Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/19/1 - October - November 1915 - Part 4

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some time later At 2.30 pm. Shout came on, had a
talk w Sass. They decided they cd go further
They got small sandbag party together -
Sass got rifle, Shout bombs. Shout had
good look round to see how things were
& he & Sass went forard first 2 abreast -
Sass shooting Shout bombing. Pushed barricade
down & went on - cd hear screams of 
Turks - & ^hear bustle of arms & accoutrements round corner
A man had [? shorthand or 12?] bombs to keep Shout going -
Shout had 4; they sandbagged again &
short stops. Then saw place wh wd make
good spot for final barricade & stopped
Shout had been throwing bombs all / time
& tried to light 3 at once so as to make
/ final dash. (Prob [?shorthand or ? 12] at least). 2nd or 3rd
bomb got him. It took one hand, most 
of the other hand, one eye, gashed his cheek
across, & pellets in breast & leg.
He sat up in stretcher & had a drink
of tea & directed message to be sent to his
wife slightly wounded. He was very cool
& exceedingly active.
We lost about 10 yds of sap but when
left it was 30 yds long. Now known as Sasse's sap.
_______
L. Corpl. L. Keyser
Near trench where Scobie ws k.
Turks were bombing v. heavily [shorthand] Keyser
on sev. occasions caught bombs in his hand
& threw them back without letting them fall
into trench. On other occasions he threw

Lone Pine.
1st Bn: 
1st Coy got order to reinforce abt

5.45

----
[Hand drawn sketch, see original]

At Hill 60
Throssell, ^Seyton, Henderson D C M McNee, (w rifle on barricade)
Stanley & 3 ors k. were throwing bombs
all / time. But best o / lot in tt party ws
Note name of Ferrier (10^th) in Hill 60
He threw out well over 100 T.bombs -
for 6 hours.
[*Came out with Shout [[?]] blown off at 5.10 am*]
 

30
bags or coats & smothered them - 4 times
slightly wX. but wd not go away. He threw
a gt many bombs himself. He ws a good
thrower & ws lent to every section o / 
line - for 50 hours he must have bn
throwing bombs & nothing else. 
_________________________________
snipers opened. Probly only one or two. Sergt in charge
decided to go back - 5 turned blind eye, didnt
hear; as snipers weren't doing any damage they
went on. Wills sent back two from point 200
yds further on. We only had 5 biscuits & bottle of water
& thought 3 ws eno' for quiet. We crossed many
trenches running all sorts of ways - some
facing Achi Baba; w green stuff growing in them
& on sides - 3 or 5 yrs old at least. They were
genly on hill tops. Abt 600 yds out after turning SE
we heard a rustling ^in front in / bush. We decided best 
thing ws to push on - so we did. The sound 
ws abt 20 yds away - it wd only be one.

In We were going crouched up - crawled over
crests. Every time we crossed hill the searchlights
caught us. As far as we know we werent
seen - probly the man ws a sniper going for
his positn. Abt 1500 yds we came to a ck
where / bushes ^on both sides were too thick. Went up it -
still bushes; turned down - found an open 
space where many men & horses had crossed,
abt 9 to 12 ft bank on near side - other side flat.
We followed ck up at back of bushes thro'
cultivatn along broad track running NE
where horses & men had bn (not wide eno' for
wheeled traffic.) Got abt 500 yds up. There ws
a cliff abt 100 ft high on our rt - sandy w few
bushes - too noisy to climb. There ws a
cutting going thro" it wh looked as if is had bn

[* ^X 
18. Apparently cut 
next day on
way back*]

31
cut by men. - w pit in middle of it - as
if for gun facing S. The cliff had forced us
out of our original directn looking for an
opening. Cultivatn ended at cutting.
Stream branched - we followed along crest
of it, amidst pine scrub - easy going, little
undergrowth - for abt 500 yds. Then we looked
for place to lie in during day.  We looked down
S where we imagined gun ws - it looked
like open plain. A lot o / scrub had bn
recently cut so we got green bushes & some
dead & got into a recently scooped hole (prob.
observing post for sniper). While looking for
it we came across 7 strand copper wire
[*^X*] wh we cut - it was tied to bushes & we
took abt 20 ft out & tied / two ends to
bushes. Heard no Turks.

At daylight w glasses we cd
see there ws another crest in front
where we thought / plain was. After
looking to see if any Ts we decided to
move onto next crest. Across / ck we
saw a thin valley mist. This turned out
to be smoke from numbers of cooking fires -
Cd see men moving abt; Abt 7 a.m. a
big [[pot?]] came out of one big dug out -
Some men came along & got him breakfast - 
he had a wash in basin - another man  
held his coat - He put on a long grey coat,
sword, took a whip - in centre of valley. Abt
8 a.m. they all seemed to vanish - They had
dug outs w green stuff over them (probly
not over week old bec. xx not trampled).
Abt 9 we were watching for a route when
a gun fired abt 2/300 yds on rt front over
next crest. It fired sev. shots & we cd
see two men on crest making gestures

32
in guns directn. The wire seemed to go from
camp towards gun.

We picked up bearing of gun. Orchard
crawled out in front & got good view of rear of
Gabe Tepe. 2 slept while other watched. We
heard several rustlings but no one came close.
Orchard cd see a sunken rd leading into
what looked like an arch in G. Tepe -
mules & packages & in one instance a
gun wheel on a mule & what seemed
boxes of ammn all going in - a stream
moving there all day long. We also saw an
observation post in side of G. Tepe facing our
beach - we Orchard spotted it by seeing them change their
observers. [We afterwds went out on Bacchante
- she shelled this position & knocked it in (on / Thurs)
& I tried to pick out camp but it ws raining
& mist covered it - we went round S of
G. Tepe - I saw it once but mist came down
again - went up into crows nest observation post. They
opened canteen for us & did us well.]

Nothing much happened during day. We
cd see 9^th Lines & part of 12^th - (they were
firing after abt 2500 to where we were - afterwds)
We cd hear our guns going over - all during
night bullets were flying all over us There
ws a big fight on. During day 5 bullets came
at flat trajectory close over us - we lay
close for an hour.

At abt 5 p.m. camp people seemed
to return & do some more cooking - our view
of our own lines ended w Tasmania post
- shut out by ridge between.

Abt 7 o'c' or shortly after dark we
decided to cut wire & return. We cut wire
& tied both ends to prevent them finding cut - 

 33
(we had orders to cut any wires) we came 
down same cutting in cliff to track, then cut
straight across cultivatn (in case they had
seen our footsteps at / crossing). We went
in single file at 2 paces intervals - Will
leading. If frontman saw anything he stopped
& other 2 stopped instantly. We crossed ok.
pushed our way thro' bushes where they
were thin - hurrying in case they found cut
wire - searchlight v. diff. as we were facing
it. 3 times we heard movements & 2ce
were fired on by snipers probly at abt
100 yds. 1st time we were going down dry
bed - sniper ws on crest of hill & fired
3 shots, pretty close - we pushed up gully;
300 yds further at foot of another valley
ws a cultivatn - barley or oats waist
high. We stumbled across several corpses
in it. Snipers were across other end of
vall cultivatn between us & our own lines. 
[Diagram, please see original]

We kept on for / snipers &
they retired - we were getting
bullets pretty hot, probly
from our own line also. 

Abt 200 yds from our own
lines - we cd see them agst / sky w
men firing (flashes) [You cant see flash
of T snipers rifle - probly silenced]
We made break for crest on left to get to beach
Searchlights caught us there at close
range - we got down past some
old gun pits, past the 2 trees, &
then over skyline being fired at (double all

34
/ way). This ws probly 10 pm or 11 p.m.
Searchlight made it too bright. We moved
½ dozen yds at a time. We got to / searchlight
beam on our right flank, & it was steady all
night so we waited. Went to sleep for an
hour. At day light searchlight switched off
& as it ws too dark for G. Tepe snipers
we doubled round to outpost. They seemed 
to be expecting xx us.
______
Genl. Bridges sent for us / day after &
complimented us.
________
In the Blamey excursion - had bn lying in
water of ck. ½ hr. then went on. Almost imd.
after crossing we heard a rustling on our left.
[Hand drawn sketch, see original]

Orchard ws abt 20 yds
from sentry, but hadn't
seen him. Suddenly
a sentry challenged
/ patrol (tt ws 1^st
we knew of him)
We had seen him 
before he challenged
them - we had made noise in ck & cultivatn.
The moment he challenged they answered & then
bunched up & had a whispered conversation.
They seemed very undecided for 2 mins
& not keen xxx on coming toward us. This
time they had bayonets almost pointing into
ground - extended again but at less than
a yard.

Orchard When they were abt 5 yds
away Orchard fired on sentry & he fell.

35
They seemed to bunch together & we pulled
on them for all we were worth. I saw 3
flashes, and bullet went past my ear - betw
me & major. They all shouted Allah & fell
exc. 2 - who ran towards ck. we fired at
them & they seemed to go down where they
were. We then made straight back for Twin
trenches wh we foll^d for home.
_____

Abt month after landing we went out
to map trenches betw us & G.Tepe.
Harrington & Wills always went together
till he ws w. (now in England - Beachy
got him in leg). Went out also w
Corpl Scott & looked into T. Trench on
Razorback. Cd hear Ts. jabbering - saw one
empty length - & located 2 m.gs.
______

Mon. Nov 1. Information Sheet
says tt British French & Russian Govts
have (after some delay in arriving at decision)
concluded to send 500,000 men to help
Servia. If Russia cannot get thro
Roumania she will probly land troops
(I dont believe she will - she wdnt
say so before hand any way - There
cant be two Winstons in / world).

Down to see White for a yarn
tonight. Birdwood has gone over to Imbros
again. By the bye, when he ws over
there abt Sept. 19 to see Hamilton
a noise of vigorous bombardment ws
[*heard in direction of Anzac. Birdie
wanted to get across. The torp. bt ws too
slow or had gone - so he got into an aeroplane
flew across; saw it ws nothing doing, came back
& told / guard (Australian) - alright - its nothing.*]

Lone Pine.
Our left flank at ^time of L. Pine offensive
had for months carefully bn 
kept open  - i.e. ^Ts were not thoroughly
entrenched bec. we had never
pressed them there - They
held isolated redoubts & trenches
some of them wired
& trustin to / awful nature o / 
country

The warships of course helped to
prevent them cutting us off along /
seacoast. They cd never do this

[Hand drawn sketch, see original]

Aug 7.
8 p.m. Further c. attack repulsed.
9 pm. Enemy bombing very heavily.
Replied w bombs & withdrew all
men exc those necy to resist
a rush. Thus diminishing casualties
kept men in tunnels & rear trenches
10 p.m. All trenches held.
[*abt 10 posts
2 men at post
others under overhd cover
went to sleep standing up*]

36
Lone Pine 1st Bn.
Aug 6
2.30 began moving to Browns Dip in rear of 2 bn.
3.45 in positn in reserve [[?]] trenches off brigade office
At 5.42 A Coy under Davidson moved to man
old fire trench betw B5 & B9.
6.20. B Coy got orders to reinforce (under Capt Carter)
but were blocked in B5.
7.4 A Coy advanced over old fire trench
& supported 3rd Bn. B & D folld at once
thro' B5. sap ws clear by 7.4
8 p.m. 2 platoons of C to centre of L. Pine.
8.30 Remaining platoon of C. to 4 Bn. near B8
(thro B8).
Clearing trenches & fighting all night.
Aug 7.
9 am order: Bn will be withdrawn
during morning.
11.35 Relief begun by 7 Bn.
1 pm Relief complete exc for 100 men left w 4 Bn.
3.10. orders to reinforce Pimple & L. Pine
immediately.
6 p.m. Bn absorbed & holding central
positn. Trenches crowded w dead
& wounded.
7 p.m. Ts bombing v. heavily; stream of w
constant; all trenches held.
Our bomb supply not good.
11.p.m. bombing slackening.
11.30 Enemys attack died out
Aug 8. 4am Heavy shelling rifle & bombing
by enemy.

37
5.30 a.m: Gen Smythe sent to know genl situation.
Col. Bennett replied: We retain all
positns. Enemy's shelling, rifle fire &
bombing continue. Bombs are very
severe & our stream of w. is constant.
It is most diff. to make these wide 
trenches at all safe. Situation requires
relieving from without if possible as
we cannot c-attack from within. Men
extremely tired but determined to hold on."
[*B was senior offr in Pine.*]
7.20 a.m. Large quantities of bombs recd.
8 am. Pressure relieved.
2 pm. Relieved by 7 Bn. Coys reorganised.

Aug 9. 728 am. Ordered to reinforce by B.M. but 
not needed.
9.41 Rel^d 3 Bn.
Then Sass & Shout. The Turks made
an attack up this comm trench across
wh we had a light barricade of sandbags.
After this ^small bombing party had bn up,
Sass took his pty down trench.

2.45 Maj Kindon hit - lost an
eye & bridge of nose from shelling by
75 - just at N^o 2 Section H.Q.
Evening quiet - light bombing by both
sides, casualties light.

Aug 10. No casualties.

Aug 17. Maj Davidson wounded while
directing relief - hit by High Expl. shell
in lung - died on 19^th.

38
Sept 3/4 at 0.30 a.m. Bomb attack
by Ts in N^o 2 Section L.Pine at S.E.
angle. Casualties abt 13. One officer
2 L^t Parkes (Sir H Parkes son, lost most
of fingers of one hand thro' bomb
wound).

4 a.m. all quiet again.
Abt 100 must have come out -
probly a try on.
Taking 48 hrs shifts in Lone Pine; then
48 hrs in S. No 2
opp. the Jolly.

Sept 8. Relieved at 10 a.m.
At 3 p.m. Bn left trenches & bivouacked
in White Valley.
4 pm. order to be prepared to
embark 287 tt night.
Sent away
Midnight moved ^½ bn 8 offrs 279 o.r.
to Watsons Pier.  xx

9 Sept 2 a.m. Embarked on lighters - to the
Partridge
6.15 a.m. left Anzac. Arr. Imbros 12 pm.
1 pm disemb for Camp at West Imbros.
---
[*No canteen till end*]
Turkeys abt 3/6 to start w - abt 18/-
to finish w. Not much sickness
- most men who went ill had bn
sick at Anzac -
[*Small free issue of stout to start*]
Towards end jaundice broke out.
Tents were already put up for us
Next day rest of bn came over.
10 offrs 445 o.r. Left behind 1 offr