Photostat copy of diaries of Benjamin Bennett Leane, 1915 - Part 5

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he came to Australia and
reviewed the Australian
Forces just before we were
married) is in command,
and we - the 3rd Brigade
- have been chosen to
form the landing covering party.
That is to say that when
the whole force has been
concentrated, and is ready
to land and give battle to 
the Turkish Forces we will
push ahead, and at
about three o'clock some
fine morning we will
land - under cover of
the guns from the battleships
- seize some favourable position,
and then hang on like
grim death and keep
back the Turks while the
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rest of the force is landed.
It is a stiff job, but at the
same time it is a great
compliment to pay us, and
will be a great honor to us
if it is carried through
successfully. We are overjoyed
to think that out of
the whole Australian and
New Zealand Forced our Brigade
has been selected for such
an important undertaking. That
we will do it I do not for 
a minute doubt, but I am
afraid that xxx not more than
half of xxx our number will come through
you see we will have to 
stand the brunt of the fighting
for two or three days, so it
must be expected that we will
suffer big losses - still we

70
will not be ready for another
three weeks, so the Brigade Major
estimates, therefore I will be 
able to make a lot more entries
in this little book before that time.
March 28th - Sunday - I had a 
very enjoyable trip round the
harbor this morning. The Colonel
Adjunct and a few other
officers wanted to go ashore, so 
a party of us volunteered to row
them. As there was a fair
breeze we rigged up a sail,
consequently the rowing was light.
We landed our party, after
getting stuck on several mud
banks, and then cruised
round the harbor. There
were nine warboats anchored
71
inside the heads, so we visited them.
The first one we saw was the 
"Inflexible" which you remember
was hit by Howitzers in the
Dardanelles and had to be
beached. To look at her you
would not know that she had
been in action, except that 
her fore fighting top had been
pierced with shells in several 
places. Most of the damage
had been inflicted below the
waterline, and divers were
hard at work effecting repairs.
We also saw the "Queen
Elizabeth", one of the latest
type of super Dreadnaughts,
which has been inflicting heavy
punishment on the Dardanelles
Forts. She is a magnificent
boat, simply bristling with

72
guns, and looking strong
enough to withstand any assault.
There were also three French
cruisers, and a Russian boat,
the "Askold", as well as 
several other British cruisers,
the names of which we could
not ascertain.
March 29th Kid I'm homesick
tonight, and want you and
Gwen badly.
March 30th - Six more warships
came into the harbor the
today, making sixteen in
all, not including about
five or six destroyers. They
make a grand, grim
contrast to this scene of quiet
and peace. Do you
73
remember how the crowds 
flocked to Glenelg to see the
three Australian warboats,
and how proud we were of 
them. You can imagine 
then how stirring it is to
see sixteen of the monsters
with their big grey hulls
and grim grey guns.
And presently we will
witness an even more stirring
spectacle - when the time
comes for us to move to the
Dardanelles, and we land
under cover of their fire. It
will be a sight worth
seeing.
The companies went ashore
yesterday for three days
training. They took with
them three days rations, and

74
one blanket per man. I 
guess they are finding it
rather cold at night.
Our company ('C' Coy) was
left on board to provide the
necessary guards and fatigues.
It was rumoured yesterday 
that an aeroplane had been
seen flying over the harbor,
so we now have a lookout 
posted to watch for any
possible air raid.
March 31st - Our mail has
just arrived, and everyone 
is full of excitement. They
are still sorting it upstairs,
so I expect there are more 
to come. But I am quite
happy for I have received
two, one from you and
75
one from mother. And
kiddie, I am as happy as
Larry for you have at last
said what I have been 
waiting all this time for you
to say - that you are 
glad I decided to go to the war
and that you are proud of
me for having done so. And 
I am very grateful to the
Scarlet Pimpernel for having
brought about this state of mind.
I always ^knew you loved me
darling, but I thought
that your love was just a
little overshadowed by a 
feeling that I had done
wrong in leaving you. But
now you have said that you
are proud of me, and sorry
for having ever thought

76
that I did wrong in leaving
you - so I am quite content.
Your letter enclosed a 
money order for 30/-. It is 
very welcome, darling, for
my messing bill is running
up all this time. But I
hope you won't send any
more , for you say, you
must save for our little
one. I am not sure 
yet how I will change it, 
but suppose it will be 
alright.
I am glad you have
decided to go to a govd
hospital, kiddie. I remember
the place well, and
hope it will prove as 
ideal as it promised to be.
And it will be grand 
77
to have Gwen so close to you.
Thank Mrs Frost for me for
her kindness.
I am glad, too dear, that
you have decided to have 
your and Gwen's photos
taken. I shall look forward
eagerly to their arrival.
Mother's letter was very 
welcome too. She said that 
she had been down to see
you in your new quarters
and thought you were very
comfortable. It was very good
of the dear old soul to think
of you on such a hot day
and to take you some lovely
grapes. What would I not
give for a bunch of them
just now. The interpreter
on board told me yesterday

78
that the grapes of Turkey
are very fine and that
we will be there right in
the season; so that is
something to look forward to.
And now I must cut
along to the saloon and
see if any more letters are
there for me.
Later -just got four more
letters Kiddie. It's bonny.
One from mother, one from 
Nurse, one from Len Gray 
and - one from dear old 
you. I saved yours for
the last, and have 
just finished reading it.
And strange to say,
again in this letter you 
say how glad you are
that you let  me go,
79
and how proud you are.
And kiddie, it makes me
so proud to hear you say
that you know you have
married a man, and not
an imitation. I would
rather have had that little
bit of appreciation from you
than anything I know.
And kiddie, I trust I may
never give you cause to think
otherwise. How I wish I 
could write you a long
loving letter, and post it right
away; but I can't because
of the censorship. But I 
will write as much as I am
able dear. Only I can't
put any of the passionate
love I feel into it, because
I could not bear for others

80
to read what is meant for
you only. But some day
dear, when you get this you
will know all about it,
won't you.
Poor little woman, you
say that you are frightened
about your coming confinement,
and I do not wonder
at it. But I know that
you are brave, dear, and
I know that God will look
after  you and will bring
you safely through.
One thing this war has
done for me dear and
that is to give me a
deeper faith in God.
Outwardly I do not appear
very religious. It is but
seldom that I go to Church
81
Parade, and I am afraid that
"swearwords" rise more easily to
my  lips than they used to do;
but I know that in my heart
I have a much deeper and
stronger faith that ever before;
and because I have asked
God to bring me safely back
to you, I am quite content
that He will do so.
Len Gray's letter contained an
interesting item. To use his
own words, "Mrs Dick Goodwin
finds it difficult to get through
her breakfast without that
horrible sick feeling coming over 
her." Dear old Dick; I am
so glad. He will make an
excellent daddy, and
Gertie will be an excellent 
mother, I am sure.

82
Another batch came later
this evening kiddie, containing
yet another from you. It
is grand.
April 1st - Yes, we kept it
up, even here. Two fellows
were dragged out of their
beds at 2.0am to go up
on deck to see the three
aeroplanes in the sky -
only to be told after about
twenty minutes shivering that 
they were "April fools".
I have spent the best 
part of the day answering
my mail. I have written
you a long letter, darling,
which should reach you
early in May, and I 
will ask the Colonel to 
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take my word that it contains
no banned matter.
Today I got two bundles
of "IP's Weeklies" and "Life"
from Jack [[Morsoy?]]. They are 
a veritable godsend.
April 2nd - Good Friday today
sweetheart. Hot cross buns at breakfast.
Went to Church Parade this morning
and thoroughly enjoyed singing the
old hymns. It took me back to
the days when I was in the Prospect 
Choir, and still later to those other
happy days when we had our own
pew in Pine St. We must join
some church when I come back 
darling.
April 3rd Nothing startling today
except that we  heard a vague

84
rumour to the effect that a 
body of marines had already
been landed somewhere on the
Gallipoli peninsula. We
should be moving very shortly
now.
(Later found that the poor devils got cut up)
April 4th - Sunday
I have had to take up
orderly room work for the past
few days, on account of the
new man getting ill. I
start on my new job definitely
tomorrow. The Battalion is
to go ashore for the three days 
bivouac, but I don't know whether
to go with them or stay on board.
I think I'll stay on board, though,
because I want to write up all
my new company books, which 
have been allowed to get behind.
April 5th - Easter Monday.
As usual, wet Easter for
Oakbank! Driving rain all
day. Startling news - everybody
busy. I don't mean that that is 
the startling news : that is the result
of the news. A cable has
been received that we are to be
ready to move on Friday. Bivouac
cancelled, and everybody busy
packing kits etc. for the field.
I started my new job today
and dropped right into the thick
of it - recalling of blankets,
issuing of ammunition etc.
I wonder what you have been
doing this Easter, darling.
Next Easter - perhaps - we
will go to Menzel's at Aldgate,
April 6th - Nothing doing in the

86
way of news.
April 7th Still nothing particular.
Went alongside the 'Malda'
today , and exchanged
courtesies and other things.
The 9th Bn. who were on
this boat until they went
ashore are being transferred
to the 'Malda'. Also Brigade
Headqrs. We are taking
in exchange the Engineers,
Field Ambulance and
Clearing Hospital.
April 8th A spick and
span water boat came
alongside today, and
we are replenishing our
water supply. We have
been drinking condensed
sea water for some time
now. On the strength
87
of it I did some washing
I have just been up to the
"hanging out" line, and the 
things are drying beautifully
clean. Singlet, underpants,
socks, hankeys; I feel quite
pleased with myself.
We have to take on ten
day's provisions tonight, so
I expect I will be working
late.
April 9th - I expected
right. It was 6.30 pm
when we started, and it
was not until 4.30 a.m.
that the last load went
up in the steam winch
to the accompaniment of
cheers. We had forty
men working as a fatigue