Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/10/1 - June - September 1915 - Part 2

Turks were Shouting Allah
Allah Allah in their trenches. Some
of our men stood up, 10yds from T. Trench
& fired down l loophole - Col. Maclagan
told me that.
 

Corp. McOmish brought in 2 wd. men on June
28^th under heaviest fire l bn. had ever
experienced. All officers in C. Coy were hit
(5 of them) tt day. (11^th Bn).
 
Official a/cof 3rd Bde ^action ws as folls:
Order rec'd - 10.30.
Order issued - 12.15.
1.5: B Coy 9^th Bn under maj. Walsh began attack on Snipers Ridge
C Coy 9^th Bn began advance agst Razorback Ridge East of
Tasmania Post.
11^th Bn supported w covering fire from Turkey Knoll &
Boulder Dump ^Ridge
B. Co. formed line abt 10 yds below enemy trench on
Snipers Ridge
C Co. (2 platoons) moved East across Holly Ridge under cover of
rifle & shrapnel fire.
2.40. O. Comndg. C. Co. ordered its withdrawal
At 2 p.m.The enemy had opened counter fire agst trenches in
section No 1 North..
Guns from SE (gun ridge) & S (Oliv G. & K.T.) shelled
Turkey Knoll. The Coy of 11^th wh ws there ws driven in -
they being in the open.
2. p.m. Enemy ws reported to be massing behind L. Pine
The artillery ws ordered to fire on them.
3.25. After artillery had shelled enemy behind L Pine B Co. withdrew
4.30 Back in side our lines.
[after that wg the Major in command at Turkey Knoll
recd. an order passed down to him: you are to retire
from Turkey Knoll 
Casualties 3rd Bde.
 

When the 9th Bn returned it ws mentioned tt they
ought to have collected rifles off their dead. Pte. Bailey of the
9^th Bn immediately walked back w l bullets chipping
 

A sergt. who got the D.C.M (an old British
soldier) ws asked by Birdwd on Jane 29 what he
got if for. "Well to tell l truth I dont know myself
Sir", he sd. He had pulled a Turk out of a trench
by his head - on one occasion
The hero of the exploit opposite - a quaint little
nut a man, when Birdwd asked him if he had
gone out to get some rifles, stroked I back o his
head & sd: "Well, I suppose I did."
this night at abt

The Turks took l boots off some of our wounded dead before
we cd get out to them. They probly tied a bomb string to l
foot of one near Tasmania Post for when a
Corporal tried to remove him & signalled up some
s.bs. & first touched l body they threw a bomb onto him
(Tasmania Post is a trench or originally dug in front of
the 12^th lines abt 120 yds out without any sap. It
has since been connected by a sap. The Turks are mining
under it, at night, from abt 60 yds away
- the field of fire in front o l post is
only small & they can get in below l
Crest. They work there at night).
 

10
all round him & brought in several rifles. He then went out
with a couple of mates - one of them in a blue jersey - &
picked up some more rifles. One o l men ws hit - & so they
carried him sat down by him, bandaged him up, & brought him
back, w several rifles. I believe some of the two mates afterwds
went back to look for more rifles & kit. The Brigadiers report say

Pte L.H.. Bailey (B. Co 9 Bn) carried back a wounded man
from l firing line; then returned to get anor. wounded soldier
after l remainder had withdrawn. Finding him dead, be searched
for & secured the rifles of 3 other killed & brought them in under a
heavy fire. (Recommended for Mil. X)
Pte. G. R. Gray (No 179. B. Co. 9^th Bn) under heavy fire stripped
some dead of their equipment & brought it in after rest had retired.
Maj. H.R. Walsh commanded the Coy well tho wounded
in 2 places.

Col. M^cLagan ws watching the 9^th coming back - when one
man passed him growling to himself "What sort of bloody business
is this sending us out there & bringing us back again - If they
weren't going to let us stay there what the hell d'they want to send
us out for."
Col. Maclagan sd: "I'll tell you why they sent you out
my lad - you were sent out in order to help your mates
down South there."
"Just as well there ws some bloody reason for it," grunted
the man as he went on.
A man following after him told Col. Maclagan that the old
growler had three bullets through him - he wdn't go & be attended
to.
As Col Maclagan ws coming through ^l trenches the other day he
xx came on a man w his back to him swearing whole -
heartedly. A shell had just exploded — —! Why cant you
keep your — — shell to your — — — self you — — —!
"You seem annoyed sd Maclagan. "Yes & so'd you be, the
bastards, if they spoilt yr — tea!" . . . .  Oh beg yr pardon
Sir, I didn't see it ws you." "Well I exp. I'd be annoyed
 

The Turks were known to be getting v. close. We
had a listener & a worker in this tunnel or tunnels - l
rest o l party ws at dinner. We heard them working to l
last; but as a matter of fact they were knocking merily
whilst their engrs tamped up l char tunnel behind
l charge. We think now tt we can tell l diffce
between [[?]] & picking - (knocking being merely
[[?tation]] picking).
 11
to though I wdn't express it in quit the same way, sd Col.
Maclagan.
"Well, you see, I wdn't mind so much if be hit me - I'd
get some rest then - but the beggar went & chucked dirt
into my tea!"
Tuesday June 29^th. A quiet day until
the late afternoon. Several of our mines have been getting
very close to those o l Turks & their galleries have bn heard
from ours - each no doubt can hear l other - working.
These galleries of ours were quite close to their trenches
near Lone Pine. xxx It is just a questn of wh side blows the
others up first. This afternoon l Turks blew up 2  of our galleries
& buried 2 men - who unfortunately have bn lost. Miners
(there is a regular company of them, as well as picked Bomb
throwers) have now to take out with them provisions for a
day & all working parties must have their arms - but
this wdn't save those poor chaps.
 

I went up to the H.Q. 2nd. L.H. Bde on our right
in order to get the complete acct of yestys fight. whilst I ws
there Olly Hogue ws going for a bathe so I went too. Went back
Curious scene, all those figures there on beach, naked, in
absolute darkness. Went back w Olly & the local Padre (who
has learnt to tell a good story in the dialect); & whilst I ws in
Olly's tent a thunderstorm wh had bn moving up began to
 

break - at least a heavy wind came up. The flap over l
mouth of Olly's dugout began to flick abt like a half furled
sail & suddenly l Turks set up a heavy firing. The bullets
whisk into l green at l back there fairly fast. I thought we had
better go & see. The 2nd Bde H.Q. had no news of a Turk attack
so I went on to the 3rd Bde H.Q. Col. Maclagan was there &
Ross. Ross had no doubt as to what ws l matter - "Its
this wind!" he said  Neve "They cant see thro' l dust & they
think we're attacking. I'll go out & tell the 12^th to cheer and
 

12
see what as get." Presently he returned & at l same
time there ws a further outburst of Turkish firing & a
machine gun began traversing over our heads
backwds of forwds "That's all for Headquarters!"
Sd Ross. The Tasmanians of the 12^th think it a great
game - they were delighted!" Just then we didn't fire a shot
or scarcely one.
"By the bye, sir," sd Ross to the Colonel, you don't
want Jaj — to retire from Turkey knoll, do you?
He sent to say tt a message had bn passed down
l line to him tt he ws ordered to retire from Turkey
Knoll. He wdn't look at it until he knew it came
from you I told him tt he ws not to think of it unless
he got a written order from you."
Of course this may not have on a ruse.
We had several parties out to night - one from the
9^th looking for dead & wounded, & one from the Light
Horse. I think l Turks Saw them & it madel Turks
more nervous. The parties were fired on & were both
back by now & some of them may have told the
Turkey Knoll party to come in.
As some o l firing seemed to be from ^opposite Quinns
- I believe there ws gun fire as well as rifle - I
went along the Artillery road, where l patrol of the 9^th ws
just coming back, & through the trenches of the 3rd Bn
(4^th L.H. were sleeping in support trench) to 4^th Bn

H.Q. & so down the 1st Bde road & round to up.
Monash Valley to the H.Q. of No 3 Section. Williams
was there Col. Rowell & some others. All ws quiet -
they themselves were wondering if anything were on.
I had a lemon squash & got back to bed about
12 & turned in. The night was stormy.
Coming along l beach I looked in at l
casualty clearing Hosp. to see how they were.
 

I hear the 4.5 down South got into the N.Z. Hospital
& laid up Col. Begg - he was almost asphyxiated by l
gas of it, & had to go off to l Hosp. Ship. The Hosp. ws moved
at once around the corner to the N.Z. beach - (N.Z has
only this one F. Amb. instead of 2 Field Ambs & a clearing
hospital.) Our hosp. now is also moving further in
to cliff side.
 

"stretcher cases". )
19 lynig down cases in)
horse barge. Main and a }
crowded cutter )

Glasfurd tells me tt from our South post you can
hear the rifle firing at Helles almost any night if
the wind is right.

Numbers of Turks, had bn seen going
South tonight -so possibly the Turks were
all l more nervous of our attacking
them. Some were going W from N of Achi Baba.
Others S from Kiled Bahn - Towards, Turkish right
flank.
 They had l sea washing almost up to the door of their
tents - and any amt of seaweed on the beach - so what
will happen when it really does get rough & blows a
S or S.W. gale I don't know. I rather dread to think -
the wounded wd have to be kept here until l weather
ws calm - & if any big attack took place the Casualty
Hosp. wd be utterly in sufficient - You might have 2000 or
3000 wounded on l beach unable to clear them.

This night, owing to their having no steamboat of
their own, they were forced to send their barges away
late. The 1st Bn ws going into rest camp in imbros. It
got away but the sick were kept till 9 when the
storm was up. Two boats went out in tow of a
steam pinnace. She ws just able to make head way - but
a little later they were aroused by shouts in l dark

& there were two boats drifting slowly down l coast
Southwds. They came alongside some barges near one
o l Southern piers - the Engineers, stretcher bearers &
some bathers at once dashed ou &t got them in- the
pinnace got away to sea & l bathers carried some o l
wounded in thro' l water on stretchers. They gave
the sick men a drink of rum & they tucked them
all up comfortably in the Hosp.
 

After getting into bed I heard from l direction of Quinns
a fair amt. of firing & a succession of loud swishing explosive
sounds like l waves o l sea bumping a horse punt abt. I was
not sure tt it was not the storm bashing abt l horse punts.
I went out several times & listened & made fairly sure
tt some bombe were being fired – but I was pretty tired,
having been up there once in vain - & as our guns
were not firing I turned in. Heavy bombardment down South
tonight.
Wednesday June 30^th. (Se Pen Press)
Sent off two letters (M12 & E Extra) & then
heard from Glasfurd tt there had been quite a heavy attack
 

N^o 0 N^o 1 (secret) N^o 2
N^o 3
Turk Point
Turk Post
9^th L.H. 8 L.H.
Part 9 L.H.
 

14
against l New Zealanders ^Section Popes Hill last night; so I
went off to Gen. Russells to find out. On my way I met
Gen. Birdwood coming back - he gave me ^a most of the interesting
Acct. It appears tt after l attack, near l N.Z. secret sap
a number of dead Turks were lying. One of these suddenly
called out in excellent English: of "will you please ask your
men to desist from firing as I wish to proceed to your lines
& surrender." He turned out to be an Armenian & a very
intelligent chap. He had bn to an English speaking school.
He said tt a new regiment had come up - the

18^th Regt of the VI^th Division. They had bn put into l trenches;
during the day, Enver Pasha had arrived. He inspected l
lines & found tt the Turks up near Quinns had bn told
never to attack, to keep their heads away from loopholes
etc. on a/c of the deadliness of our sniping. He put an
end to this inaction at once. We have got to be driven into l
Sea, so they had better lose no time abt it. He ordered l
new regt to attack.
 

At 12.15 after a lull of ¾ hour in the fighting
the Turks jumped out of their trenches opp, the closest of the
N.Z. saps - No2 sap & N.Z. - secret sap wh ws made
after l attack of May 19 down towards l edge o l
cliff in front of main trench. The secret sap ws an
open trench but in deep scrub & w l earth taken out backwds
[*& not
flung up
as
a
parapet*]
the men in l saps were just changing duty - 
The reliefs were coming in but had not got there. Some o l
Engineers were tunnelling from number 2 sap - when there
ws l sound of "Ah Ah Allah Allah" & l Turks were
alongside o l trench. They threw in bombs & our men
cleared to one side - some were taken down l tunnel by
l engineers. We still held The Turks jumped into l sap
but our men held l ends of it & xxxxx began to bomb
 

 15
l Turks out from l ends. they think tt no Turk left
I trench alive - I saw abt 20 being carried out next
day dead - probably half of them killed in l trench &
half near it. Other Turks a little further West tried
to get round our left & suddenly came on our
secret sap in the Scrub. They were didn't really
attempt to use l bayonet - they didn't seem to
have the heart - quite different from the reputed Turk!
They lay down on l bank, instead, & fired & of course
were almost all shot down. Some got round behind
l sap & some over it & were what by l men from l
main trench. They seemed to come in 3 successive
waves. One noticed tto many of them had holes
torn in ^l the bottom of their pants - possibly either our bayonets
or their own - for l Turks do drive their men on.
 

(Indeed, I have heard many several cases of our officers
taking revolvers to very backward men) The poi line here is
called Walker's top & ws held by 8 LH &9 LH (see plan)
Meantime our supports had lined l top o l
hill - As there ws no suitable support trench they
were out in l open. Every man picked his target.
The moon was up & we also used navy
light & flares.
Turks made 3 fairly distinct charges or rushes
- their trench ws 68 feet from our nearest sap.
They got into 2 saps but we bombed them out of both &
then held l saps ourselves. The night we moonlit,
& the Turks were easily visible. Daylight broke
abt 3 - by wh time the men who had charged were
trying to get back from l places where they had bn
lying.
The first attack ws made directly on l saps
(Nos 2 & 3). We have a post down l shoulder to l left
 

16
front of our line known as ^the Turk ^Point post. Two machine guns
were here (either 8^th L.H. or 9^th L.H. - the 10 L.H. were on the main
outposts along tt coast). They are only 40 or 50 yds down
l hill from Walkers Top & l Turk trenches, but they didnt
see a thing until abt 12.30. Then a Turk suddenly
appeared on l parapet of their trench & bayoneted one of
the man in l trench. His man ^He then tried to bayonet l sergeant who had not the time to get l machine
gun onto l Turk, but seized a rifle from l bottom o l
trench & shot him. The other Turks ran. But some of
them got right round l back of this point into what is
known as latrine gully, where there was a sentry
group of three. The first tt Two o l three were sleeping

& l first they knew of anything wrong ws their
mate falling on top of them in holts w a Turk.
I think they He had tried to bayonet l Turk &
missed. I fancy they made tt T. a prisoner -
his mates ran away.
The Turks on being beaten off in front - where l
Light Horse were firing very [[?]] – Exposing themselves
breast high to get a good shot - swerved to left &

right. They had bn heard at Pope's Hill at 12.15
shouting, Allah Allah. Right of Popes was held
by xxx L.H. Left of it by part of 3rd L.H. 2nd L.H.
in reserve/down gully & furnished the two gully
posts. They cd hear the Allah Allah & saw
Turks charging on Walker's Ridge. A machine
gun over by Courtneys ws covering l attack, but
there was little other T. fire - they seem to have
no idea of good covering fire. Popes saw some of
them apparently get into our trenches. Abt 12.45
they came back as if to retire into their own trenches
 

 Col. Nash ws killed by a stray
bullet as he stood talking in Popes
Gully 1 day before. The same
bullet I believe hit Capt. Birkbeck
& another officer - unaimed [[?]]
of course a snipers shot aimed
rather at l path or l fire - it ws
dark at l time.

Col White tells me tt
An Australian ran out fom Walker's Top to meet a
Turk w l bayonet. Both were seen to slither
down l steep hillside until they were brought
up by a ledge & stood facing each other. The
Turk ws feeble w l bayonet- made a few
hesitating digs. The Australian cd have
knocked up his guard w an upwards jab
wh our men are rather prone to - but
be evidently hadn't learnt much abt l bayonet.
He stood there on guard w l Turk making
prods at him until he suddenly came to
himself. Then he remembered tt be had a
shot in his rifle, & just pulled l trigger. Several
men who saw it had dived to his help. But
The promptly sat down on l body o l Turk &
waited for them there.
[* [[? ?]] *]
Another man who had been previously hit on l head
& had come back from hospital went thro l engagement
but went suddenly wild as soon us they were coming
back. He jumped abt 3 feet into l air w a wild shout &
 had to be held down. he soon came to
 17

but a dozen or so crept along l ridge of l gully between
Walkers Ridge & Popes as if to get roundl flank of
Walkers R. Popes cd see them creeping along under ledge
o l Ridge & l the men on l Ridge bombed them out. At l
very first appearance of danger, Maj. Col. Stoddart had
taken two squadrons of 2nd L.H. up the gully - They
had a man killed be a bomb - & so had popes Hill.
They waited there - & about 3 a.m. some 250 Turks
descended upon this gully; 50 crept along l Northern
end of ridge & l rest came down l gully or agst
Popes - some even hopped out of trenches to l right
of Quinns. They were a splendid target & were
mown down. The Turks ^Point Post, away on l left,
saw some T.s coming down l side of Baby 700 pm
a higher trench to a lower one. A m. g. ws
turned on & 40 T.s were sd to have bn counted
dead there this morning.
By day light the Turkes were trying to
crawl back - many were shot. One wounded
man in Popes Gully ws waving a newspaper
- high up near l skyline. Another near l secret
sap ws struggling towards our trenches or theirs.
Capt Herbert went out with an interpreter - (the
Armenian who had come in tt morning) & called
to them & tried to sitting on l side o l sap. "I'm not
afraid of any bullet from l front, "he sd, but if an
"the only fear is tt some. M.g from l flank or some
sniper who doesnt know, may try to see you &
take a shot." He shouted to l Turks. Immediately there
was a jabber in their lines. Then he went out, I
believe, & carried l wounded man in -
poor chap - groaning. He save him some water first.
 

Bulgaria's comin is sd to
be imminent
 Someone had a shot at him - at least it went
near him – but only one. Afterwds he tried to get the
man up the gully but there ws no answer. Probly
he ws dead.
Col. Miell (9^th L.H.) was acting Brigadier -
Col. Hughes being ill. Col. Smythe is going to be
Brigadier when Gen Walker takes over 1st Infantry Bde.
Col. Miell has bn wounded 4 times - in S. Africa in
arm & finger; & here in head & leg. The wound in
l head was from a bullet - only a scalp wound but bled
most severely. The one in the leg ws from a shell from
Anafarta. He changed his seat in his dugout. Next
minute a shell case came in, hit l wall where he had
bn sitting & ricked back onto his leg & gave it a heavy
bang
[A chaplain of the 6^th Bn, told me today he had
a shell enter his dug out - a big 4.5 I think, or 6 in.
The base, wh fragment of 6 in. It must have weighed
7 or 8 lbs. It wrapped itself round in his towel &
after gyrating a bit fell onto his nose & eyebrow.
I gave him a scar but didnt even break his nose]
This evening another fierce thunder storm
came up. It was dark before I got home from Col. Miells

- he gave me dinner. As som  When I reached l beach
it ws pitch black & I ws wet thro. I cdnt for some
time find Anzac Gully, & one one occasion I walked
into l soft hairy warm nose of a mule. An occasional
lightning flash ws all l light one got as all. I scrambled
up the Gully eventually; got to the dug out - &
heard from Murphy (just returned) tt old Jock ws
on the Fleet sweeper just off l pier & wd land this
night. I finished a cup of tea & some pears & went
down. A tot of artillery officers were landing -
young British chaps. (They have be cutting bivouacs