Photostat copy of diaries of Benjamin Bennett Leane, 1915 - Part 26
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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 re-
inforcements, so we are expecting
another attack tonight. Very
appropriate too - 5th November.
Possibly the Turks have been told
that the 5th November is a religious
festival with us - the Feast
of Guido Fawkes, perhaps - on
which occasion it is our
custom to fire off large quan-
tities 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 Leech[?] and Lance McLeary
came over to see me this
afternoon. They are stretcher
bearing in the 4th 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. 6th.
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 11th 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. 7th 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
(29th 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 - £7000[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. Lets
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. 8th 1915
Last night I was awakened
about midnight by someone
striking matches 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 Lorengo[?].
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
26th[?] 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 9th Bn
yesterday, so there was no
hitch about Major Lorenzo
taking over 2nd 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 11th Bn to
see Ray; then I had o dodge
back to meet the C.O. by 2 pm
and go with him through the
lines of the 1st Brigade and 2nd
Light Horse Bigade, where
they have a new sort of with-
drawal 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 differ-
ent companies. I got a bottle of
lime juice cordial, some epsom
salts, three cards ba[?], 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 11th Bn. are camped. They
were all rather badly wounded.
Tuesday Nov 9th 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
firgure eight, 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 protect-
ive bulge in her hull to guard
her against sinking by torpedo)
stood off Gaba Tepe and fired
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
suspecting 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 ambit-
ious imaginings take her ever
so far finally as Egypt.
Well, we shall see.
Wednesday Nov. 10th 1915.
Rather a dull day, with
occasional light showers. Nothing
of importance occurred.
Thursday Nov. 11th 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.T.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 shubbery and
have been blown up.
Today we are having a "rehearsal"
gas attack.
Friday Nov 12th 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
14th and 15th; commencing with
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