Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/28/1 - 1915 - Part 1

AWM38
Official History,
1914-18 War: Records of C E W Bean,
Official Historian.

Diaries and Notebooks

Item number: 3DRL606/28/1

Title: Notebook, 1915
includes references to the 4th and 11th
Battalions, New Zealand Infantry Brigade, New
Zealand and Australian Division, Helles and
Baby 700.

AWM38-3DRL606/28/1
 

REGIMENTAL RECORDS IV

Original DIARY NO. 28.
AWM38 3DRL 606 ITEM 28 [1]
DIARIES AND NOTES OF C. E. W. BEAN
CONCERNING THE WAR OF 1914 -1918

THE use of these diaries and notes is subject to conditions laid down in the terms
of gift to the Australian War Memorial. But, apart from those terms, I wish the
following circumstances and considerations to be brought to the notice of every
reader and writer who may use them.
These writings represent only what at the moment of making them I believed to be
true. The diaries were jotted down almost daily with the object of recording what
was then in the writer's mind. Often he wrote them when very tired and half asleep;
also, not infrequently, what he believed to be true was not so — but it does not
follow that he always discovered this, or remembered to correct the mistakes when
discovered. Indeed, he could not always remember that he had written them.
These records should, therefore, be used with great caution, as relating only what
their author, at the time of writing, believed. Further, he cannot, of course, vouch
for the accuracy of statements made to him by others and here recorded. But he
did try to ensure such accuracy by consulting, as far as possible, those who had
seen or otherwise taken part in the events. The constant falsity of second-hand
evidence (on which a large proportion of war stories are founded) was impressed
upon him by the second or third day of the Gallipoli campaign, notwithstanding that
those who passed on such stories usually themselves believed them to be true. All
second-hand evidence herein should be read with this in mind.
16 Sept., 1946. C. E. W. BEAN.
AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL
ACCESS STATUS
OPEN
 

Rec. 28
Regimental
Records (IV)
——
11 Bn. (incl K. Tepe.)
10 Bn.
 

N^o 2 General Hospital.
Gezerih, Cairo
1. 9. 15
——
Memo/
Capt. C. W. Bean
Official Correspondent
Com Australian Imp Forces.
——
A few days ago whilst reading an
Australian paper I noticed an article written by you, in
which you stated that after making diligent Inquiries
you only found one case of mutilation by the Turks
of killed or wounded Soldiers, and that was at the
Southern Zone (Helles.) As you are apparently looking closely
into this matter I would like to direct your attention
to the case of Sergeant E.K. Larkin. 1^st Battalion
The facts as I know them are as follows:- On Wednesday
28^th April I met the 1^st Bⁿ on the beach and I asked
several Sergts. if Larkin was with them. They informed
me that he was killed on the afternoon of the 25^th, and
added that they had seen his body & it was mutilated
Following the Turks attack on our position, ^during the subsequent
armistice I heard that the remains of Sergt. Larkin were
lying between the opposing trenches. I went over & examined
the body ^& I am decidedly of the opinion that a cross as large
 

as the size of it would permit, had been cut deeply in
Stomach. Lieut Westbrook xxx of the 2^nd Battali
who had charge of the burial party from the Bⁿ also
viewed the body on his attention being drawn to the mutilation
by some of his men, though not in my presence, but I
was present when he handed in Larkin's belongings
to the Bⁿ Head Quarters and he agreed with me
that the body had been mutilated.
Lieut Westbrook was away ill when I left Anzac
on the 6^th of August but may have since returned.
He will I feel sure verify my statement, and perhaps
some of the Sergts of long standing in the 1^st Bⁿ
could also give you some information bearing on this matter.
I quite agree with your statement that on the
whole the Turks have played the game, but I
mention this matter thinking that if you are collecting
information in this regard you would prefer to have
it as complete as possible.

H.P. Brown Lieut.
D.Coy 2^nd Bⁿ
A.I.F.
 

An account of the incidents referred to in a recommendation
for recognition made by the late Lt Col E Brown
(formerly of 2^nd Battn) A I F

The persons so recommended were
1413 Private Roberts E.A. S.B. 2^nd Battn. A.I.F.
607  "            Carpenter S.F. S.B. 2^nd Battn A.I.F.
—————————
on the morning of 26 April 1915 (at about 10 o/c)
Lt Westbrook (2nd Battn) came to Carpenter & myself &
said:- He had observed a man (apparently wounded)
making signals for assistance. The man was ly

^on the beach & near some boats in the direction of Fishermans
Hut.  ⁄  Mr Westbrook asked Carpenter & self
to make an endeavour to get this man in

Carpenter & I. immediately started on the trip. having
our stretcher with us. As we approached
the boats (referred to) we ^were subjected to machine gun
& other fire. To sum matters up we were
able to rescue not one but 4 men on all our
trips the Turks showed their animosity.
1

when we had brought in our 4^th man to the
dressing station (N^o 2 M C). Some The of the N.Z. men
went out with an improvised stretcher & picked
up a 5^th man They were making very
poor progress. Carpenter & I went to N.Z. men's
aid with an ordinary ^stretcher finished this fifth & last
trip.

————
Lt. Col. Pearless (Canterbury Regt) N.Z M.C
took our names & said he did so for purpose of
recommendation.
We (Carpenter & I) heard some time after that a
N.Z. man received the D.C.M. for his part in
this rescue business. On a date which
I cannot fix definitely but it was the date when
Lt. Col. Brown relinquished command of Battn &
Lt Col Scobie look charge Lt Col. Brown informed
us, he was putting in the aforesaid recommendation
The recommendation was supported by statements
from Lt. Herrod (2nd Battn) & Lt Col. Pearless
In an interview which we had with 9 Lt Col Pearless
 

he informed us that our names had been mislaid
by him. This was Lt Col Pearless'
reason for his failing to put in the
recommendation.
———
The above facts are believed to be in
order to the best of my knowledge &
belief
E Arthur Roberts
Private (1413) 2^nd Battn A. I F
 

(From Maj. Leane)
Day. 11 Bn. Leane's Coy. (C.)
[[?Second]] search light wh thought ws. K.T. (probably Chanak)
Saw Turk on top of Plugges ∧Maclagans Plateau. Leane
sd look at tt chap.
(Came in twds ^towards Hell Spit - turned N. 200
yds from land ^& went 200 or 300 yds N ^to Ari burnu Picket boats
funnel several times flared x

Commdr. Dix ws commanding whole tow (?)
& went Dix (w v. loud voice sd: "tell the Col. the (Johnston)
Dam'd fools have taken us a mile too far North"
———
There ws a flare on Hell Spit 2 or 3 [shorthand]
before 1st Shot. Dead silence.
Then Leane saw T. on top of Maclagans & sd "Look at tt".
Turk called – Then bang one shot
pinged away overhead into water.
Then 3 or 4. Then m.g. on Ari Burnu.
Anr. gun fisherman's Hut way.
Men running across beach were fixing
bayonets. Packs were thrown off on beach
under cover of cliff.
11^th didnt wait to change mags.
Hell spit ws firing & as Leane ran up
hill some of our own men on beach were
firing at our own men running up hill -
Major Robertson of 9^th ws down to stop it.
Leane ws w Annear, MacDonald
when three Ts in trench on top of Maclagans
[shorthand] stood up & fired- Annear ws k by 2
shots, & M^cDonald hit thro shoulder -
but those Turks were bayoneted by
our men, who were coming up from right.
 

When top reached top saw ^5 tents on path
[[?]]ding to valley & Turks were firing from
Sphinx - one man ws killed in cleft
behind Sphinx.
Formed up on top & Col. J. ordered
Leane to dig trench round forward face of
trench. (here.)
[Diagram-see original document]
Dug in & whole afternoon
fired on by shrap. &
snipers on Walkers &
Sphinx Some of whom
we k. early on Monday
(Must have bn gettng in thro
Popes Gully)
'We had messages to cease fire
from opp. side of Shrap. Gully.

Monday: Mond. Morning moved to
Courtneys (9. across).
———
Mond. afternoon we saw few [shorthand]; the
attack seemed to me to be [shorthand] to right near
10 Bn. (."French & Ind ^Indians were just at back of Turks")
———
Tuesday: On Tues. morning C. Coy & a few
details (incl. Col. Johnston) ws
ordered to Popes.
Abt 11 a.m. Turks came in small
numbers down seaward slope of
Baby 700. By abt. 2 p.m. they
were coming in large numbers
over Baby 700 & Battleship Hill.
Abt 2p.m. Canopus put 2 shots
into our trenches on Popes Hill &
then got range. big Q. Eliz, Canopus