Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/5/1 - April - May 1915 - Part 2

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Gellibrand) in his judgments. Gellibrand is one of the most
widely read men I have ever met. He has the spirit of a
child. He has a lot of critics who have not a tithe of his
intelligence & he does not care a damn for any of them.
Austin is a strong capable chap with the power of making
everybody like him. B
But they are none of them quite like White. White
is a soldier above everything. He has not read even a fraction of
what Gellibrand has; he is not as quick in repartee as
Gellibrand or Foote or some of the others. But his judgment on
any military question put to him is instant. He looks at
it with the freshness of an ^a quick Australian mind & gives a
straight simple comprehensible answer at once. He
believes in doing his work all the time - at afternoon
tea, if he will is sitting near some man ^to whom he has something
to say he will broach the subject straight away; &
put shape his words so nicely that, whatever it is, the other
man cannot take offence. He never forgets anything - can give a man or an officer a
solid dressing down if occasion arises - but his methods are invariably considerate.
He is the only man I know to whom there is never
a necessity to mention a thing twice. If you mention
it once & he says he will  approves of some course of
action & will do so & so - there is no need to seen^inquire in two
or three days time whether the action is being taken. You may
be sure that it is. He will not say anything about it, as
a rule, until it is completed. As Foster said some time
back at Mena "White - Good Lord I hope nothing
happens to White! I'd simply knock the bottom out of the
whole show. He's the one man we cannot afford to
lose."
After dinner The greater part of the Officers of the 1st Battalion, 
& those of ^the divisional staff who are going to stay 

10
(as I am) on the Minnewaska, were down at the 2nd of the
promenade deck above the gangway looking over the rail
at the gangway - which leads from the 'tween decks where
the horses are - & at the Pr small steamboat from the
Prince of Wales which was waiting with her lights lit
fidgeting in the black water beside the gangway.
White made his way through them - with his pistol in
its case on his belt, his haversack packed, & a little
blue enamelled panikin tied onto the end of his swag.
"Good bye, White". "Good Luck old chap!" said various
officers as he passed. Then little Blamey ran down the companion
with an infantryman's swag on his back. Then old Smith, the Assistant
Provost marshal - not The boat cast off and slowly moved
past underneath the ships side. One could see the dim face of
circle of light from some lantern filling  in the well of her - with
officers standing round it - you could not tell who they
were. The men on the decks near the gangway gave
three cheers for General Bridges; we on the from our corner
gave three more cheers, little Marsh leading (he is a
smart little officer too) - & then she made a wide circle
into the harbour & went off to her ship.
Headquarters on the Minnewaska seems quite empty - just
like Mena House did. We have been in the ship a 
fortnight.
Until just before the staff was going I thought
that tonight was the night on which we were
to land. xxxx xx xxx But before he left Blamey said:
"You know there's to be nothing till Sunday". I don't know
if this was is a postponement owing to the sea being too
rough; or whether it was always arranged that the
movement wd take two days.
I heard the 44^th is here.
Saturday April 24^th. This morning at 5 I was
waked by a motion in the ship. The screws were turning & she
was slowly swinging round to go out. I put on my warm

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jacket & overcoat - even so it was cold up there with a North
wind blowing. A good number of officers came up to see us
move. The Hymethus seemed to be still aground. A great
number of transports were still in the harbour & about
20 or 30 large ones outside - also some those which left
last night, I think, & others French. Several Transatlantique
liners; the old Australien & other Messageries boats. The
Queen Elizabeth was still inside the harbour, & so were
the Bacchante (or some 4 funnelled cruiser), some of the
London or later classes of pre dreadnoughts & at least one
of the old Majestic class. I little thought, when I followed
the launch of that fine old ship nearly 20 years ago, that I
should be in an affair like her find myself alongside of her someday in an affair like
this. The Askold was still in port & the Henri IV &
another French Warship & a cruiser like the Desaix
outside. There were two of our light cruisers (one a Boadicea)
and about half a dozen destroyers.
As we came out two pigeons flew over us. Some said "The doves of peace. [*Afterwards I heard it suggested they might be messengers.*]
We steamed out & round the Western side
of the island (of course none of us on board had the
remotest idea where we were going to) & into the Bay
on the North side of Lemnos. We can see now just to
the South of us the same twelve windmills which we could
see yesterday just to the north - on the neck of land.
separating the two bays. Four ships - I fancy the Clan McGillivray
Mashobra, Derfflinger, ^and we are anchored across the head of the bay.
The men of the 1^st Battn. have been on parade
outside this office - you could hear the voice of one of the
captains reading them some of the instructions: no talking in
the boats; no one to stand up; beach to men to be clear of the
beach as soon as possible - & so on.
Staff officers have been advised to take off their
brassards whilst in close touch with the enemy - so the bright
colours have for the moment disappeared. I am keeping mine
-dark green; its not very conspicuous, and in any
case it is best to conform with all the rules. Otherwise the 

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chance of a noncombatant being shot if captured
is pretty good. I don't possess a pistol or any arms
of any sort.
During the day the Derfflinger (old. J. is in 
her) Mashobra & M'Gillivray ranged up alongside 
of us - about a quarter of a mile between them.
xxxxx  Next, in came the Galeka, Novian, 
Hessen, Pera, & Lake Michigan & ranged up
ahead of us. There were some others outside the next
point - the Nov Indian or Atlantian, I fancy, for one.
That is the order in which we go in -
For the attack is tomorrow morning for certain.
Just at sunset today we saw steaming slowly
along the horizon to west a squadron of 5
warships: Queen, Prince of Wales, Bacchante, 
London, Majestic - or vessels of those classes
anyway. They were at 2 cables, except their
leader, & steaming very slow with a long trail of
smoke behind them. They were on their way to
the job we are bound for.
There was, I believe, an attack yesterday
upon the Bulair lines or near them. The sound of
firing was heard at about 9 to 11 o'c. last night.
Tomorrow morning at about 3 the
London  P of W.  Queen
with troops on board will take station near the
beach & disembark the troops. The
Devanha  Suffolk  Ionian  Malda  will take

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station just outside them, & the
Ribble, 2 Destroyers, 2 Destroyers, 2 destroyers
will be stationed outside them again.
These troops will be landed by 5 & the xxxxxxx
Galeka Novian Hessen L. Michigan
will come up near the destroyers & will
tranship into them.
When they have disembarked some of their troops
the destroyers will come to us - about 6 they 
are due. By 6.30 our first troops shd be on
the beach. I go with the rest of our H.Q. when these
destroyers return after their first journey with
our troops - i.e. about 7a.m. Of course it means
going under shell fire & probably rifle fire - possibly
very severe, possibly the naval guns will keep
it down. But it also means (1) gaining the confidence 
of our men, & (2) seeing what I cd never afterwards
see.
One sometimes is inclined to think of the
utter hopeless wastefulness of this whole war.
But xx once a nation adopts the philosophy
of Treitschke I suppose war is inevitable.
Our people is a peace loving people & one knows 

A. I. staff in Queen.
Divl  "      "  P of W.

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this for certain, that if war cd have been avoided
with honour, we should have avoided it.
I heard one officer say: "I think of the job we're
going to sometimes a little before breakfast &
sometimes a little after dinner."  But every man
Of course some people have been a little thoughtful
tonight - because we know what a tremendous
job it is, this assault on a strong fortress.
But the ^Australian troops & officers are pleased with the 
compliment that has been paid them; & the 3^rd 
Brigade most of all. Col Maclagan who is a 
fine British officer & a capable one told the 3^rd
that "few if any finer brigades had ever taken
the field."
It The men - except for getting their ammunition
handed out to them - have spent the day exactly as they spent
every one before it - a parade; playing "house" (a troopship
gamble) on the deck; reading; yarning about the war. It's
a great gamble the whole thing really - a lot of bits of metal
in the air; & just a chance whether you stop one or let it pass.
A lot of men at one end of a machine throwing things into
the space with a xx deadly swiftness without the least idea
what is going to be the effect of each discharge: it may
mean a tragedy in some little cottage home in Tasmania
or in an English country house; it may kill or wound or
take out an eye or take off a leg. And a lot of Australians
- boys who began life on the Murray or in a backyard
in Wagga or Bourke or Surry Hills will be left lying in Turkey.
It is a curious business. However - for 8 months we've been

15
training to get up against a front which we cant pass
except by forcing our way through it at all costs - & now
we're there. Some of the positions tomorrow I believe have
to be taken "at all costs" - I believe that is an order to the 
10^th Bn.
The lights in the ship will all go out presently. Before
then I want my little brandy flask filled. So this interesting
analysis of feelings must close. I shall be in a devil
of a funk tomorrow; but so will almost everyone else ^many others although
they won't show it - & I hope I shan't also. I have rolled my
coat, stuffed my haversack with 2 days iron rations & one days
bread & cheese - & now to bed.
Apr.24-25. 12. midnight.
11.15 p.m. The ships ^have sailed from Lemnos. I have a cabin, the
with a l last in the passage, with a porthole opening onto the
well deck. The port hole is just above my head as I lie in the
upper bunk. Outside on the deck, amongst all sort of gear & ^under some
of the horse boats to be used in landing, as some of the men of the 4^th
1^st Battalion tucked into hall corners in their overcoats. They 
are talking quietly - two mates - outside the port hole. One has
just waked.
"What time is it?"
"Ten past twelve - she's sailed. Where have you been?"
"Me & Bill have been down below having a farewell
yarn."
Someone on ^sleepy chap along the deck is singing - the words were somewhat as
follows, punctuated with yawns: What oh for a life on the sea.
So give it a chance
Come and have a dance
Come and dance along with me.”
The voice breaks off into some snatch of another
song, "When I am dead and in my little grave"
and then the singer having re wound his rug around him
falls off to sleep tucks his head back onto his pack
& snuggles down for another sleep.

16
I must not oversleep - this night is too good to miss.
12.30. Went Come up on deck to see which course we are taking. We
have just 50 miles to go and the Island of Imbros lies directly in 
our path. Shall we go south of it, between it & the Dardanelles, near
where the British have to land; or North where the along the 
North where we shall be screened from the Dardanelles by the mountains
of Imbros. In that case we shd have to turn in straight towards
the coast almost immediately after passing the Dards into Imbros -
our landing place is only just beyond it.
Out on deck. It is a perfect moonlight night. We are
passing the Northeast point of some island probably Lemnos. I can see
the dark shape of the mountains on the soft grey satin on the sea.
On the  end of the point a pin light like a xx pin point light
is flashing three times every five seconds.  Ahead of us is a single
small yellow stern light always motionless. Away to the left - far on our
port bow I can see two other lights - one after the other. Astern
of us is another ship. I can see the faint glow of some cabin or
galley light; otherwise she is as dead simply a black shape.
We are heading almost due North East. Aft of the smoking room
out of the breeze the guard is tucked away on the deck in arm ch
deckchairs. Some are curled along either side of the promenade
deck - one can just see them rolled up like deck - one has to pick grubs in their white & grey blankets &
waterproof sheets. One has to be look carefully not to step on them as one
picks a way along the deck. One huge chap is sprawled on his
face at full length without great coat or blanket, fast asleep like a
boy - most of them are in overcoats & Balaclavas. "Aho, its chilly"
says one. ^xxxxx And so it is says one yawning. And so it is.
The young officer ^of the guard is there on a deck chair talking to one
of our interpreters. The guard has He has orders to wake the troops
at four. All lights are to be turned out altogether when we get
xxx off the mainland - Gallipoli. We wonder whether the British
have landed yet. Some say they landed on Saturday during the
past day - I fancy they land this morning. The Turk does not
realise what is in store for him during the next few hours.
2.30 Come on deck again. Where are we now The moon is almost down
now. Our third brigade has to land in the little interval
of darkness between the moonset & the dawn. They must be getting near

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them now - 10 miles ahead of us perhaps.
We are steaming just north of a high coast line - it
must be Imbros. There are clouds on the high velvet black hills.
Other land, which must be Samothrace, to the North. Wonder if
they can anyone sees us from Imbros. The light on the point of Lemnos is
far behind, still winking. Two white stern lights still directly ahead
of us. As I lean over the xxx rail below the bridge watching them
there is a flash on the foc'sle, a flic prolonged flicker of light. Some
prize idiot lighting his pipe. Nothing will ever make some
individuals forego that luxury.
3a.m. On deck again. All lights have been put out since
last I was here.
3.30 we are clearing the last point of Imbros. I cant
see the land beyond. The moon is down & it is much darker.
I cannot see the land beyond But either although I know
it is there - the distance is only 12 miles. Far on our right,
either on the point of Imbros Island or on some ship stationed
in the channel between there & the land are two white lights,
one above the other & a little xxxxx aslant as if on a mast.
I shall not go down again. A staff colonel of the Army Corps
staff in his xx overcoat is leaning over the rail beside me.
Suddenly a white circle of hazy l misty white light appears
behind some land far away to the right of us. I cannot see
the land but I know it must be there because there is something
hiding the actual light from which that glare comes. There is
no mistaking it - a searchlight. It must be somewhere in
the Dardanelles, south of the peninsula. It sweeps in a
scared sort of way to right & left, shifts up a bit; fidgets
& suddenly disappears. It is nearly 4a.m. That must
be one of the lights on the Turkish forts in the straights. It is
just on 4 pm. a.m. Wonder if they have heard anything -
[*There was a moment
of gt anxiety (as far
as I was concerned). Wd
these searchlights be on
some point from wh they 
cd find us? Any 
moment we might
steam into / full bright
ray of them - hadn't /
Turks some on this 
side o / hills - amongst
/ little villages. & hill 
folds & forests and
promontorys tt we cd
not see. W intense 
relief one realised
presently tt they were
all on / other side o /
land.*]
Equally suddenly another searchlight - further in the
straights. We can only see the haze of this one also searching
round like the startled eyes of some frightened animal.
There is the old searchlight again.
And just at that moment I first notice that dawn
is slowly breaking ^right ahead - just the first faint rim of grey. Presently
I look that way again & the dawn is no longer there. The

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fringe of grey is away on our portside. We must have turned
suddenly in southwards. The line of the land, a high line of hills,
can be seen straight ahead & away to the left of us. We are moving
in between two flanking ships, merchant ships, evidently
stationed there to give us the position. It is well past four -
just the time when they ought to be moving in landing
our 3rd Brigade ought to be g rushing out of their boats somewhere
up the slope of those grey hills ahead. There is no sign yet of 
action.
It is still too dark to see what I am writing. But the
dawn is slowly growing. A line of officers is gradually lining
the rail under the bridge, ^a ships officer or two as excited as the
rest. Down in the focsle forward the men are beginning to cluster
to the sides. Another idiot strikes a match & be xx xxxx a immediately a
torrent from the bridge, something like a desceding those words
torrent of words which bursts over him like a shell from the bridge above.
Five minutes later another does the same. a British officer
beside me - newly arrived from England - does the same.
4.25 Still no sound. We have passed between the two ships.
There are three of our sister transports ahead & we are
moving in between two of them to make up a line of
four. Past us on our port beam slowly moves a destroyer
dragging long two long wrinkles across the silky water as
she moves - xx It is light enough to see that now.
Suddenly, (4.37) from low down on the line either of
sea or shore a signal lamp flashes. I can We cant say if it is
on a ^some small boat close in or on the shore itself. One of the ships officers
next me takes my telescope & wat looks long through it.
"No I cant say which it is", he says.
Then at 4.38 for the first time, listening eagerly,
I caught catch faintly on a gust off the shore a distant knocking
as of someone who held up a small wooden box &
knocked the inside of it with a pencil. It comes again &
again continuously, like the very far off, very faint