Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/26A/1 - April - May 1915 - Part 2

1st Bn.
Shout & first battalion went up from MacLagan's Ridge
through Shrapnel Gully and Monash Gully and up near Quinns.
There is an old Turkish headquarters there and swanell was killed
trying to shoot a Turk (kneeling up) there.
They went over 4 Turkish trenches
Hand drawn diagram - see original document
Shooting towards Fisherman Hut down Shrapnel Gully
In the end of one trench were
in a hole were a lot of Turks
and we drove them out.  A sergeant stabbed one with his bayonet and as he got it out
it was shot through (piece as big as 2/- taken out
it would have broken off if he had tried it on another Turk
The Turks all cleared off into the scrub
We saw a few shot but they
made a lying down fight and we made
a standing up fight all day.
There was firing away on our right
and we wanted to get
along there and help in it.
[*who ws it*]

Thought that was where they were
wanted to go.
Saw Col. Clarke lying
dead there on top of a
heap of about 4 men

of 12^th & perh. one of 1st. I think they were buried.
Went right along col & beyond to where green
ridge joins. Hung on till about 5 o'clock.
Shrapnel ws hot till we eased out to left
 

1st Bn
when it seemed to get lighter - it went more down 
the Gully.
During afternoon Turks began to come on - blue
coated fellows. Before this the Turks we saw lying in the
scrub were all khaki, you could only tell them from our boys
by their skull caps.  We had seen several dead and several
wounded - a [shorthand] number only.
Their machine gun was to be laid on little paths and straight
from the scrub   either their rifles or their machine guns. I didn't
[shorthand] [shorthand] [shorthand] [shorthand] but afterwards I saw that whoever went along these paths
was shot down.  (Someone else told me that the
brown paths patches were trenches and the
paths had to be avoided.  That was a discovery we only
made by experience which was very expensive CEWB)
Our men sheltered were very few by then 
so we decided to retire.  I had told Harry Freme
to hold that col (at end of chess bd) with these men
and the last I saw of him was when he was binding up one man with a field
dressing.
shout came down to the beach that night.
On retiring (about 5 o'clock) found Col.
Braund lying out there.  I told him I would
get [shorthand]  I came down to the beach and saw
someone here and took up about 200 stragglers of the men 

1^st Bn.
I could find on that side. Then I took them up to Colonel Braund.
Then I came down again and saw a staff officer and he promised
to let me have 2 Bns of New Zealanders to help dig in
up there that night.
6.17.  12pm.
4 big explosions.  Cracking like [shorthand] ship.

6^th Bn. Galeka
7th. has considerable amount of shrapnel first few boats particularly.
Only 3 got out of one boat one of the first lot.  They landed
just down to the left where they should have landed one of the wide boats.
Very few got rifle fire from the shore except the first batch of the
7^th. 

Rest landed 6/7
Sniper of the Galeka came in very close Capt
Burt. 
Each boat load went through to Shrapnel Gully  We formed up
about 200 yards from the 7^th 
Hand drawn diagram - see original document
machine guns were still going
down Shrapnel Gully
Formed up at 7 o'clock  moved off at 7.10.
moved off in thick columns 50 paces between
them.
Hand drawn diagram - see original document 

[* 7^th ws on both sides of 6^th

but exp on left of 6^th.*]
Hand drawn diagram - see original document
8
Some men in creek were the
most advanced men.
Some of the men were falling [shorthand] wanted to get to the beach

1p.m. I collected the men most of the reinforced and made one solid

line and took it forward and extended the line a good bit to the
right 200 to 300 yards.  We strengthened that line
We could see the enemy's guns on Gun Ridge exactly
opposite.  I reported these guns and the navy got on to them
about 2 hours later.
I was wounded about 4 o'clock in the front line

We were told that the 7th would be on our right and the 5^th were supposed
to be on our left but as we landed ^ guns before them we took their 
place. We pushed over Razorback Hill. Then down the
Pimple was about on our left.
Hand drawn diagram - see original document
They temporarily established present line. 
and then pushed on 8.30 at latest. As we got forward
the line was very thin. We got to Pine Ridge. We got
shrapnel coming down. The men started falling back and went
forward with about 20 who landed there with about 3 who lay down and
one was shot.  We I went back to get reinforced
The 5th reinforced us and some of the 1st brigade ([shorthand] we found
them there afterwards.)  We went forward to endeavour to get to
Shrapnel post and lost touch because those on the xxx right didnt go on.
In the thick scrub we could not get touch with anybody on our
left. 7th wanted to dig in on present position
Brigadier told them to push on and they pushed on some with 8^th
(who stayed back and dug in).  We got out and 

The scrub ahead was very thick but the enemy could not be
seen.  We lost very few men lying down
(Hamilton ^ 1st day  Hook ^ 1st week  Wells ^ Helles Strachan ^ 1st day)
killed. 
16 deaths up to June 5
amongst officers.)
Rifle bullet through shoulder and through wrist  I was standing up
directing fire on to a group of xx Turks in front of the guns.
I was the only one hit in that line.  I got back
Handed over to some officer of another battalion.
Went to hospital ship and came back next day.  Haven't missed another
day.
Men who had gone up in 20s & 30s finding
only 2 or 3 left wanted to go back to the beach,

but very few the officers genly brought them back.
The men there were collected from every bn, but as
they mostly had the officers of the 6^th or 7^th they were
known as 6^th and the 7^th.
The line at this time must have been

like this:

Hand drawn diagram - see original document

D.  Led Bigsley (alive) 16^th at Helles
Binns
C
(a little behind D)

Capt Keiran failed in his
medical examination

hammer toes and
goiter   got taken in as
sergeant in 7^th.
Was killed whilst leading.
A born leader.
Firm with the men still they idolised him
good instructor.
Who led the charge in the 6^th
Bennett came up & went along the line (these
first platoons were lying down firing)  He
asked Lt Bigsley if there were anyone in front of him.
He sd he ws quite sure there were not.  If there had
bn, Bennett wd have taken the others on
to them.  Bn I cdn't see any next day,

only one dead Turk. The T. trenches in front were
quite visible Hand drawn diagram - see original document but the others on the
left were not much fired at on this day 

although you could see the [shorthand].  Next day we turned our attention

to it.

The stretcher bearers of the 6^th did

good wk shaming some of the fellows up

into firing line. They dressed men in the open

during night of May 8 & even ^ on day of 9^th - they

wd say to men not in trenches - Here, you see

where we are - we're not hurt - and several went

up that way. There were a number of old

hands o / 8^th who cd not be shamed

into getting on.

The 8^th has now got a different

Colonel - Col. Brand - whom it gtly

appreciates -
8th behind hill.
Dressing station behind that

Hand drawn diagram - see original document.

7th ahead of 5th.  Then low flank w H.Q. in it
where road goes down to stream.
Our fire trench there
was 400 yds below
a circular pool where
bathing is possible
Hand drawn diagram - see original document
500 yds
below it ws
the Tommy's trench
(now known as Austrln
Line) 500 yds behind this
was cliff on right
Hand drawn diagram - see original document
[*The Eski line about 200 yards behind
Tommy's trench.  French guns 50 rounds a day ours 2.
3 hours bombardment. 28000 shells on 500 yards front
Reserve supports firing line.  One battery of 4 guns firing 2500 rounds
Took a periscope rifle down.
Periscope at Quinns.  NZ [[bearers]] near enemy*]

The Marines.
Glasford saw / marines
in trenches on Wed. afternoon - their first day.

He told xx them to dig in.  They were between the 16^th
& the 6^th & had dug some extremely bad trenches. They had
just a hole for each man.  You had to jump over the surface
between and get down into each hole, so G is sure that he told
their men and certainly their officer. But they didn't improve their trenches.
Their officers and xxxxxx They didn't work at all by day and were
shot at when they tried to work at night.  Their officers and NCOs
[shorthand] heavily trying to get along the trenches and many of them
were killed. The result was that they [shorthand] heavily. Some
of them got quite [shorthand] and in passing water and food to them
they [shorthand] a good deal.
[*Hand drawn diagram - see original document [shorthand] 20 feet Chanak burning  I don't want to see any more bloody fighting  The next bloody fighting I want to see is in a bloody fair*]

June 28

Hussar ?  16 trawlers  - Balloon ship

2 destroyers - 4 destroyers & anor cruiser.

2 destroyers on coast -

3 trawlers → Few odd ones

80 [shorthand] at 10.40

120 [shorthand] at abt 11

Thick shrap - first 2 & 3 then 6 & 8 at
10.50

About 9.30am
dust got up the valley.  T. shrapnel & [[percussion?]]
11.30 xxxxx [[?]] amongst strays on our side of
shoulder
Hussar going black 11.30
Blenheim still firing
[shorthand]
11.37 [[?]]
Hand drawn diagram - see original document
Monday June 28. abt 12 am (midday).

(see diary)

Leanes Trench.

Valuable work done

on 1st attack by Lt Croker

of 3rd F. Coy Engrs  who

himself shot 3 Ts coming

up trench to C-attack

& went backwds & forwds

all night.

Clogstoun ws hit early

morning of Aug 6 leaning over

parapet to see if Ts were dying

beneath it.  As matter of fact they were our own poor chaps

scratching at foot of Leanes

trench cliff for cover

Hand drawn diagram - see original document

 

3rd Bn. (see also Later)

Landed about 8 o'clock. Went through Plugges

Maclagans Ridge and down the valley on to Braunds Hill.

Then up to the left to Quinns  left on Quinns. Right
near Maclagan.
Jack placed his first dressing station on the plateau
near the Eastern edge of it in a bit of a dip.  But it was
a dangerous place.  The bullets sent over there and he himself was
hit in the head by a bullet - just grazed.  One
of his men picked it up and gave it to him.  After that
they came down into the gully and placed the dressing station in an
excellent place just before you turn round the corner to
Monash gully.  They were the only station in the gully
for a long time and had to treat the wounded from
a long front, right down to the beach in fact.
Gen Birdwood the next day complimented them on the work they were doing 

Navy got onto them  didn't [shorthand] in.
It put Turks reinforcing hands [[insurmt?]]

guard of Hughes battery got on to them.
Old [[Ry ws?]] told to.
[Shorthand]

June 28.

5th attack  1 sq. Major Midgley D.S.O. Capt Cameron

shortly after 1pm.

Advanced with great [shorthand] and occupying Balkan Pits 1.30
2 troops 7th LH und Capt Richardson

& Lieut Gilchrist occupying Holly Spur

2 sq. 6 L.H. und. Major White & Major
Shillington occupying trenches vacated by the 5th &

kept up covering fire.
Enemy reinforced [shorthand].
2 killed 16 wounded.
1.52 Turks began massing behind L. Pine

We were xxx warned to expect counterattack on our left but it never came

 

28th Jn 1915
8 [shorthand] make an attack at 11 o'clock
necessary to prevent enemy troops being withdrawn
3 Navy brigade are attacking Snipers Ridge
2 LHB Harris enemy in Turkish Echelon

trenches
2 Sq. 5 LH attack Balkan gun pits

one support troop to carry pack and rifles
From Balkan gun pits fire will be towards

Echelon trenches attack to commence
at 1 o'c.
2 troops 7 LH will occupy trenches held by 5 LH

2 squadrons 6 L.H will occupy trenches held

by 5 LH.
Artillery will be supporting as follows
mountain battery on twin & Echelon trenches
No 1 gun 7 battery on S. Tepe
       3   "     "    "   in reserve
Destroyer on twin trenches and work on ridge

212 mark low scrub 

Parties of enemy approach Balkan Pits but came under
machine gun fire.
Advance lot dug in but at 2.25 pm
3 high explosive shells were launched by a destroyer.
Midgley says the men behaved splendidly  no thought of
retiring.  Held off order to withdraw to
Green knoll but withdrawal slowly carried out
because of wounded and killed.  Left at 5.39
6th and machine guns covered retirement of the 5th
Capt Cameron & Gilchrist were severely
wounded.  Total casualties 6 officers wounded, 25 or. k.
83 o.r. wounded, 3 missing.
(5th N.S.W. [[?]])

3rd brigade
Order received at 10.30
Order issued at 12.15.
B Co. 9^th Bn under Major Walsh
at 1.5 commenced attack Snipers Ridge.

C co. 9^th has kept Young bombs advance
against Razorback ridge just East of Tasmania
Post.
Support 11th Bn from Turkey Knoll &

Boulder Dump ridge

B Co. formed line about 10 yds below enemy trench
on Snipers Ridge.

C Co 2 platoon moved east across Holly

Ridge under rifle and shrap at 2 40 by
OC 6 company ordered withdrawal

At 2 enemy opened gun fire against
trenches in square N o 1 N.

Guns from S E & S shelled Turkey Knoll

Coy of 11^th driven in after being in the open.

Note the enemy massing behind Lone Pine
Artillery ordered to fire on them.

B Co then withdrew at 3.25.

Complete by 4.30.

Pte L H Bailey B Co 9 Bn.

carried back a wounded men from the firing line
then returned to get back wounded soldier but the
remainder had withdrawn.  Finding him dead
he searched and [shorthand] the rifles of 3 there killed
and brought them in under heavy fire.
No 179. Pte. G R. Gray B Co 9 Bn
under heavy fire stripped some dead of their [shorthand] and brought it in

though rest of the company had retired.
Major R H Walsh in [shorthand] they wounded
in 2 places
 

Or.   K    W    M
9.     11     64    33
11      14    37    

10              3      1
12 
        25    105  34
29^th 
Turks apparently very [shorthand] all night.  Numbers of them were
seen going south.  About 9 p.m. dust storm arose
12 bn started cheering when it [shorthand] came.  We answered in one shot.
Heavy bombardment down south  Hand drawn diagram - see original document along whole line
Storm on the beach.  Whitewash almost up to the [shorthand].
Hospital had no piquet boat and therefore had to wait until 1st Bn
had gone to Imbros.  They sent away 19 lying cases
(stretcher cases) in one [shorthand] and an extra crammed with
stand up cases.  Presently cries were heard  They had broken away
and were coming to the shore.
(You can hear rifle firing ^ at Helles in night from the beach best when the wind is in the [shorthand]
direction)
They brought up against the [shorthand] and were all brought ashore by
A.W.C. and engineers.  Give a [shorthand] of room and some end in hospital