Diary of Herbert Vincent Reynolds, 1914-1915 (second diary) - Part 9

Conflict:
First World War, 1914–18
Subject:
  • Documents and letters
Status:
Open for review
Accession number:
RCDIG0001013
Difficulty:
3

Page 1 / 10

Sand 13th June 1915 A cruiser disturbed us early this morning which was shelling the enemys trenches from a position off Rapa Tepe while another was firing away enland from a position off Cape Suola, they were both well escorted by P.D. Deshoyers + steamed away at about 7 am. A new Lype of acroplane being fairly large & having it propellor behind instead of in fron of the wings put in an appearance here about 6pm & dropped 3 bombs over the enemis tines Things have been very quiet locally, but very hovy firing could be heard at Cape Helles all day. At about 7 30 pm while a church service was being held in our camp, the enemy observed our infantry supports crossing Tawkins Point on their way to the Frenches, & imediately skelled the area very heavily for half an howr, fortunately only two casualties resulted, & though the suvice was being conducted only 20 yd away from the Mond 14th shelled area in a sheltered position it was not disturbed except by the noise. The ounsel tonight was as beautiful as I have ever seen, the istande of Imbros & Samothrace & the wide expance of sea with the beautiful colouring in the ky as a background made up in reality a picture no articl could paint We had a breadration issued Aoday of 2.l6 per man + A was indeed ockemely welcore as we have had only hard biiscuits as a substitute since the landing. A T.B. Deshoyer went in close to Rapa Lepe this morning & shelled the enemys Fenches for a while, she returned again this afternoon & this occasion shelled the enemy away inland, on the enemy fired at her with their field guns from behind Rapa Sepe but did not succeed. in hetting her. I managed to buy 3 send of nelk ( 1/ each from some eaclors on the beach, we get very little here other than our rations which
Faced 15 June 1915 are bully bee Biscuits cheese & baron so any thing is very welcome as a change. The sea has been rather rough Asday. At about 11 pm some of us eat & watched the heaey action down at Cape Killes from the Lops of the ridge above our camp, the flash of the gand + explosion of the shells proved that the artillary on both sides was very heavily engaged & the star shells & flares illaminated the whole ridge from Ache Baba to the Cape. One of our acroplanes flew over in the direction of Marlos at about sam & returned about 10,30 am. a large see plane was circling about for nearly 2 hours this noming. A monitor was shelling the enemys positions on Ache Baba very heavily this moming. An extremely heavy artillery action was in progrees all, the momning down at the Cape. A rather rough see has been barcls of running all day & shortly after midday wene & spirits began to fload ashore, needless to say no home was clost in rolling when into the shelter of the cliffs & getting to buisness on the contents water bottles water hirs & any thing that was capable of holding liquid was filled & carted off to the Fenches & dugonts with the resuls that the toops began to get very merry in no time. When headquarders became aware of what was occuring, steps was taken to smack all barrels as they came ashore + empty the contents into the sea. just before sundet the enemy shelled the No2 A S.C. Depod very heavely Heary rifle fire can be heard down south doight. Wed 16th Rain has been threatening all day & it has got very cool. Late in the afternoon my three maks went up to Capt. Goldsmithe station where we are on duty donight & left me to go round to the cove for water, while there the enemy made things very lively by shelling the depot + forcing us all yo take shelter among the piles of stores, one chap was killed + several others wounded near the clearing
105 station, after getting the water when things got a bit qweeter I made off back to you my mates, but when near the No2 A S. 6 Depot, the enemy terned his attention to it V.I found myself in another woar quarter for a white, however the shelter afforded by the steep bank along the beach gave fairly good protection for getting to tieforia Fually, but when near Dawkins Rs a shrapnell baret almoxt overhead & an infly lad with me at the time got wounded in the leg, we got close in to the bank + got his wound bandaged up & one of his mates took him back eto the clearing station while I went back to surepost o find things exturely quiet in that receinity. a bread ration was rssued again today in the laters One of the makes cut my hair today anny style. Thurs 17th. The enemys artillery has been rather active at times during the past week or so, otherwise things have been extremely quiet especially in the Frenches, I seems to be a deadlock as far as we are concerned at present, is appears impossible to pash on any further now without adequate recinforcements, as the enemy like ourselves have consolidated their positions during the inactivity of the last few weeks & it will man a Remendous effort to force him out of his positions now, however that is part of the buisness ahead & the feelings of everyone is that the sooner is takes place the better, as this meshod of at present only exchanging shot for shot & watching one another is getting on everyones neres. At about 4 30 pm. the enemy shelled the top of the ridge above our camp for about half an hour, we have a habit of viewing operations down south from the top of the ridge + evidently the enemy noticed us from their observation post on Repa Tepe poind & thought we were camped on the ridge, however our camp is intuated in the
A55 Prid 18th Pat 19th June, 1915 gully at the foot of the hell & none of his shells fell in our camp or done further damage than tearing up the ground on the Aoss of the Judge One of our acroplanes bombed the enemy on Rapa Tepe about 5 pm. the enemys This afternoon a monitor shelled pocitions behind Rapa Tepe As abou 10 pm the enemys guns in the Clive Prove fired a it is few shells at our stores in the Cove anurual for the enemy to use, his artillery after dary. One of our planes passed over here this morning revent down to the Cape, be dropped a bomb abous half way down. A plane flew over towards Maidas about 2 pm & about an hour later another bombed the enemys trenches opposite Quins poed at about 6ipm another if les over & went down to the Cape. a Sea plane has been directing a monitors fire this afternoon on enemys both our positions away inland. Just at duct the enemy artillery the enemys got active habit concentated on the NozA S.C. Deport, they have of shelling the Depor just at sunsed. lately. A couple of heavy howetzer shells from the enemy explacted very near our camp today. Things have been very quiet today A church Sund 20 service was hell in our camp this evening. a couple of shells fell right in the hrack at. Dawkins point at 8 30 per, usually there are numbers passing the epot about that time but fordunately no one was near is tonight. A heavyinfly action seems to be in progress down south toight an oubburst of rifle fire occured at about 11 pm on our right flante Mond, During the night a heavy artillery action which has 21s continued off& on during the day has been in progress down ad Helles. The enemys enepers who have been enfilading Brighton beach with
105 Treesd 22nd June 1915 refle fire have been very active lately have succeeded in wounding half a don during the last few days; the range at which they have to fire makes acurate shoot impossible, but neverthebes they manage to bag an occasional victim & make the beach unsafe white they are at it at about 4 pm a monitor put in an appearanc + shelled the enemy away inland, a sea plane directed her fire. Two S.L. Deshoyers & our field artillery shelled the enemy on Rapa Pepe at the same time. Received souple of letters today as about 2 am an acroplane could be heard flying over head but is could no be seen, me of our new large planes frow over about II am. The monetor appared again at about 4. pm& we watched her shills expladting near Ache Baba a report today states that the French have taken "are holding two lincs of enemy trenches at Cape. Wed 23d Thurs 24th Helles. He were unable to get anything from the canteen ship, & our money was reterned to us today. The 1st LH. Fld. Amb releived us of Cap. Marks station in Victoria Pully today. a large sea plane was flying around here as about 9am. There were a lorge numberlf us in sweming at the Cove at about 3 pm when the enemy began to shell the beach from the direction of Anafata we wasted no time in getting out & taking cover in the heaps of stores along the beach, but there It were six casualties before every one god out. Our Artillery have been shelling the Olive Prove of & on during the day, the enemy have been riies from that direction their guns have not fired a shot. A report Hoday states that two enemy acroplanes fle over our positions at Kelles this morning & one was forced down in our lines & captured. The 5th. Brty City of Glargow RG. A came ashore this wch howidzers after sunces they afternoon with their 5.
Prid 25th June 1915 hauled them round into Thitoria Pully just below our camp. Bill Rogers one of the mate. was rather badly wounded by shrapnell this afternoon near the C.C. Station At about 6pm both our artillery the enemys got very active, the enemy have not toubled us from the direction of Rapa Seps. again today, though, a gun from that direction has been firing at the P.B. Ds & mineweepers thoughot the day. An acroplane passed over here at about 1 am, but it was hard to distinguish who is belonged to The distinguishing mark on our planes is a red white & blue circle on each wing, the enemys is the same as the germans a black cross. As about 3pm the Lord Nelson accompanied by a balloon ship, & excorted by T.B.D, tooknupa position about mialway between Inbros Rap. Seps poind& from there fired broadside after broadside Te at the enemy away inland towards Maidos, balloon from the ballson ship directed her fire The enemys field gens began firing at the battleship but she took no notice of them, they could be seen flashing on the high ridge in front of our right flank. at about 4 30 pm when the Lord Nelson & other boats steamed off great volumes of dense smoke could be ten sising away to the south eass towards Maidos. An enemy acroplane f hw over our lines at about 5pm & set a bundle of papers loose but the sund carried them all unto the enemys Heretory Reported sick this Sat 26th Things have been extremely quiet. morning with a heavy cold & extrenely soe thorat, which has been hoabling me now for some days. The Lol. Hld Amb are leaving for demnos & we took over the dressing station from them Asday. Every third morning we have to turn out at yam for half an hours physical drill, it is by no means a popular inovation. The 5 ench Lowitzers were hauled after sunser into positions prepared for them in Clarkes gully, it was heavy rshencious worth
WUSTRAI Lund 27th. Mond 28h June 1915 harling them up the clopes of these hills, bat many willing hands managed the Gobalright. These hoaidyers fire a so lb Gdide ehell Feeling very much off colour & was releived of duty for the day. About 6 am an outburst of rufle & machine gan fire followed by heavy fire from both oar artillery & the enemys took place & continued for about an hour As plane flew very low over Rapa Sepe & dropped 4 bomb in quice succersion r about 6 am. The new howitzers fired a few shells today, they make a peculiar whistling sound going through the air quite a different sound to the high velocity shells from the field gung. At about g am a fleet of minpere helf a doy T.BDs steamed across from Fmbes Howards the Cape, followed by a light cruiser At about a balloon ship & more T.D.Ds. 10 am a trific bombardment comenced down the at the cape & continued throughout the day, crusirs a namber of Deshoyers edelled the enemy from positions between Rapa Sepe & the Cape the & monetor Number from a position off Imbros director by the captive balloon sdelled the an enemy enemy positions on Ache Baba acroplane pet in an appearance about 1130 am + again later about 3 pm it attempted to destroy the captive ballon on the Ark Royal, but after 3 bombs failed to his their mark he gave up & returned to the enemys lines. at about upm our infly made a bluff atfact from our right flank in order to assust our toops at Helles where a beg offensive has been comenced, by making a demonshation here it prevents the enemy sending any koops from here to reinforce his koops down south. At about things 5pm our toops retired into their Frenches being liely god rather quies again, aftera extremely
June 1915 during the afternoon The Light Horse took a prominent paid in the operations today. One of our mater Pte W. Sammers was killed by a balled in the head & another named Shoul was rather badly wounded in, the leg. At about 9pm when it was fairly clark a party of us went along to the barricade on our right flants to ges cane wounded in along the beach, the enemy sent up two star shells while we were at it & made us feel rather uuncomfortable as they light the place up like day for about 15 seconds. Fruedagt Hadquarters report that the demonstration here yesterday was very successful & thanks all those who took part in it. He suffered a number of casualtie but not what we expected All day a constant rumble of heavy artillery action could be heard from Helles at about upm a heavy dust stomn eprang up & made things extremely uunconfortable for ues at Clarks Fully Wed 20h station where we were on duty, when the storm started an outhurst of heavy refle fire broke out but it did not lact for long. a very heavy bombardment is in progress at Helles tonight. Reports today state that good progress was made by the Allies at Helles yesterday they advanced their lines up to 1000 yds in places. We returned to our camp at yam & enjoyed a surm in the breakers which were coming in fast heavy, it is not often there is any decend waves here to get amonged. All the landing stages were more or less damaged by the rough sea that has been sunning all day & every, thing modable was thrown high & dry up on the beach a sea plane flew over about yam At about 9pm a thunder stom passed over but we got very little pain, a good fall of rain now would be welcome, as we are depending on the water from the Coats for our capply, the holes in the gullies att all dry
AUSTRALIA Thers . Pid 2 Sat3r & there is no water other than that in our vicinity except salt sea water. July 1915 At yam a large biplane circled overhead for about an hour. The sea has again been rather rough. While-surming this evening I got a rather bad cut on the left foot from a broken bottle. Things have been very quiet all day. One ofour planes flees over at about 6pm. Considerable quantition of 4x4 timber & corrigated cron have been thought aclose lately The 8 in howelyers have been firing a few rounds this evening. As about 3pm a light creser possibly the Falbor came on the scene, & from a position between Imbros & Rapa Sepe poind fired 3 shots at some enemy position away inland, then eteamed off, returning after dark to the same position she fired shell after shell away enland, two other light crusers were further down towards the Cape with their searchlight hained on the land. The enemy fired over some very powerfull shells today. Sundyt. The erusers were firing all night they eteamed off just after day break. Things have been very quiet here today. An explosion ocaursed onr the ridge a little to the weet of Ache Batle about 10 am, we noticed a huge column of smoke shool skywards, but are unable to tiell what it was Mond 5th at day break the enemys artillery got very active A heary enemy gun has ban attempting to shell one stores in the cove today, fortunately the shells all exploded harmlessly on the ridge above the stores or went over thom into the sea where they send up a colann of water about 20 ft into the air, evidently our depos is in a safety yone as for as this particular gan is concernied. Two 6 ned howebyers were tanded here Aoday. A fleet of about 30 minesweepers have been patolling an aroa of soe besween Frrbuds & Cape Helles for certain periods during the past
Fresd 6th Wedy July 1915 fee days. This evening the 16 Bast enbarked on minesweepers & barges for Imbros where they are going for a essell, the enemy gave them a prety warm farewell as his artillery shelled them pretty heavely with shrapnell. A large enery shell put one of the No 9 Battery. guns out of action & killed some of the Nrew yesterday. just before sunser the enemy gans in the Clive Prove opened fire with shrapnell on our pamp, its kept bat no damage us all under cover while i lasted was done. According to a headquarters report today the explosion we seen on Ache Baba last Sunday. was caused by a Cm. Fenemy shell oxplading in a French ammunition pit, it also stated that during the recent operations at Cape Helles, a body of the 10th Phurkas were driven out of their Fencher by an enomy bomb attack, but the position was retaken again in an attack made by the Irniskelin Fusiliers. A monetor shelled the enemy positions on the uudge in from of our right flank. this afternoon, as aplane directed her fire One of our acroplanes flew over about medday. Things have been very quies. thers One of our acroplanes flew over this morning. A monetor 8t fired over our heads at some barget away inland from a position off Imbros this afternoon A sea plane was directing her fire. As about 6pm. the enemys guns ofrom the direction of hapa Sepe shelled the artillary poritions along the top of M. Cays Kill right opposite our camp, they shelled them very heavely with highesploaie Prid 9t Things have been very quiet. an outbard of rifle fire occared last night about midnight but it soon died down. Both our artilley & the enemys have been in the habit lately of gesting intoxction yued at sunses. Sat 10th One of our acroplanes dropped two Combs near Rapa Sepe this moming. A large Battleship put in an appearance between Tmbros & Rapa Tepe point at about 2.30 pm, well, excorted by S. Deckhoyers, the

June 1915

Sund 13th A cruiser disturbed us early this morning which
was shelling the enemys trenches from a position
off Kapa Tepe while another was firing away
inland from a position off Cape Suvla, they
were both well escorted by TB Destroyers &
steamed away at about 7 am. A new type
of aeroplane being fairly large & having its
propellor behind instead of in front of the
wings put in an appearance here about
6 pm & dropped 3 bombs over the enemys lines
Things have been very quiet locally, but very heavy
firing could be heard at Cape Helles all day.
At about 7 30 pm while a church service was
being held in our camp, the enemy observed
our infantry supports crossing Dawkins Point
on their way to the trenches, & imediately shelled
the area very heavily for half an hour, fortunately
only two casualties resulted, & though the service
was being conducted only 20 yds away from the 

shelled area in a sheltered position it was not
disturbed except by the noise. The sunset tonight
was as beautiful as I have ever seen, the islands
of Imbros & Samothrace & the wide expance of
sea with the beautiful colouring in the sky
as a background made up in reality a picture
no artist could paint. We had a bread ration
issued today of ½ lb per man & it was indeed
extremely welcome as we have had only hard
biscuits as a substitute since the landing.
Mond 14th A TB Destroyer went in close to Kapa Tepe
this morning & shelled the enemys trenches for
a while, she returned again this afternoon &
shelled the enemy away inland, on this occasion
the enemy fired at her with their field guns
from behind Kapa Tepe but did not succeed
in hitting her. I managed to buy 3 tins of milk
@ 1/- each from some sailors on the beach, we
get very little here other than our rations which
 

 

June 1915
are bully beef Biscuits cheese & bacon, so any thing
is very welcome as a change. The sea has been rather
rough today. At about 11 pm some of us sat &
watched the heavy action down at Cape Helles from
the tops of the ridge above our camp, the flash of the
guns & explosion of the shells proved that the artillery
on both sides was very heavily engaged & the star
shells & flares illuminated the whole ridge from
Achi Baba to the Cape.
Tuesd 15th  One of our aeroplanes flew over in the direction of Maidos 
at about 8 am & returned about 10 30 am. A large
sea plane was circling about for nearly 2 hours this
morning. A monitor was shelling the enemys positions
on Achi Baba very heavily this morning. An extremely
heavy artillery action was in progress all the morning
down at the Cape. A rather rough sea has been
running all day & shortly after midday bar^rels of
wine & spirits began to float ashore, needless to
say no time was lost in rolling them into the shelter 

of the cliffs & getting to buisness on the contents
water bottles water tins & any thing that was
capable of holding liquid was filled & carted
off to the trenches & dugouts with the result
that the troops began to get very merry in
no time. When headquarters became aware
of what was occuring, steps was taken to
smash all barrels as they came ashore & empty
the contents into the sea. Just before sunset the
enemy shelled the No2 ASC Depot very heavily
Heavy rifle fire can be heard down south tonight.
Wed 16th  Rain has been threatening all day & it has got very
cool. Late in the afternoon my three mates went
up to Capt. Goldsmiths station where we are on
duty tonight & left me to go round to the cove
for water, while there the enemy made things
very lively by shelling the depot & forcing us all
to take shelter among the piles of stores, one chap
was killed & several others wounded near the clearing

 

station, after getting the water when things got a
bit quieter I made off back to join my mates,
but when near the No2 ASC Depot, the enemy
turned his attention to it & I found myself in
another warm quarter for a while, however the
shelter afforded by the steep bank along the beach
gave fairly good protection for getting to Victoria
Gully, but when near Dawkins Pt a shrapnell
burst almost overhead & an infty lad with
me at the time got wounded in the leg, we
got close in to the bank & got his wound bandaged
up & one of his mates took him back to the
clearing station while I went back to our post
to find things extremely quiet in that vicinity.
A bread ration was issued again today.
One of the mates cut my hair today in the latest 

army style.
Thurs 17th The enemys artillery has been rather active at times
during the past week or so, otherwise things have 

been extremely quiet especially in the trenches, it
seems to be a deadlock as far as we are concerned
at present, it appears impossible to push on any
further now without adequate reinforcements, as
the enemy like, ourselves have consolidated their
positions during the inactivity of the last few
weeks & it will mean a tremendous effort to
force him out of his positions now, however that
is part of the buisness ahead & the feelings of
everyone is that the sooner is takes place the
better, as this method of at present only exchanging
shot for shot & watching one another is getting
on everyones nerves. At about 4 30 pm the enemy
shelled the top of the ridge above our camp for about
half an hour, we have a habit of viewing operations
down south from the top of the ridge & evidently
the enemy noticed us from their observation post
on Kepa Tepe point & thought we were camped on
the ridge, however our camp is situated in the

 

June, 1915

gully at the foot of the hill & none of his shells
fell in our camp or done further damage than
tearing up the ground on the top of the ridge.
One of our aeroplanes bombed the enemy on Kapa
Tepe about 5 pm.
the enemys
Frid 18th This afternoon a monitor shelled the enemys
positions behind Kapa Tepe. At about 10 pm
the enemys guns in the Olive Grove fired a
few shells at our stores in the Cove, it is
unusual for the enemy to use his artillery
after dark.
Sat 19th  One of our planes passed over here this morning
& went down to the Cape, he dropped a bomb about
half way down. A plane flew over towards Maidos
about 2 pm & about an hour later another bombed
the enemys trenches opposite Quins post. at
about 6 pm, another flew over & went down
to the Cape. A Sea plane has been directing
a monitors fire this afternoon on enemys
positions away inland. Just at dusk both our
artillery & the enemys got active, the enemy
concentrated on the No2 ASC Depot, a habit
they have of shelling the Depot just at sunset
lately. A couple of heavy howitzer shells from

the enemy exploded very near our camp today.
Sund 20th Things have been very quiet today A church
service was held in our camp this evening.
A couple of shells fell right in the track at.
Dawkins point at 8 30 pm, usually there are numbers
passing the spot about that time but fortunately
no one was near it tonight. A heavy infty
action seems to be in progress down south
tonight  An outburst of rifle fire occured
at about 11 pm on our right flank.
Mond 21st During the night a heavy artillery action which has
continued off & on during the day has been in
progress down at Helles. The enemys snipers
who have been enfilading Brighton beach with
 

 

June 1915
rifle fire have been very active lately &
have succeeded in wounding half a doz
during the last few days, the range at
which they have to fire makes acurate shooting
impossible, but nevertheless they manage
to bag an occasional victim & make the
beach unsafe while they are at it.
At about 4 pm a monitor put in an appearance
& shelled the enemy away inland, a sea plane
directed her fire. Two TB Destroyers & our
field artillery shelled the enemy on Kapa Tepe
at the same time. Received souple of letters today
Tuesd 22nd At about 2 am an aeroplane could be heard
flying overhead but it could no be seen, one
of our new large planes flew over about II am.
The monitor appeared again at about 4 pm & we
watched her shells exploding near Achi Baba.
A report today states that the French have taken
& are holding two lines of enemy trenches at Cape

Helles. We were unable to get anything from the canteen
ship, & our money was returned to us today. The 1st
LH. Fl. Amb releived us of Capt Marks station in
Victoria Gully today.
Wed 23rd A large sea plane was flying around here at about
9 am. There were a large number of us in swimming
at the Cove at about 3 pm when the enemy began
to shell the beach from the direction of Anafata
we wasted no time in getting out & taking cover
in the heaps of stores along the beach, but there
It were six casualties before every one got out.
Our Artillery have been shelling the Olive Grove off
& on during the day, the enemy have been quiet
from that direction their guns have not fired a shot.
A report today states that two enemy aeroplanes flew
over our positions at Helles this morning & one was
forced down in our lines & captured.
Thurs 24th The 5th Bty City of Glasgow R F A came ashore this
afternoon with their 5 inch howitzers after sunset they

 

June 1915
hauled them round into Victoria Gully just below our
camp. Bill Rogers one of the mates was rather
badly wounded by shrapnell this afternoon near
the C C Station. At about 6 pm both our artillery
& the enemys got very active, the enemy have
not troubled us from the direction of Kapa Tepe
again today, though, a gun from that direction
has been firing at the TBDs & minesweepers
throughout the day.
Frid 25th An aeroplane passed over here at about 11 am, but
it was hard to distinguish who it belonged
to The distinguishing mark on our planes
is a red white & blue circle on each wing, the
enemys is the same as the germans a black cross.
At about 3pm the Lord Nelson accompanied by
a balloon ship, & escorted by TBDs, took up a
position about midway between Imbros & Kapa Tepe
point & from there fired broadside after broadside
at the enemy away inland towards Maidos, the
balloon from the balloon ship directed her fire
The enemys field guns began firing at the battleship but
she took no notice of them, they could be seen flashing
on the high ridge in front of our right flank.
At about 4 30 pm when the Lord Nelson & other boats
steamed off great volumes of dense smoke could be
seen rising away to the south east towards Maidos.
An enemy aeroplane flew over our lines at about 5 pm
& set a bundle of papers loose but the wind carried
them all unto the enemys teritory
Sat 26th Things have been extremely quiet. Reported sick this
morning with a heavy cold & extremely sore throat, which
has been troubling me now for some days. The L H Fld Amb
are leaving for Lemnos & we took over the dressing station
from them today. Every third morning we have to turn
out at 7 am for half an hours physical drill, it is by
no means a popular inovation. The 5 inch howitzers
were hauled after sunset into positions prepared for
them in Clarkes gully, it was heavy & strenuous work
 

 

June 1915
hauling them up the slopes of these hills, but
many willing hands managed the job alright.
These howitzers fire a 50lb lydite shell.
Sund 27th Feeling very much off colour & was releived of
duty for the day. About 6 am an outburst of
rifle & machine gun fire followed by heavy fire
from both our artillery & the enemys took place
& continued for about an hour  A sea plane
flew very low over Kapa Tepe & dropped 4 bombs
in quick succession at   pm about 6 am.
The new howitzers fired a few shells today, they
make a peculiar whistling sound going through
the air quite a different sound to the high
velocity shells from the field guns.
Mond 28th At about 9 am a fleet of minesweepers &
half a doz TBDs steamed across from Imbros
towards the Cape, followed by a light cruiser
a balloon ship & more  TBDs ]. At about
10 am a terrific bombardment comenced down
at the cape & continued throughout the day, the
cruisers & a number of Destroyers shelled the enemy from
positions between Kapa Tepe & the Cape & the
monitor Humber from a position off Imbros &
directed by the captive balloon shelled the
enemy positions on Achi Baba. An enemy
aeroplane put in an appearance about 11 30 am
& again later about 3 pm it attempted to destroy
the captive balloon on the Ark Royal, but after
3 bombs failed to hit their mark he gave
up & returned to the enemys lines.
At about 1 pm our infty made a bluff attack
from our right flank in order to assist our
troops at Helles where a big offensive has been
comenced, by making a demonstration here it
prevents the enemy sending any troops from here
to reinforce his troops down south. At about
5 pm our troops retired into their trenches & things
got rather quiet again, after as being extremely lively
 

 

June 1915
during the afternoon The Light Horse took a prominent part
in the operations today. One of our mates Pte W.
Summers was killed by a bullet in the head & another
named Stroud was rather badly wounded in the
leg. At about 9 pm when it was fairly dark
a party of us went along to the barricade on our
right flank to get some wounded in along the
beach, the enemy sent up two star shells
while we were at it & made us feel rather
uncomfortable as they light the place up like
day for about 15 seconds.
Tuesd 29th Headquarters report that the demonstration here
yesterday was very successful & thanks all those
who took part in it. We suffered a number
of casualties but not what we expected.
All day a constant rumble of heavy artillery
action could be heard from Helles. At about 11 pm
a heavy dust storm sprang up & made things
extremely uncomfortable for us at Clarks Gully
 

 

station where we were on duty, when the storm
started, an outburst of heavy rifle fire broke out
but it did not last for long. A very heavy
bombardment is in progress at Helles tonight.
Reports today state that good progress was
made by the Allies at Helles yesterday &
they advanced their lines up to 1000 yds in places.
Wed 30th  We returned to our camp at 7 am & enjoyed a
swim in the breakers which were coming in fast &
heavy, it is not often there is any decent waves
here to get amongst. All the landing stages
were more or less damaged by the rough sea that
has been running all day & everything movable
was thrown high & dry up on the beach.
A sea plane flew over about 7 am. At about 9 pm
a thunder storm passed over but we got very little
rain, a good fall of rain now would be welcome, as
we are depending on the water from the boats
for our supply, the holes in the gullies are all all dry
 

 

& there is no water other than that in our vicinity
except salt sea water.
July 1915
Thurs 1st  At 7 am a large biplane circled overhead for
about an hour. The sea has again been rather
rough. While swimming this evening I got a rather
bad cut on the left foot from a broken bottle.
Frid 2nd  Things have been very quiet all day. One of our
planes flew over at about 6 pm. Considerable quantities
of 4x4 timber & corrigated iron have been brought
ashore lately The 5 in howitzers have been firing
a few rounds this evening.
Sat 3rd At about 3 pm a light cruiser possibly the Talbot
came on the scene, & from a position between Imbros
& Kapa Tepe point fired 3 shots at some enemy
position away inland, then steamed off, returning
after dark to the same position she fired shell after
shell away inland, two other light cruisers were
further down towards the Cape with their 

searchlight trained on the land. The enemy
fired over some very powerfull shells today.
Sund 4th The cruisers were firing all night & they
steamed off just after day break. Things have
been very quiet here today. An explosion occurred
on the ridge a little to the west of Achi Baba
about 10 am, we noticed a huge column of smoke
shoot skywards, but are unable to tell what it was
Mond 5th At day break the enemys artillery got very active.
A heavy enemy gun has ban attempting to shell our
stores in the cove today, fortunately the shells all
exploded harmlessly on the ridge above the stores or
went over them into the sea where they sent up
a column of water about 20 ft into the air, evidently
our depot is in a safety zone as for as this particular
gun is concerned. Two 6 inch howitzers were landed
here today. A fleet of about 30 minesweepers have
been patrolling an area of sea between Imbros &
Cape Helles for certain periods during the past
 

 

July 1915
few days. This evening the 16 Batt embarked on
minesweepers & barges for Imbros where they are
going for a spell, the enemy gave them a pretty
warm farewell as his artillery shelled them pretty
heavily with shrapnell.
Tues 6th A large enemy shell put one of the No 9 Battery
guns out of action & killed some of the crew yesterday.
Just before sunset the enemy guns in the Olive Grove
opened fire with shrapnell on our camp, it kept
us all under cover while it lasted, but no damage
was done. According to a headquarters report today
the explosion we seen on Achi Baba last Sunday.
was caused by a 6 inch enemy shell exploding in
a French ammunition pit, it also stated that during
the recent operations at Cape Helles, a body of the
10th Ghurkas were driven out of their trenches by
an enemy bomb attack, but the position was retaken
again in an attack made by the Inniskilin Fusiliers.
Wed 7th  A monitor shelled the enemy positions on the 

ridge in front of our right flank. this afternoon, as
sea aplane directed her fire One of our aeroplanes
flew over about midday. Things have been very quiet.
Thurs 8th One of our aeroplanes flew over this morning. A monitor
fired over our heads at some target away inland from
a position off Imbros this afternoon A sea plane was
directing her fire. At about 6 pm. the enemys guns
from the direction of Kapa Tepe shelled the artillery
positions along the top of McCays Hill right opposite
our camp, they shelled them very heavily with high explosives
Frid 9th Things have been very quiet. An outburst of rifle
fire occured last night about midnight but it
soon died down. Both our artillery & the enemys
have been in the habit lately of getting into action
just at sunset.
Sat 10th One of our aeroplanes dropped two bombs near Kapa
Tepe this morning. A large Battleship put in an
appearance between Imbros & Kapa Tepe point at
about 2.30 pm, well, escorted by TB Destroyers, she
 

 
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