Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/29/1 - April - July 1915 - Part 1

Conflict:
First World War, 1914–18
Subject:
  • Documents and letters
Status:
Open for review
Accession number:
RCDIG1066855
Difficulty:
5

Page 1 / 10

AWM3S Official History, 1974-18 War: Records of CE W Bean, Official Historian. Diaries and Notebooks Hem number: 3DR1606/2917 Title: Notebook, April - July 1915 includes references to captured Turkish documents and prisoners. AWMI3S-3DRL606129H
TS FSF MCM M MMRFTAMAMA R.M.R. R. . M. R.. Rn. . 3DRL 606 IPD 89 DM 38 DIARLES 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 usyally, themselves believed, them to be true. All second-hand evidence herein should be read with this in mind. ACCESS STA C. E. W. BEAN. 16 Sept, 1946. MENKEEEEEEEEEYTSSETMMIHSSS Tcerering m ne JCEENE RECEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE a ReCORD. Regoment al 23.2.78
Enemy Names. Monsons P Krmg. Sirt Red stope (Baby 700) Kanli Sirt. Bloody slope.?T. Toly. Eyerli Tepe Hill 706 Rum tepl 59. 1739 Sagli Dere. Fally Enday on Fishermen Huts Matik Dire Head of wullal runng pas Kojader at 1200 9DS. of Rigul Ancfarte Kurt Gechid Rhodja Chimen Dagh & Hill 900 Adie Liman- Efelwer Bay Madalik Lin wlets Nof Gelmex Bay. RemikliLeman] Knyonk Leman 59.315 2 Along Cosst 59352. Despot Liman Perkey Tepl Central or H A Hill (sc E)
Sun Ap25: landing: Opposed by 27th Regl (9Di IIIHE) End Br. & part of 3rd Bn were present a least 3oB agst our right. applly Br Br still here on S. Tuly as soltiers pcket book appty recully lost of the found by 2Crs) 191 Din (3r3AE.) attocked us on sun Iancists of 572 yt. 722, 772. the 7ws ado gaard. The abock of dion when deplozed was 2Bn IBn SBn 72ad 5712 71 77 atacked towds S. end of Pine Ridge. Bobach sait who commends 3 or accompenied tink mo on request for true pon K. T. ate camp prob in olii pove. Apiiiones captured Ap 26. she beloge to Ird En. 37t Rept (132 Div. V A.C.) Hea it beloyed 6 192 Don. of 10 a.c. 4tBn. 28 Ret (19k Dw 111Ae) wouded amemiin and to coptured on Ap 26 claimed to beloy to 4 Bn was 64 Ryt here? See Information of Sept 7. This order (before sone tine) repreto ceptire four M.gs. only 2 were aptured as far as I know - one from N. 30 on Ap 25 & one f413n on t 26
May 2 III.19.28 rth Sh who diid to belong to his sunndered on May 2 II.5. 13t 183 opposed to our right. 14t where (ert) on May 19 atacking Maclaurins Hill 15k os here on mayl. May 6. Arcb officer, deserted, sd be came from Fipoli in apiia. Tept officer of S Dis. Came from Adnanoph vee Keshan abt May 1. 5 Dis H.A. att 59. 237pr4 stores Pannals at 237a or 2389. most of 516 in trenches. Supplies now taken Ma Biyat Aacher by new rd his hells now benng mad by 3 Rno many officers of 13.14.15 (5) 57 () 32() on kelled 13th mort tan half disappeared. Bris of 6ADion wh wentento action 1200 stroy now master 300-500. Heow I. here firt att e II 24 v1 29 16 4 may. 12 Advanced base for his force ws near Sharkent camel tept in good condity midWater has to be carried on anunals, Local wales has given men diarrtda Menjet hobical every rnid day Amnea pleateful. Owin fack of officers fire controlisbed over newly arriow troops. Heavy casatlies o night of Tals. June 4 croops sere to bbe dewen into ballle at He dislites to sdays o4 105 be paint of revelves.
Daulifee on peate Turk Troops & 2q 7/5/15 Corpe. Div. Regt. 11 2 11 13 1415 apeT AnGAC. 114 20 Angac 21 Rifle Bn MI 29 III 19 Ansae. III. 10. 28 29. Anzac 33 11. III 127 II 12 35 13 38 46 45 15 56 32 one composite Regl. 39 May 19. U.5. Bt attacked Maclanis hill. attacked ar (hater quinis) 152 (here on May 6). 1. 19.577 ws here at date of armistici may ry fron 14 day. 771 N. 16 27t 7 Wr md Bous of 47 attacked. 8] Srs of 48 attocked near Owns sel 125t/ His Regt sd to be here T. F H 113 Brs. Brisoes Caphed here on 19 may. 1 S. 11 S. twoman captured hereon 1gnay Redd Ryt 11. 9. 27th 1Br. Here on Ap.25 & pocketbook of soldier belongeng to Bn picked up on May 19 July 51
After may 19 we collated from porsoners & documents foll Troops now or recetly employedet Angac. 28w. 1.5.6. 5Dw. B. 14.15 16 Dis. 47.48. 125. 19 Dir. 57.72.77 Abe 20.27.33. 64.76 Rests (Afall strength his wd be 81,000 men. Pob. 35000) 6Dev. 16.17.18. 8 8th Au. 22.23.24 are bel to have arrised at yenckeni. No oftroops aptangac pob. 35,000 mostly unlrained or elderly reservists. amun apperatl v plutiful. T officers reported tt hane driven som of troops into at w swords revolves. Lv. Tanders ws in Penineele & Sdt have directed abtack of 18/19 may whws sot be ordered by enve to push us into see before reip. arrd. Many T officers killed & auch dysenter in to lives. There is a concealed road by wh T reifs are broylt up fom Gallipote. His passes near ruins of Bryak Anefar our wonded sent to Ghulane Hosp in Coust & well treated prine [hater: i ther only 6. 1ent many light prey unforms lying in post of our trenches ser are generme of whon laye contingent and from Brusa. All agree T. losses v severe an anxious to Durrnde if can do so witout being shot by own side. Germans are speeadey stories of gt victories b sea ver sgyst, but these scarcely believed by tarks Deary of T officer wh found says; two of our Shapdel fell amonpt 15t Bn 33 Ret Killey 12 wounding 5. In another 1Bn only 2 officers alie
28May. See. 5th Arry Order of 28 may Blancy has follg not. 1816 replaced by 641 Ryt on Tun] 14 16 18 27 mehnes chaouch. 17 1912 65?48? 16th on left 125 77 June 24. Followig Ryts sd to be oppoaing Anzake Ryt. 13 5t Di. 141 14on Extreme st. H.9. & 2 other on 15] 8500S. regts in reseive Hal Tipe 168 ODis in firing time. 3000 4 H.G. at. Kojadere. 16th &i. 48 Part of Dron in fing cing. 125 6000 45 2000 One Bn was in truches agal Augse but withdrawn to join two oher bus wh sufered hearch in S.& gone to Sallipoti to sefton. 27 19 Di. H.A near Esti Ken's Part of Dwn in firetoenches. 750000 Gendarmers 800 Guardin & Palottiy country & of Bry ak acafeita Cavstry 600 or regt a plain rear Biynk Anafarta. Possible 282 53 Regts also here. Without these, but including Gcops at allepoli, cuemys strenglh iod be: infartry 25,000
Doh 162 Fity 5r any odt. AANZAC. dispositis It is resionable to suppose to 1 wnto atacke obtaining in 11 forces opposing Angoe previously in main are still in frce The anits are olghtly altered Ieod Regt has goe S. but Bket is here. Rest of 6 Dr. may have gone S. for a rest as oteted on July 14 but no reason to mooners of 16017 capture suppose 18th has gone. (1 yeaty downI. One bo of 45 ws here last month frishr ctin 64 Re also known to be hen. This gives a tolet increase of 4 bas over end of May. N. of Battleshigs Hill cems to be called the Anafarle Secl. Troops in it on May 28 were 330d Re 1Bn Jadamers caralry Ryt. It is estinated now to be defence of his sector has on increased by a Regt + slent 6000 Tae reserve wre at yatik Dere Exc. Onr bu on N. shopes of Knoja Chiman Dagh. Dubieof remveareto presnt a lendry at Ejelue Ba & Lavla Bay & also ackas AC. reserve The actial finy line agot as – Batleship Hill to right of our his, - ws divided into 3 secloss beld by 19.5, 16 divns from N to S. - say 19000 m Poob. Ibno in trenches & Bin reserve & support
Aso 77h Regt (wh suffered heavily in a regrettable incident" & ws at one time thought to have be incorporated in 72nd) supported right of 16 Din. but ws called Kaba Tipe section + us apptl in tiacion wt 16t Dion. (stwengh 2000 ar outude). Kaba Tipe to Knon tepe is farricoud by 2nd Dios to certain artillery ants) wh pob. consisted of one rest only as 5th, 6t kegts went to Soutern sphere & folld shorty by 15t Regt. The parriion in to district is available apt Angac & is in the same Command. It is prot (as in Ture) One Regt. The Hs Kwn Tipe. Tarks clearly Sarriton of N. Coast from Ejetmer Bay to Sheitankeni - Coy of Gendammerie w H.O at Twishter keni. The villaprs deporte to Asio Minor are Gt

AWM38
Official History,
1914-18 War: Records of C E W Bean,
Official Historian.
Diaries and Notebooks
Item number: 3DRL606/29/1
Title: Notebook, April - July 1915
Includes references to captured Turkish
documents and prisoners.
AWM38-3DRL606/29/1

 

29
Ret. V
Original DIARY NO. 29.
AWM 38   3DRL 606 ITEM 29 [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 usyally, 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
[Regimental RECORDS √]  a.a.
23.2.78

 

Enemy Names:
Krimzi Sirt Red slope. (Baby 700) ? Lonesome Pine
Kanli Sirt. Bloody slope. ? J. Jolly.
Eyerli Tepe xx Hill 706
Kum Tepe Sq. 193 g
Sazli Dere. Valley ending in Fishermen Huts
Matik Dire Head of Nullah running past Kojadere abt 1200
yds S. of Biyuk Anafarta
Kurt Gechid
Khodja Chimen Dagh = Hill 900
Adie Liman- Ejelmer Bay
Madalek Liman )
Kemikli Liman   )  Islets N of Ejelmer Bay.
Kuyouth Liman Sq. 315 L
Despot Liman Along coast Sq 352.
Merkez Tepe Central or HQ Hill ([shorthand].)
1

 

Sun Ap. 25:
Landing: Opposed by 27th Regt (9 Div III A.C.)
2nd Bn. & part of 3rd Bn were present
at least
3rd Bn agst our right.
[apptly 1st Bn still here on 5th July as soldiers pocket
book appty recently lost ws then found by 2 LHB]
19th Divn (3rd AC.) attacked us on Sund.
It consists of 57th Regt. 72nd, 77th.
The 77 ws adv. guard.
The attack o / divn when deployed was
2 Bn   1 Bn    3 Bn.
77                   72nd      57th                      
77 attacked towds S. end of Pine Ridge. Bimbashi
Saib who commands 3 Bn accompanied Turk envoy
on request for truce from K. T. His adjutant
Camp prob in Olive Grove.
A prisoner captured Ap 26. sd he belonged to
3rd Bn. 37th Regt (13th Div. V A.C.) He sd it belonged
to 19th Divn. of III A.C.

4th Bn. 28th Regt (19th Div III A.C.) wounded Armenian
2nd Lt captured on Ap 26 claimed to belong to 4 Bn

? was 64th Regt here? See "Information" of Sept 7. This order (before
Lone Pine) refers to capture of our m.gs. only 2 were captured
as far as I know - one from N.Zs on Ap 25 & one of 4 Bn on Ap 26.
3

 

May 2
III. 19. 28th. 4 Orthodox Gk who claimed to belong to
this surrendered on May 2
II. 5. 13th 1 & 3 opposed to our right.
14th ws here (part) on May 19 attacking
Maclaurins Hill
15th os here on May 6.

May 6. Arab officer, deserter, sd he came from Tripoli
in Africa. Trpt officer of 5 Div. Came from Adrianople
via Keshan abt May 1.
5 Div H.Q. abt sq. 237 p & u.
Stores & animals at 237 a or 238 q.

Most of 5th in trenches. Supplies now taken via Biyak Anafarta
by new rd thro hills now being made by 3 Bns
Many officers of 13. 14. 15 (5th) 57 (3rd) 32 (?) bn killed
13th more than half disappeared. Bns of 6th Divn wh went into
action 1200 strong now muster 300 - 500.
He says
3 Div I AC ^came here first abt 24th April
5        II________________________24th_____
16      VI_______________________ 29 _______
12      IV________________________4 May
Advanced base for his force ws near Sharkeni
Camel Trpt in good conditn
Much water has to be carried on animals. Local water has
given men diarrhoea.
Men get hot meal every 2nd day
Ammn plentiful.
Owing lack of officers fire control is bad over newly
arrived troops.
Heavy casualties on night of Tues. June 4.
He dislikes Ts & says troops have to be driven into battle at
the point o / revolver.
4

 

5
Turk Troops identified on Peninsula 7/5/15
Corps. Div. Regt.
 

Corps Div. Regt.  
II 4 11  
II 5. 13   14   15 agst Anzac.
III. 7 19  
    20 Anzac
    21  
    21 Rifle Bn
III 9 25  
    26  
    27  
III 19 57 ) Anzac
    72 )
    77 )
IV 10. 28  
    29.  
IV 11 33 ? Anzac.
    126  
    127  
IV 12 35  
V 13 38  
    46  
V. 15 45  
    56  
XV 3 31  
    32 one composite Regt.
    39  


May 19.
II 5. 13th attacked Maclaurins hill.

14th (part) attacked     "               " (Later Quinns)

? 15th (here on May 6).

III. 19. 57 ) ws here at date of armistice May 24
           72 ) from 1st day.
           77 )

VI. 16  47th  ) 1st & 2nd Bns of 47 attacked.
            48th ) 3 Bns of 48 attacked near Owens Gully
            125th ) This Regt sd to be here.

I  2n 1st. 1 & 3 Bns. prisoners captured
here on 19 May.
IV. 5.  11th 3. Two men captured here on

19 May.

             
III. 9.  27th 1 Bn. Part Rest of Regt here on Ap.25 & pocket book
of soldier belonging to / Bn picked up on
May 19 July 5th
6

 

After May 19 we collated from prisoners & documents
follg:
Troops now or recently employed at Anzac.
28 Div. 1. 5. 6.
5 Div. 13. 14. 15
16 Div. 47. 48. 125.
19 Div. 57. 72. 77
Also. 20. 27. 33. 64. 76 Regts
(At full strength this wd be 51,000 men. Prob. 35,000)
6 Div. 16. 17. 18. & 8th Div. 22. 23. 24 are bel. to have
arrived at Yenikeni. No. of troops at Anzac
prob. 35,000 mostly untrained or elderly reservists.

-----
Ammn apparently v plentiful.
T. officers reported to have driven some of troops into action w
sword, revolver

------
L v. Sanders ws in Peninsula & sd to have directed attack
of 18/19 May wh ws sd to be ordered by Enver ^intended to push
us into sea before reifs. arrd.

------
Many T. officers killed & much dysentery in T. lines.
(There is a concealed road by wh T. reifs are brought
(up from Gallipoli. This passes near ruins of Biyak Anafarta

------
Our wounded & prisoners sent to Ghulane Hosp in Const. & well treated
[Later in London stated these only 65 Brit]
(Many light prey uniforms lying in front of our trenches.
(These are gendarmerie from Brusa of whom large
(contingent are from Brusa.

-------
All agree T. losses v. severe & men anxious to surrender
if can do so without being shot by own side.

-------
Germans are spreading stories of gt victories by
sea & in Egypt, but these scarcely believed by Turks

-------
Diary of T. officer wh found says:  Two of our
shrapnel fell amongst 1st Bn 33 Regt killing
12, wounding 5. In another Bn only 2 officers alive.
7

 

8

28 May. See. 5th Army Order of 28 May
Blamey has follg note.
18th replaced by 64th Regt on June 7
?33                14

72                  15

18                   16

                       18

27                   Mehmet Chaoush

57

45? 48?         19th

125                  16th on left

77


June 24. Following Regts sd to be opposing Anzacs
Regt.
13  )
14  ) 5th Div        14 on extreme right. H.Q. & 2 other

15  )  8500 str.      regts in reserve at on slopes Mal Tepe

16th  6th Div         In firing line
         3000

47  )

48  )  16th Div      H.Q. at Kojadere  Part of Divn.

125 )  6000             in firing line

45     2000           One Bn was in trenches agst Anzac

                                  but withdrawn to join two other

                                  bns wh suffered heavily in S. &

                                  gone to Gallipoli to reform.

27  )

57  )     19th Div    H.Q. near Eski Keni. Part of

72  )     6000             Divn in fire trenches.

77  )

Gendarmerie  800  Guarding & patrolling country N of

Biyuk Anafarta

Cavalry  600   One regt in plain near Biyuk Anafarta

------

Possible 28 & 63 Regts also here. Without these,
but including troops at Gallipoli, enemys
strength wd be: infantry 25,000.
9

 

Note 16th July  5th Army Order

ANZAC. Files
It is reasonable to suppose tt / units attacked dispositns 
obtaining in / T.  forces opposing Anzac previously
in / main are still in force.
The units are slightly altered.
33rd Regt has gone S. but 18 Regt is here.
Rest of 6 Div. may have gone S. for a
rest as stated on July 14 but no reason to
suppose 18th has gone. (Note. prisoners of 16 & 17 captured)
yesty down S.)
One bn of 45 ws here last month (prisoner captured)
64 Regt also known to be here.
This gives a total of increase of 4 bns over end of 
May.
N. of Battleship Hill came to be called the
"Anafarta" sectn. Troops in it on May 28
were

( 33rd Regt.
( 1 Bn gendarmerie
( Cavalry Regt.
It is estimated now tt the defense of this sectn
has bn increased by a Regt & strength therefore 6000.
The reserves are at Matik Dere exc. one bn
on N. slopes of Khoja Chimen Dagh.  Duties of
reserve are to prevent a landing at Ejelmer Bay
& Suvla Bay & also act as A.C. reserve.

------
The actual firing line agst as – Battleship Hill
to right of our line, - ws divided into 3 sectors held
by 19, 5, & 16 divns from N to S. - say 19000 men.
Prob. 9 bns in trenches & 18 in reserve & support. 
10

 

Also 77th Regt (wh suffered heavily in a "regrettable
incident" & ws at one time thought to have bn
incorporated in 72nd) supported ? right of 16 Divn.
but ws called Kaba Tepe section & ws apptly in
liaison w / 16th Divn. (Strength 2000 at outside).
Kaba Tepe to Kum Tepe is garrisoned by 2nd
Divn (& certain artillery units) wh prob. consisted of
one regt only as 5th & 6th regts went to Southern
sphere & folld shortly by 1st Regt. The garrison in
tt district is available agst Anzac & is in the
same command. It is prob (as in June) one Regt. The
Turks clearly fear a landing near to Kum Tepe.
Garrison of N. Coast from Ejelmer Bay
to Sheitan Keni - Coy of Gendarmerie w H.Q.
at Turshten Keni.
The villagers deported to Asia Minor are Gk.

 
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