morning I was in the midst of

packing up when Corporal Montgomery

our champion bomb thrower (I

have told you about him before)

came round to see me about

some matter.  I asked him if

the bomb was safe to pack, and

he said it was practically so, but

that he would just remove the

cap for me.  He started scraping

away with his knife, when

presently there was a loud

explosion, and the next minute

Montgomery was spinning round

like a top and my ears were

ringing like a dozen alarm clocks.

The poor chap had the

top of his finger blown off and

a hole tunnelled in his thumb,

but it is fortunate that he

didn't lose his hand.

 

98

I was greatly concerned about

it, because I considered it

my fault, but he wouldn't

hear a word of it.  He said

he had taken dozens of them

to pieces without accident.

Monday Nov. 15^th  1915.

The 9^th and 11^th 

didn't get away last night

after all.  A stong wind

blew up, and shortly after

tea the M.L.O. sent up word

that no troops would embark

or disembark that night.

The worst of these gales is

that they generally last for

about five days, so we are

probably booked for almost

a week.  I wouldn't mind

only that I've got everything

packed up ready to move
and now I'll have to unpack.

Montgomery came round to 

see me this morning to assure

me that his hand was "nearly

all right again".  He's a game

bird, and no mistake.  I

think he knew I had been

worrying about it too, and

thought he would ease my mind.

It's blowing a hurricane today,

and the sea is very rough.

The 9^th & 11^th won't get away tonight.

This afternoon there was a

tremendous amount of cannoning

down south.  We could see the

cruisers and monitors pumping

away and the burst of their

shells over behind Achi Baba.

It looked as though land

mines were being exploded round

Achi too, by the big clouds