Diary of Herbert Vincent Reynolds, 1914-1915 (second diary) - Part 10

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

Page 1 / 10

16577 Sund 1th July 1915 took up a position& comenced firing at the enemy positions on the hegh ridge in front of our sight flank which she shelled continuously till 5 pr when she steamed away, soon afterwards the Becchante appeared & fired a number of shells at the enemys positions on Ache Baba, herfire was directed from the captive ballson from the ballson ship which accompanied her, at about let about uon 7pm they returned to Imbros. one of our large acroplanes appeared & circled overhead for about an hour, the enemy firest a great number of shrapnell shells at it bet without any resuld. The enemy again shelld the artillry positions opposite our camp this evening. Eighteen reinforcements arrived here foday for our unit some of them have returned after being wounded. at about 8 am an acroplane of sars flew over. a light cruser accompanied by te belloon ship Mond 12t took up a position Howards Tmbros at about 6po & fired a number of broadsides over our heads at some enemy positions in frond of our centre, as she steamed off the enemys land batteries shilled her bad every stot event very wide. A 4 7 naval gun was brought ashore Hoday & landed in the Cove, at about 10 3opon as wve were conveying a casualty to the Elaaring osation we ipassed a great number of hoops saating the new gun into Victoria gally juas below our camp. Namerous shells from our guns at Helles could be seen exploding in the enemy positions on this side of Ache Baba throughout the day. At about yam our infty made a demonikation from our right flank for about an hour or s0 there was an incessant crackle of rufle & machine gan fire mingled with the noice of the artillery. The heavy roll of very intense artillery action could be heard all day from beat it height Helles, the bombardment seemed o of intensety between 275 pm, large shells could be seen
16571 1A July 1915 exploding all along the ridge of Ache Baba. as about 3pm a light Cruiser accompanied by a balloon ship shilled enemy give for a bout trs which could be seen firing during the day this side of Ache Baba. The sniper on Brighton beach accounted for one of our fellows Hoday when a chap named Dawes was pretty severely wounded. The artillery have a pretly big yos on this evening they are healing the 4:7 gun up the Lteep incline paid our camp by means of a block & Sackle. Aboat 10 pm the mountain batteris skelled onemy for a while. Trusd 13th Large shells were to be seen exploding on the sloper of Ache Baba again Arday This evening about 150 men hauled the 47 gan up to its position on the ridge between Clarks & Victona gallies A few star shells were sent up in front of our Frenches this evening. Wed 14 A small ration of flour & rice was issued to 1 us today providing we can surn if into some thing ectable it will be a welcome change to our usual rations. As about 6 pmn one of our acroplance flew over & bombed the enemys lines. As Iwas going round to see some makes in the 4th Md Amb an eneny shell exploded on a barge near the CC Station in the Cove, a number of koops were in sweming & some of them were on the barge, several being badly wounded Capt. Campbell a medical officer of one of the Light Horse Regts had both legs stattered. Thurs 1th At y am three of our acroplanes came over from the direction of the enemys lines, evidently returning from a bombing raid, the enemy shelled, them very hard with shrapsrell. At about 4 pm a cruiser appeared out from Tmbros & fired a few shells at enemy gans this side of Ache Baba, her fire was directed by a captive balloon from a balloon shep which accompanied her. Spent the evening with R Clerk at the 2nd Fld Amb camp.
Prd 165h. Sat 17th July 1915 As about 1pm a few TB Despoyers accompanied by other small craft a balloon sdip + a fairly large transport eteamed across from Timbros + disappeared from sight around Cape Suola. A monitor has been shelling enemy gunpositions in the Olive grove all the afternoon. Having nothing better to do I spent the afternoon at our No 2 Artillery observation post where a fine view of the enemys positions in front of our right flant & away towards Helles could be obtained. Another battery of 5 m howitzers landed here Our acroplanes have been over several simes Hoday This afternoon, I went up to see some makes in the 7the 8th Batts & found them in the front line I received a great disappointment in finding that Ken Walker had been severely wounded on the 12th Al about 6pon an enemy acrofilane came over & dropped two bombs, both failed to do any damage. At about 7pmn one of our field gans at the op Sand 18th of Victoria gally opened fire in answer to an at enemy gun that was shelling the vicinity the time, the enemy soon began to get the accurate range, but our gun answered shor for shot, untell an high explosive shell from the enemy blew away the Landbag barricade in front of the gun one of the crew was carried out of the pit a few seconds later another ganner took his place r the gan opened fore again + fired five rounds to which the enemy replied with only two, it then ceased firing. I had an ande Cholera inoculation this evening. About 8 am a large biplane appeared overhead. + aircled around for about an Loar, returning again about 3 pm it circled around for a while then flew off towards the cape. The artillery have been rather active all the afternoon otherwise things have been very quiet. After dark two fairly large hamports appeared close inshore, from the beach their cark
Mond 19th. July 1915 oatlines were juss discernable in the darkness. At about gain one of our large beplanes flew over on the endmng tin te <gg dropped a bomb, returning it repeated the performance again at about Upo i dappot mothe then prcled overhard for about an hour At about 3pm a monitor a light cruiser a balloon ship & a new strange looking vissel escamed to positions between Cape Helles Rapa Tepe, the balloon went up & the monitor + cruiser shelled the enemys positions behind Rapa Pepe near the Olive grove, the othervssel only fired one shell which exploded at the foor of the hell in front of our right flank. The new vessel has a large hipod mast appears to only have one gun which is of very large calibre & is situated almost amidships. she is from all appearances a new type of monitor. The enemy have had a machine gun enfilading Brighton Beach all day, from a position somewhere along the beach towards Rapa Sepe, i made the beach in the vicinity of the No2 ASE depot a place to be aboided, & we were foraid to make a big detour though the ap from Shrapnell gully to our samp in Victorie gully initead of by the mush-shorter way along the beach, when collecting our rations from the desot, added to our ordinary daily supply, we had to collect 4 days sapply of cron rations for the whole sinit, which is intended to be kept in hand in readiners for any emergency. While engaged on sation fatique a large shells or bombs exploded in Sprepnell gally alnost simultancously. A large shell fell in our camp t his evening & failed to explode, with the resul that a party of 9 who were within 6o ft. of where it entered the ground g left a large round hole; congratilated one another on their luchy excape on recovering from the fright they all received. pd.20 Last evening about 9pm a monefor pet in
Mond 19th July 1915 oatlines were just discernable in the darkene As about gain one of our large beplaned flew on the endon <gaie dropped a bomb retarning it repeated the perforing again at about Upm is dappet mothe Me arcled a overhord for about an hour At about 3 pm. a monitor a light craiser a balloon ship & a new strange looking vesse escamed to positions between Cape Helles Rapa Tepe, the balloon went up & the monet. + cruiser shelled the enemys positions behind hapa Sepe near the Clive grove, the othernes only fired one shell which exploded at the foo of the hill in front of our right flank. The new vessel has a large hrpod mast appears to only have one gun which is of ver large calibre & is cituated almost amidships. she is from all appearances a new tupe of monis The enemy have had a machine gun enfilader Brighton Beach all day, from a position somewhere along the beach towards Rapa Sepe, it made the beach in the vicinity of the No2A.SC depot a place to be aboided, & we were forced to make a big detour through the sap from Shrapnell gully to our samp in Victoria gully instead of by the mush-shorter way along the beach when collecting our rations from the desor, added to our ordinary daily supply, we had to collect 4 days supply of iron rations for the whole sinit, which is intended to be kept in hand in readiness for any emergency. While engaged on saton fatigue o large shells or bonbs exploded in Sprapnell gally almost simultancourly. A large shell fell in our camp t his evening & failed tto explode, with the resul that a party of 9 who were within 6o ft. of where it entered the ground & left a large round hole, congratulated one another on their lucky excape on recovering from the fught they all received. Lecesd 20th Last evening about 9pm a monefor pet in
Wed 21 July 1915 an appearance off Rapa Pepe poind, flacking her searchlight on to the win Fenches in fron of our extrime right flank, she imediately fired a doz shells in quist succession into them. The machine giv which enfiladed Brighton beack yesterday has not troubled us at all today. at about 7pr the enemys arkillery got very active for a while a large beplane circled overhead for about an hour this evening. Two RA.M.C Lieuts were attached to our unet to day. A biplane passed over this afternoon. During the afternoon a barge containing stores broke loose from its moorings & was drefting in very close to the enemys positions at Rapa Tepe poind, when a naval pinace went after it, coming under very heavy fire from the Enemys fueld gins it succeeded in recovering it & lowed it back to the Cove. Beachy Bell has been rather quiet lately. Ias resperators were essued Nto us today, they are rather erude in constraction, being juit a pad of cotton charged with an anti gas chemical enclosed in a length of gause the ends of which are dyed behind the head to keep the cotton pad in position over the month + nose. An attack is expected from the enemy Honight + Thers 2 preparations have been made to meet it, so they will find us all ready for their virit if it takes play fast before midday a biplane circled overhead for aboe an hour, returning again about 6pm i dropped a bonb on the enemys positions & circled overhead for about an hour afterwards. Another barge broke away today but was recovered without much houble. We did not receive the usual shelling from the enemy this evening at sunsed. We were releived of the Clarke gully dressing station by the 2nd Pld Amb Foday. Pars helmets were essued to us today, they appear to be than the a much more satisfactory + servicible artical
Pid 23rd July 1915 respirators issued yesterday, they are made of flanclette in the form of a bag which fit right over the head the loose open end is then breakng in fightly under the tanie collar, an eyepuce of mica is fitted in the front to see through + the flanellete is charged with an ant gars chemical, so far we have not seen any sign of the enemy attempting to use gaes, but it is good to be preparred. We greatly appreciated a few articals in the way of chocolate wriding paper etc brought to us by Capt. Wasrail when he redurned from Alexandria yesterday. Nothing came of the expected attack last night, our houidzyers & a couple of T.B. Ds done a bit of shelling & an outburst of rifle fire which did not last long was the only disturbance during the night. Beachy. bill got buing & shelled the beack about i um the Some sort of an incendary bomb was used eneny today, several were fired into our lines behind Tarmania post but no damage was done by them. Sad 24th Every thing has been exhenely quiet today very little emping has been done by the enemy for several days. Just before sunses a large biplane circled overhead for a while. During the day a light cruuer has been etcaming to r fro from the Cape to Imbros al about 1pm my mates + I had a very houblesome Land 25th patient to deal with he was suffering from ounstroke as a redult of an excessive amount of run + it took as all we knew to manage him & get him to the C.C.S. A large biplane cercled overhead for an hour or more gues before sunsed about ipom a monitor steamed in close to Rapa Sepe poind & fired a doy shells away inland. Beachy bill fired over a faw shells about midnight. Our howitzers have been pretty active during the last few night. One of the makes Pte Andrews went away ill today. Mond 26th Having a spell from duty today I. took the opportunity of residing some old nakes in the 4th. A Amb, where
10571 Tuesd 27 July 1915 I fell in with a bit of luck in getting a couple of itins of milk. The enemy fired several very narty shells on to the beack in the Cove this afternoon As I was coming back to our camp one shell alone wounded y. The new 4:7 neval gun fired its first shell at about 6 pm, r by the surprise her second shot was answered enemy with a large shell from a new heavy gun of theire. Our gun fired eixe shells all of which were replied to by the enemys gun, they to have a pretty good knoledge of the position of our new gun as all their shells exploded in the vicinity one in particular being very close. Ser T.B. Dechrayers have been eruising about all day, we have seen very little of them lately two have been doing patrol work about here for the past week & have been the only war boats about. The weather has been very warm for the pair RIA far weeks & is getting extemely hor now, the sun is very fierce & the nights a fairly warm. Some excptionally very veautifal sunrises + sunsets are to be seen here haneports at times. Last evening three larg Cape Helles. steamed across from Imbros to The enemys new gun fored several shells during Wed 28th the day it appears to be situated somewhere near the Clive Prove. Another 47 naval gun was brought ashore Aoday. We received actin of mild to 4 men with our rations today, several occasions lately we have had rice & raisons usued to us the milt will be very acceptable with them. Thurs2g. We spent some dime this moring digging dugous as a shelter for patients coming down from the dressing stations. Two monetors & a light Cruiser appeared this afternoon & fired a few shells at enemy gun positions, their fire was directed from an observation balloon. An enemy acroplane came over this evening at about ypm, the attempted to land a 101
July 1915 bomb on the stores in the Cove, but it exploded harmbesly in the water, he then lost no time in getting back to his own lines & two of our planes followed him over. A recnforcement Pte Tunks replaced PHe Andrews on our squad oday. withou resal Mid 30th The explosion of two bombs dropped near the No 2 A S.C depor without senccess by an enemy acroplane, woke us all up &his morning at dawn. This afternoon I looked up some old makes in the 8th Batt & essent the time playing sards things. being very quies in the Frenches. a change type of Basbleship & a number of shange destroyers accompanied by a number of TB Dechoyers a balloon ship + a light Cruises put in an appearance, + took up positions between Imbros & the Cape. At about 5 pm the Battleship which is probably a Thenct one, & the light Gruser violently chelled the ridge of Acke Baba, two on this monitors shelled enemy gun positions Sat 3rs side of Ache Baba, at the same stime from positions between here & Tmbros. Shortly after 5/m an enemy acroplane dropped two bombe both of which exploded harmbesily in the water juit out from Brighton beach. One of our own planes forced the horsile machine to beat a harty retreat he appeared to diver land in his oun strritory not very iyf as from the line. At 5pm one round per man was fired from the Frenches to celebrate the success of our toops in the Persian Galf. At about ye am an coremy acroplane dropped 3 hombs, one of which exploded in the lines of an Lead of Garber Indian Aranspord Colum at the gully, several mules were killed but no further One of the damage seems to have been done, field guns of Burges's Noq Battery which is position just above our camp has been set up such a way as to be able to fire at memy acroplanes, we have no anti aucraps guns here
Augues Lunds. July 1915 shore though some of the Cattleships have them mounted. A constant heavy rumble of artillery has been coming from the direction of Cape Helles all day. a large biplane circled overhead for about half an hour this evening. Preparations have been made for an attack upon the enemys positions in frond of Tasmania post. Our Lowitzers have been very actioe all day. At 10pm mines were exploded in front of Tasmania post & our infly attacked the enemys Frenches A section were on duty at the aid posts & at 11pm Brees were called outn we were given instructions to work in relayd from Farmania post to a new relay port at Dawkins point & from there on to the C.C. Station in Anzac Cove. The mates & I happened to be detailed to work the Lop relay which included the steep climb from Clarks gully to Farmania poss The enemy fired over a very considerable number of shells between the chours of mednig ls & 2 am One August 1915 of the fird guns of Haghes Battery situated right in our wrenches on the exheme night plant was in action from the commencement of the astect tell about 2 am & the snemy made great effort to silence this particular gun but they failed to do so, most of their shells just cleared the top of the ridge & exploded in the sea or on the comunications, These gave us a bit of a rough time but fortunately we did not By sam we ges mised up with any of them. had all the wounded cleared from the Fenches at 5 30 am returned to our camp, leaving The ordinary Theattack number of men on duty at each station. though a small one was very successful & after beating off the enemys counter astacks the captared tenches= were immediately sput in order + consolidatod. 6er easualties numbered 30 killed & 72 woundsd an enemy reroplane flew over early this morning at a great height & also again about 0pm when he flew over in the direction of the Cape, a short while

July 1915

took up a position & comenced firing at the enemy

positions on the high ridge in front of our right

flank which she shelled continuously till 5pm

when she steamed away, soon afterwards the

Becchante appeared & fired a number of shells

at the enemys positions on Achi Baba, her fire

was directed from the captive balloon from the

balloon ship which, accompanied her, at about

7 pm they returned to Imbros.  At about 5 pm 

one of our large aeroplanes appeared & circled

overhead for about an hour, the enemy fired

a great number of shrapnell shells at it but

without any result. The enemy again shelled the

artillery positions opposite our camp this

evening.  Eighteen reinforcements arrived here today 
for our unit some of them have returned after being 
wounded.

Sund 11th  At about 8 am an aeroplane of ours flew over.

A light cruiser accompanied by  the a balloon ship.

took up a position towards Imbros at about 6 pm

& fired a number of broadsides over our heads at some

enemy positions in front of our centre, as she steamed

off the enemys land batteries shelled her but every

shot went wide.  A 4.7 naval gun was brought

ashore today & landed in the Cove, at about 11.30 pm as

we were conveying a casualty to the Clearing Station

we passed a great number of troops hauling the

new gun into Victoria gully just below our camp.

Numerous shells from our guns at Helles could be seen

exploding in the enemy positions on this side of the 

Achi Baba throughout the day.

Mond 12th At about 7 am our infty made a demonstration from

our right flank & for about an hour or so there was an

incessant crackle of rifle & machine gun fire mingled

with the noise of the artillery.  The heavy roll of very

intense artillery action could be heard all day from

Helles, the bombardment seemed to be at its height

of intensity between 2 & 5 pm, large shells could be seen

 

 

July 1915

exploding all along the ridge of Achi Baba.

At about 3 pm, a light Cruiser accompanied by

a balloon ship shelled enemy guns for about 2 hrs

which, could be seen firing during the day this

side of Achi Baba.  The sniper on Brighton

beach accounted for one of our fellows today when

a chap named Dawes was pretty severely wounded.

The artillery have a pretty big job on this evening 

they are hauling the 4.7 gun up the steep incline

past our camp by means of a block & tackle.

About 10 pm the mountain batteries shelled the

enemy for a while.

Tuesd 13th   Large shells were to be seen exploding on the slopes

of Achi Baba again today.  This evening about

150 men hauled the 4.7 gun up to its position

on the ridge between Clarks & Victoria gullies

A few star shells were sent up in front of our

trenches this evening.

Wed  14th.  A small ration of flour & rice was issued to

us today providing we can turn it into something 

eatable it will be a welcome change to our usual

rations.  At about 6 pm one of our aeroplanes flew

over & bombed the enemys lines.  As I was going

round to see some mates in the 4th Fld Ambulance an

enemy shell exploded on a barge near the C C Station

in the Cove, a number of troops were in swiming

& some of them were on the barge, several being

badly wounded.  Capt Campbell a medical officer

of one of the Light Horse Regts had both legs shattered.

Thurs 15th.  At 7 am three of our aeroplanes came over from

the direction of the enemys lines, evidently returning

from a bombing raid, the enemy shelled them very

hard with shrapnell.  At about 4 pm a cruiser

appeared out from Imbros & fired a few shells at

enemy guns this side of Achi Baba, her fire was

directed by a captive balloon from a balloon ship

which accompanied her. Spent the evening with

R Clark at the 2nd Fld Ambulance camp.

 

 

July 1915

Frid 16th.  At about 1 pm a few T B Destroyers accompanied 

by other small craft a balloon ship & fairly

large transport steamed across from Imbros

& disappeared from sight around Cape Suvla.

A monitor has been shelling enemy gun positions

in the Olive grove all the afternoon.  Having

nothing better to do I spent the afternoon at our

No 2 Artillery observation post where a fine view

of the enemys positions in front of our right flank

& away towards Helles could be obtained.

Another battery of 5in howitzers landed here.

Sat 17th.  Our aeroplanes have been over several times today

This afternoon, I went up to see some mates in

the 7th & 8th Batts & found them in the front line

I received a great disappointment in finding that

Ken Walker had been severely wounded on the 12th.

At about 6 pm an enemy aeroplane came over &

dropped two bombs, both failed to do any damage.

At about 7 pm one of our field guns at the top

of Victoria gully opened fire in answer to an

enemy gun that was shelling the vicinity at

the time, the enemy soon began to get the accurate

range, but our gun answered shot for shot, untill

an high explosive shell from the enemy blew

away the sandbag barricade in front of the gun

one of the crew was carried out of the pit & a 

few seconds later another gunner took his place

& the gun opened fire again & fired five rounds

to which the enemy replied with only two, it

then ceased firing.  I had an anti Cholera

inoculation this evening.

Sund 18th.  About 8 am a large biplane appeared overhead

& circled around for about an hour, returning again

about 3 pm & it circled around for a while then flew

off towards the cape.  The artillery have been rather

active all the afternoon otherwise things have been

very quiet.  After dark two fairly large transports

appeared close inshore, from the beach their dark

 

 

July 1915

outlines were just discernable in the darkness.

Mond 19th.  At about 9 am one of our large biplanes flew
the enemy lines & dropped a bomb, on the enemy, returning

again at about 6 pm it dropped another it repeated the performance & then

circled about overhead for about an hour.

At about 3 pm a monitor a light cruiser

a balloon ship & a new strange looking vessel

steamed to positions between Cape Helles &

Kapa Tepe, the balloon went up & the monitor

& cruiser shelled the enemys positions behind

Kapa Tepe near the Olive grove, the other vessel

only fired one shell which exploded at the foot

of the hill in front of our right flank.

The new vessel has a large tripod mast &

appears to only have one gun which is of very

large calibre & is situated almost amidships.

she is from all appearances a new type of monitor.

The enemy have had a machine gun enfilading

Brighton Beach, all day, from a position 

somewhere along the beach towards Kapa Tepe, it

made the beach in the vicinity of the No 2 ASC

depot a place to be avoided, & we were forced to

make a big detour through the sap from Shrapnell

Gully to our camp in Victoria gully instead of

by the much shorter way along the beach, when

collecting our rations from the depot, added to our

ordinary daily supply, we had to collect 4 days

supply of iron rations for the whole unit, which

is intended to be kept on hand in readiness for

any emergency.  While engaged on ration fatigue

3 large shells or bombs exploded in Shrapnell gully

almost simultaneously.  A large shell fell in our

camp this evening & failed to explode, with the result

that a party of 9 who were within 6 ft of where

it entered the ground & left a large round hole,

congratulated one another on their lucky escape 

on recovering from the fright they all received.

Tues 20th.  Last evening about 9 pm a monitor put in

 

July 1915

an appearance off Kapa Tepe point, flashing

her searchlight on to the twin trenches in

from of our extreme right flank, she

imediately fired a doz shells in quick 

succession into them.  The machine gun

which enfiladed Brighton beach yesterday has

not troubled us at all today.  At about 7 pm

the enemys artillery got very active for a while

a large biplane circled overhead for about an

hour this evening.  Two RAMC Lieuts

were attached to our unit today.

Wed 21st.  A biplane passed over this afternoon.  During

the afternoon a barge containing stores broke loose

from its moorings & was drifting in very close to the

enemys positions at Kapa Tepe point, when a

naval pinace went after it, coming under very heavy

fire from the enemys field guns it succeeded in

recovering it & towed it back to the Cove.  Beachy

Bill has been rather quiet lately.  Gas respirators 

were issued to us today, they are rather crude in

construction, being just a pad of cotton charged with

an anti gas chemical enclosed in a length of gause

the ends of which are tyed behind the head to

keep the cotton pad in position over the mouth

& nose.

Thurs 22nd.  An attack is expected from the enemy tonight &

preparations have been made to meet it, so they

will find us all ready for their visit if it takes place.

Just before midday a biplane circled overhead for about

an hour, returning again about 6 pm it dropped 

a bomb on the enemy positions & circled overhead 

for about an hour afterwards.  Another barge broke

away today but was recovered without much trouble.

We did not receive the usual shelling from the enemy

this evening at sunset.  We were releived of the Clarks

gully dressing station by the 2nd Fld Ambulance today.

Gass helmets were issued to us today, they appear to be

a much more satisfactory & serviceable artical than the

 

 

July 1915

respirators issued yesterday, they are made of

flanelette in the form of a bag which fits right

over the head the loose open end is then tucked

in lightly under the tunic collar, an eye piece

of mica is fitted in the front to see through

& the flanellete is charged with an anti gass

chemical, so far we have not seen any sign of

the enemy attempting to use gass, but it is good

to be prepared.  We greatly appreciated a few

articals in the way of chocolate writing paper etc

brought to us by Capt Wassail when he returned from 
Alexandria yesterday.

Frid 23rd.  Nothing came of the expected attack last night, our

howitzers & a couple of JBDs done a bit of shelling

& an outburst of rifle fire which did not last long

was the only disturbance during the night.  Beachy

bill got busy & shelled the beach about 11 am.

Some sort of an incendary bomb was used by the

enemy today, several were fired into our lines behind

Tasmania post but no damage was done by them.

Sat 24th.  Everything has been extremely quiet today & very

little sniping has been done by the enemy for several

days.  Just before sunset a large biplane circled overhead 

for a while.  During the day a light cruiser has been

steaming to & fro from the Cape to Imbros.

Sund 25th.  At about 1 pm my mates & I had a very troublesome

patient to deal with he was suffering from sunstroke

as a result of an excessive amount of run & it took

us all we knew to manage him & get him to the

C.C.S. A large biplane circled overhead for an

hour or more just before sunset about 11 pm a

monitor steamed in close to Kapa Tepe point & fired

a doz shells away inland. Beachy bill fired over a

few shells about midnight.  Our howitzers have been

pretty active during the last two nights.  One of the

mates Pte Andrews went away ill today.

Mond 26th.  Having a spell from duty today I took the opportunity 

of visiting some old mates in the 4th Fld Ambulance, where

 

July 1915

I fell in with a bit of luck in getting a couple 

of tins of milk.  The enemy fired several very

nasty shells on to the beach in the Cove this

afternoon.  As I was coming back to our camp

one shell alone wounded 7.  The new 4.7 naval

gun fired its first shell at about 6 pm, to our

surprise her second shot was answered by the

enemy with a large shell from a new heavy gun

of theirs.  Our gun fired six shells all of

which were replied to by the enemys gun, they

seem to have a pretty good knoledge of the

position of our new gun as all their shells

exploded in the vicinity one in particular 

being very close.

Tuesd 27th.  Six TB Destroyers have been cruising about

all day, we have seen very little of them lately

two have been doing patrol work about here for the

past week & have been the only war boats about.

The weather has been very warm for the past

few weeks & is getting extremely hot now, the sun

is very fierce & the nights a fairly warm.  Some

exceptionally beautiful sunrises & sunsets are to be seen here

at times.  Last evening three large transports

steamed across from Imbros to Cape Helles.

Wed 28th.  The enemys new gun fired several shells during

the day it appears to be situated somewhere near

the Olive Grove.  Another 4.7 naval gun was

brought ashore today.  We received a tin of milk

to 4 men with our rations today, several occasions

lately we have had rice & raisons issued to us &

the milk will be very acceptable with them.

Thurs 29th.  We spent some time this morning digging a

dugout as a shelter for patients coming down from 

the dressing stations.  Two monitors & a light Cruiser

appeared this afternoon  & fired a few shells at enemy

gun positions, their fire was directed from an

observation balloon.  An enemy aeroplane came over

this evening at about 7 pm, he attempted to land a

 

July 1915

bomb on the stores in the Cove, but it exploded

harmlessly in the water, he then lost no time in

getting back to his own lines & two of our planes

followed him over.  A reinforcement Pte Tunks

replaced Pte Andrews on our squad today.

Frid 30th.  The explosion of two bombs dropped without result near the

No 2 ASC depot without success by an enemy

aeroplane, woke us all up this morning at dawn.

This afternoon I looked up some old mates in the 

8th Batts & spent the time playing cards things

being very quiet in the trenches.  A strange type 

of Battleship & a number of strange destroyers

accompanied by a number of TB Destroyers

a balloon ship & a light Cruises put in an

appearance, & took up positions between Imbros

& the Cape.  At about 5 pm the Battleship

which is probably a French one, & the light Cruiser

violently shelled the ridge of Achi Baba, two

monitors shelled enemy gun positions on this

side of Ache Baba at the same time from positions

between here & Imbros.  Shortly after 5 pm an

enemy aeroplane dropped two bombs both of which

exploded harmlessly in the water just out from

Brighton beach.  One of our planes forced the

hostile machine to beat a hasty retreat & he appeared

to dive & land in his own territory not very far from

the line.  At 5 pm one round per man was fired from

the trenches to celebrate the success of our troops

in the Persian Gulf.

Sat 31st.  At about 7 am an enemy aeroplane dropped 3

bombs, one of which exploded in the lines of an

Indian transport Column at the head of Clarks

gully, several mules were killed but no further

damage seems to have been done.  One of the

field guns of Burgess No 9 Battery which is in

position just above our camp has been set up in

such a way as to be able to fire at enemy

aeroplanes, we have no anti aircraft guns here on

 

July 1915

shore though some of the battleships have them

mounted.  A constant heavy rumble of artillery

has been coming from the direction of Cape Helles all

day.  A large biplane circled overhead  for about half

an hour this evening.  Preparations have been made

for an attack upon the enemys positions in front of

Tasmania post.  Our howitzers have been very active

all day.  At 10 pm mines were exploded in front of

Tasmania post & our infty attacked the enemys trenches.

A section were on duty at the aid posts & at 11 pm B sect

were called out & we were given instructions to work in

a relays from Tasmania post to a new relay post at

Dawkins point & from there on to the C C Station in

Anzac Cove.  The mates & I happened to be detailed to 

work the top relay which included the steep climb

from Clarks gully to Tasmania post.

August Sund 1st.

The enemy fired over a very considerable number of 

shells between the hours of midnight & 2am.  One

August 1915

of the field guns of Hughes Battery situated right

in our trenches on the extreme right flank, was in

action from the commencement of the attack till about

2 am & the enemy made great efforts to silence this

particular gun but they failed to do so, most of their

shells just cleared the top of the ridge & exploded

in the sea or, on the comunications, these gave us

a bit of a rough time but fortunately we did not

get mixed up with any of them.  By 3 am we

had all the wounded cleared from the trenches & at

3.30 am returned to our camp, leaving the ordinary

number of men on duty at each station.  The attack

though a small one was very successful & after beating

off the enemys counter attacks the captured trenches

were immediately put in order & consolidated.   Our

casualties numbered 30 killed & 72 wounded.

An enemy aeroplane flew over early this morning at

a great heights & also again about 5 pm when he

flew over in the direction of the Cape, a short while

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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