Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales
MacArty war diary, 1914-1916
MLMSS 1139
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Diary of H. Macarty
Diary
Oct 20 Left Outer Harbour at 5 oclock Governor gives us a send off, have a good trip across the Bight, reached W.A. Sunday Oct 25 early morning
Sunday 25 Oct, received leave of absence visited Perth 15 miles from Fremantle, had a look over gardens parks and principal street very fine city lovely building, poor trams, bad railways,
26-27 remained on ship hundreds visit wharf to see us,
Oct. 28. Eight hours day not allowed ashore, so odd jobs about ship,
29, had day off visited Perth meet lady Friend
Japanese warship causes excitement by steaming into Harbour it was our escort Japs receive a good reception.
Oct 31st Eleventh Battalion WA Troops embark, pull out to stream
Nov 1st Sunday hundreds of people out to visit of troop ships
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Nov 2nd left Fremantle 4A.M. escorted by Japanese Warship
Nov 3rd At sea very rough day rather crowded anxious to link up with fleet.
4th our fleet looms up on the horizon beautiful sight they come, three abreast, headed by Warships
raining we join the left wing Medic in front of us, Port Lincoln behind, the following ships are here Wiltshire Euripides Militades Orvieto Medic Argylshire Maunganui Southern Ascanius Schropshire Limerick Ruapihi Star of England Afric Orana Pera Geelong Benalla Suthenic Armidale Pt Lincoln Rangatiro Star of India Kativa Karos Star of Victoria Tahiti Buldantra Narrarer Hororator Wainana Hymettus Clan Mc Quardale Omrah Hawkesbury Suffolk Anglo Egyptian, Orani,
Nov 5 Layed up with measles, Quarantined in Bows of ship, head aching, warships travel up and down our lines, very rough night one chap fell out of Hammock, tubs bucket crockery was rolling all round not much sleep
6 . 7. 8 running along smoothly, just out of bed, throat roar, approaching the Tropics.
9th German Warship Emden about, Sydney after her, big fight Emden out of action, great rejoicing on board, free beer, very hot.
10, still very warm, heavy thunderstorms run along for three days nothing much happens
13th raining very heavy expect to reach Colombo on Sunday.
14th Sydney passes with Germans aboard we refrain from cheering as wounded men are aboard,
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Sunday 15th & 16 Arrive Colombo 2.P.M. very pretty place, stand off not allowed to land, though we would like to, some ships take coal in
Friday 17tth Cengalese ``4 diving off boats for money good exhibition we push of on voyage at 12 AM.
Nov 18 & 19 four day two days out of Colombo N. Zealang boats push ahead to coal at Aden
20th Quiet day very smooth sea warm
Saturday 21st
Severe collision with Schropshire 4.30 AM 700 miles from Aden, we fire rockets, Warships play search lights and dash to rescue, we receive a large hole in Port bow, all troops parade on deck with life belts.
23rd going smoothly expect to reach Aden in the morning
Nov 25 Wednesday
Reach Aden early,
Bedouins, Arabian Jews, Pharsees all around boat like flies selling Pine Apples, cigarettes Belts, large harbour, worker a lazy lot, get 4d a day, we throw spuds at niggers to make them work, talk a man blind
Nov 26 left Aden at 5AM soon in the Red Sea very warm all stripped, passed Persic at 4 PM. Met New Zealander who coaled there, entered Hells gates, Red Sea 6 PM, & innoculated against Typhoid.
27 in Red Sea passed several Indian Transports returning to Ceylon, terrible hot hugging shore all the way. Warships held up two boats and let them pass on
28 Just received word to proceed to Cairo expect to reach there in five days.
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Nov 29 getting cooler vaccinated against small pox very sore arm
Thursday Dec 1st
Reached Suez at 8 am. Transferred german prisoners from Orvieto to H.M.S. Hampshire we have to give our mess tables up to the germans shame, we have an armed guard aboard and enter Suez Canal at 8 PM.
2nd Dec
Passing through canal fine stream 80 feet wide railway one side lovely trees, runs through a desert heavily guarded by troops, reach Port Said 12 oclock noon a pretty place scores of ships in Harbour many French and British warships about Colonel Lasseters monument very pretty
December 5th
Pulled out to stream to make room leave late evening for Alexander arrive morning waiting to disembark
7th Dec
Disembarked early in morning boarded train for Cairo lovely irrigation land all the way we have fun at different stations, Bridges and stations guarded by Troops 150 miles to Cairo
Dec 8th
Arrived Cairo unload 3 of us go on to Mena to guard baggage, we work all night unloading baggage, have bad time nigger carts and camels everywhere niggers wont work.
Wed – 9th
Have easy time cadge tucker company arrive at night all wet through
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Saturday 12
Carting stones for roads and boundaries visited Pyramids and Sphinx pay day arranged mess, visited Mena House baths
Dec 18
Route Marches all the week. England annexes Egypt, our engineers leave for Suez to build Fortifications
19 and 20th
had a swim a baths and visited Pyramids climbed ¾ way up but retired.
Monday 21st
Heavy tramp in the sand for 2 days
Dec 25
Church Parade 10th Sports
26th
visited Cairo had a good look around
nothing but marches till January 8th
9th
Heavy cold feeling rotten
28 January
Recovered from cold received Xmas cards from Maud and Glady’s
Jan 29th
2nd Australian contingent arrives at Alexander to camp at Heliopolis 17,000 Australians 3000 N Zealanders
Feb 1st
Australians march to Jeda long line of troops, Artillery, AMC all out four miles long.
3rd 4th
7 and 8th battalions goes to Suez Canal fight against Turks 400 captured
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16 killed British 55 wounded 3 killed Turks brought into Cairo
Feb 10th
Lousy dodge drill lost & cannot carry pack
12th
Fordham dies with smallpox re vaccinated
13th
Shamfight back of Pyramids inspected by Major General Maxwell
17
Vaccinated again Day off after night of outpost duty
25
Visited Mosque seen Jacobs well, long chat with Indian wounded from Suez, Received pull through and coins from Indians Visited Kursall and Museum
Feb 28
Struck camp 6.30 AM taken off prison Guard, cleaned up all day, left Mena Camp 8 PM. Marched in to Kas. El. Nil Barracks arriving 1. PM. Bivouacted
March 1st
Left barracks at, 3 AM. marched to Central Station embarked left 5 AM. for Alexander good trip arrived 11. AM hung up outside station for one hour, embarked on Ionian left gear and went for a trip around Alexander, took on 100 tons firewood
March 2nd
Sailed from Alexander noon toward Dardanelles conditions on board awful, packed 2,500 soldiers, had to eat sleep and do everything on decks no hammock, terrible poor tucker, Indians and Irish leave for Marselles U.S.A
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Battleship plays the National Anthem as we pull out to stream
March 3rd
Passing Athens conditions rotten, cannot even get drinking water, nothing to wash our mess tins with, no forks plates or mugs issued us
March 4th
Arrived Lemnos Island, beautiful harbour scores of Warships, transports, Destroyers and submarines,
March 5
Lying in Harbour awaiting orders
6th
we row Queenslanders ashore to make room
7th
Admiral of the fleet comes aboard
We form a boat crew, to row men ashore
8th
Rowed 10 men ashore back in evening, buy nick nacks, good feed
9th
Long route march ashore, pulled ashore in boats, have a good day
10th
great rejoicing cant go ashore to rough
11th
On prison guard, Warships & Transports arrive
12th
French General visit our ships
13th
Rowing men ashore, 1¾ hrs to do a trip, to rough to handle boats
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14 March
Church Parade, Captured German steamer arrives, big hole in her, we get a good haul of wheat & Flour
16 March
tried to carry out night attack, we have a bad time, very bad weather, heavy rain some boats reach shore, others stuck in mud some run into warships, sentry challenge them, Australians tell them to get –
Jacob "no comments”, we get wet through boats take us anywhere
17
Climbing hills all day skirmishing
18th
Greek gets a bad handling by Tommies
Spry gives lecture on Turkey Inflexible badly injured Irresistible sunk Golith sunk
Invincible and Lord Nelson hit, Ocean sunk in Dardanelles, supply ship sunk Bouvet sunk
20th Saturday
Very rough home all day, as us,
Sunday
Church parade warm sunny day. HMS Sydney arrives with mail
22nd March
General Birdwood visits our ships, 20,000 troop arrive to date, waiting for 8 Regiments from china
24th
very rough boats leave, French ship arrives
25 March
Very rough Lecture by Major Hurcombe
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and Brand have to wait 3 weeks before attacking Turks, everyone sorry shoot on White flag Lizzie gets a shell into her bows, warships awaiting munitions
Friday 26 March
Eleven miles route march ashore more sore feet only a rumour
Sunday 28
Ceremonial guard man who built Forts in Dardanelles comes aboard turns out to be a spy, shot
29th
A. B. and D. Company march to capital to hoist British flag. 18 men buried off Inflexible, drowned in bows through being hit by shell, Inflexible in Lemnos
30th
we do a little foraging caught stealing sugar got some jam and cheese had a lovely bust up
31st
On prison guard we receive our first mail for 5 weeks great rejoicing
April 1st
Fools day received 13 letters & papers everywhere
2nd
Company training ashore
3rd
Church Parade Officers Mess, to get out of rain
5th
Received news to land on Friday, great rejoicing getting full equipment very rough
6th
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Oiling ammunition 220 rounds each
Inflexible leaves for Malta
7 Wednesday
loading horses, record job, working winch on Malta
8 April
Route march first and second Brigade arriving captured 2 German cargo boats land Dardanelles Sunday
Friday
Took rashions ashore, boat got astray
Suffold giving us stores.
Saturday 10th
Seaplane above more British troops arrive 5 letters arrive for me, first and second Reinforcements arrive
April 12
Arrested four spies on Lemnos Island, priest
13
All high Officers leave for the front to spy out position, nothing doing for us
14th
On Guard receive 8 tins tobacco per man
15th
Received iron rations two days, 50 extra rounds
16 Friday
Spell all day boarded Prince of Wales to practice landing, shown over Warships. Turks get to our transport 100 drowned in panic.
17
shifted out to mouth of Harbour
18th
Practised landing off warship, Nurses
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and sailors come aboard Ionian for Dardanelles, had my last bath, Turks destroyer at large we get it
Monday
Practising landing off Prince of Wales 6 PM. Till 3. AM.
Tuesday
Sleeping all day after night work
Wednesday
Resting till Saturday our last spell for many months
Saturday April 23rd
Boarded Prince of Wales, left for Dardanelles Lizzie leading, Triumph Swiftsure London Bacchante, Majestic, Prince of Wales had a good night on Warboat had a splendid meal our last
Sunday 25 April
about early. boarded barges pinnances tow us ashore, a long while getting there a bright light shines out on sure. Gaba Tepe fires heavy guns at us, infantry open out on us many killed landing nearly drowned getting ashore, we throw off our packs, and start to rush hill, Talbot Smith leads, wounded Turk in trench Morphia kills him. Three more prisoners at tents further on, they are settled, we push on and form a line a living Hell all day, schrapnel pouring on us, Gilpin, and Smith, Burn’s, Killed 30 out of 58 settled in our trenches, dug in at darkness, very tired, no food or water. Turk coming at us all night
Monday 26nd
Stanbridge killed, heavy fire all day The Dublin and Munster Fuisler land off River Clyde over ¾ killed
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Glades / 08 April kill by schraps, Mountain Battery and Navy do good work, Lizzie puts joy in us, she lands a shell in a hill fearful explosion, wounded cannot get attention, two days exposed, we have to clear dead and wounded out of line to make room for troops, 30 dead behind us we have 28 out of 58 left fearful and cruel sights, we kill our own man in front of trench, he would not answer our challenge
Tuesday
Turks shell our trenches, cannot shift us, many killed about, having a bad time no food or water, Turks still at us, we hang on
Wednesday
On our last legs, no sleep since Sunday Jacobs seriously injured, we are all in but Turks cannot get us. we get relief in evening
Thursday 29 April
out of trenches for spell four days & nights, only 83 out of 238 men accounted for slept on beach. among biscuit boxes, had a little soup to knocked out to make tea, shelled all day water scarce
Saturday
back in trenches right wing digging down, looking for snipers Engineers lay barb wire
Sunday May 2nd
Snipers busy Engineers and scouts out in front, fixing barb wire
10,000 men killed & wounded in six days, we are hard pressed thin lines
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3rd
have sleep in trenches, guns firing everywhere scrubcutters out, turks give us schrapnel shells hit transport work on beach
4th
relieved from trenches, have a swim, schrap flying all around us, putting more Artillery in Lizzie has a shot, carrying water on mules [indecipherable] mix up mules Macarty, Red, and [indecipherable] all roads, Gun boats fire on Gaba Tepe who has another shot at us
5th
up at 4.30 to stand to arms, always sleep in equipment, breakfast 5-15 on Fatigue slept all day back to trenches 11,30 under heavy schrap fire, no tea very cold all night attack Gaba Tepe Machine Guns keep our men off, Turks bury their dead 11th row over and get theirs
Thursday 6th
in Trenches slow day lugging rashions about
Beachy Bill comes to light kills 13 men and several mules, men go out to locate gun
Friday
Removed to supports Curly is resserected joins us heavy schrapnel fire, dig deeper, nearly wiped out going for water
Saturday 8th May
Bob Inwood joins us, 3rd Reinforcements join us, Curly gives me socks and underpants Pinkney shot through right eye, bury him, Pte P.J. Pinkney 319 killed in section May 8th buried May 9th. Farmer shot through head
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Monday 10th May
Tired after digging all night, no ration this morning , mules run amock lost our rations poor us everytime.
11th May
actually have a spell Roy Inwood cooks a good meal, shell burst on top of our trench nearly spoilt our meal, like to see that turk gunner, we sing Australia while Tune digs for shell, had a night’s rest.
12th
Back in firing line, pushing trenches forward towards Turks always digging though exhausted, Lieut Smyth give us cigarettes killed returning to beach chaps have a good time on rum fatigue one nearly buried for dead man
13 May
spell day, had a good dinner, onions potatoes Bully Bacon tea sugar light horse expected lovely weather
Friday 14th
Firing line again plenty schrap about no sleep all night,
Saturday
on water guard, shells keep us busy very tired hear Italy has joined Allies heavy Artillery fire on our trenches many wounded 3 killed.
Sunday
on water Guard, shells as usual, had a bath washed my clothes, had a shave Cullen killed, tourist digging for shells Jack Tar comes up for Turk Rifle
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Monday 17
Turks put new guns into position shelling Hell out of our new troops who are landing, Turks have a night off, Staff Major killed N Zealanders take trenches Turks 4 feet deep in trenches dead, had to leave it, getting Howitzers into position, 2nd Brigade return from Cape Helles only 16 hundred left
Tuesday 18th
Severe attack on us all night, we keep Turks off Burt Davey and Atwell killed also 4 others Turks come up in Droves, we get on parapet
Artillery severely bombard our trenches
trenches like a earthquake dirt allroads
Thursday 20
Turks come up again shot down as they approach our line, we go out and secure all the dead Turks Rifles and ammunition
Captain Cornish nearly captures Turk, Casey misses his Turk mahomeding and attacking 3 to many for Casey, dead Turk laying everywhere Casey shoots a W. Turk
Friday
General Bridges mortally wounded, Turks come in to arrange armistace, Von Sanders commands Turks, our Artillery cuts up there reinforcements Turks get armistac for next day
Turk Generals offsider will not go back
Saturday 22nd May
In firing line very quiet, schraps about use Trench mortar on Turks submarines about, dead Turks smell very bad
Sunday
Again searched Turk got more rifles and ammunition, Belts tomahawk
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Bandoliers shovels, I smell very stinky Turks in with another armistace, Warships bombard enemy 300 shots fired across Olive Groves, Germans drop a bomb in our lines kills Bill cocks
Monday 24
Armistace arranged 7-30 till 4-30 to bury dead, we cannot find German Officer removed 51,000 against 16,000 of us casualties
Tuesday
Turks play the game did not abuse Armistace Twi Triumph Torpedoed, Destroyers rushing to help Turks fire on rescue party
Wednesday
Majestic Torpedoed 4th Reinforcements arrive, Turks very quiet
Friday
Actually having a spell for two days
Saturday
Turks blow up our trenches, our men go to Quinns Post sapping, Turks firing all night 200 our men killed and wounded, retake trenches, Turks lose 800
Sunday 30th
Return to firing line heavy fighting on left, our Submarine enters Sea of Marmora and Golden Horn, sinks 3 transports, away 18 days
Monday
Submarines keep our shipping moving Torpedo boats hunting all roads
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Tuesday & Wednesday
Captured two submarines in nets
Thursday
25,000 Turks arrive more sport
Friday June 4th
severe bombardment by Warships we fire on Voltures kill three, fresh meat for tea
Sunday
Goliath sunk using Mauser all night
Church service
Riot amongst Australian and Tennese crew Australia wins
Wednesday
E11 sinks 10 Turk boats to date maggots in N.Z. trenches, sig arrested Monitor arrives
Friday
Heavy machine gun bombardment star shells used
Saturday 12th
Turks give us heavy bombardment. two men killed, layed up with fumes, throw bomb to wake men up
Sunday
Our warships bombard gun displacement and incoming Turkish troops for one hour
Tuesday 14
Drilling reinforcements under heavy schrapnel fire, men had no training, Monitor fires on shore Aeroplanes about
Wednesday
Turks shell our trenches, sawtor shot throug head, 35,000 troops land Cape Helles
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Thursday & Friday June 17 & 18
Aeroplane drops two bombs on Gaba Tepe Curly Richards killed by schrapnel through right lung
Tuesday 22nd
Carrying tea, dig trenches in front of 11th lines 100 men engaged, no one hit two men
Wednesday 24th
Turks shelling all day, several killed on Beach, Captain Holmes killed
Friday
Agamemnon shells Turks & destroyers around her Ballon observing, Howitzers try to get Beachy Bill, six howitzers and 500 Scots arrive from Glasgow, Weston killed scrub cutting
Saturday
Man killed B Coy observing
Gen Hamilton visits our line, plenty of Bombs about
Sunday
Ten bomb throwers go over to Turk trenches, Turks open up violent fire on us, the poundage chaps give them buckshees
Monday 29th
Heavy bombardment Cape Helles, 3rd Brigade bombard enemys right 11th attack trenches capture but cannot hold them, Gabe Tepe plays on them, 40 killed 50 wounded in cold blood open up fireworks and dummies, yell like fury, Turks keep quiet, Turks strip our dead, fire on our wounded, our chaps call the Turks everything, guns killed 1500 Turk Reinforcements
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July 1st
stormy night, kite sent over Turk lines to drop messages, our dead still in front of Turk trenches, make envelopes out of paper
Thursday July 2nd
going out for spell, dirty night Thunder lighting and rain, Turks bring up two new guns Pte Handcock supposed to be shot as spy
Monday 5th
got 50 shells a 4. AM. after arriving from digging, Jack Johnstone fires on our Beach, swimmer hit by schrapnel swears he is Torpedoed, French Transport sunk 30,000 Tommies arrive Tucker very poor two wet nights
Tuesday
Marching Order inspection
till Sunday 11th July
Left for Imbros on large tranship on to Al Kahira at 4 oclock in morning frightened of Beachy Billie two regiment of Gurhkas and one of Tommies arrive ships sank for breakwater
Monday
Had a good rest left for Anzac Cove in evening reach beach at 12 oclock to tired go and I sleep there till morn
Tuesday
Rested Tuesday took over WA trenches go into firing line
Wednesday 14th
Working hard digging Artillery active
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Friday 16 July
brought in dead Turk to bury, stinking fearfully, new trenches opened up tunnels everywhere, rope around Turk drag him in show knocked our trenches out of shape
Saturday 17
on ammunition work, severe bombardment from .75 gun,18lbs gunner killed two injured, Ginger wounded
Sunday 18th
Aeroplane looks for .75 pounding bom-bards turks, Turks bombard our lines 17 Howitzers arrive, respirators and smoke Helmets given out, gas signal in trench, gas machine there
Tuesday
getting our new line into shape very warm, 3 monitors fire into Turks lines, Aeroplane and ballon up, plenty of bombs buzzing about
Wednesday
big attack expected, shells and bombs flying all roads,
Thursday
Lecture on ammunition carrying, 3rd Brigade run down in a bad way worked to death, nerves going through so many shells bursting around them
Friday 23 July
men standing to allnight waiting for Turks, men worn out
Sat Sun Monday
Howitzers firing all night, rows about food not enough, Turks dont come
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Tuesday July 27th
Frank Hughes has leg broken in two places peppered about body, trench mortar hit him, sniper hit our lad in leg, we kill sniper 700 yds away
Tommies know how to bury dead, just a rope around him and drag him in, throw grappling irons over parapet and drag in dead and wounded.
poor 2nd Brigade laying about the roads exhausted, sick men can-not get away, laying about in danger of shells, concussion awful when guns fire,
we observe for 8” shells warn the crowd who retire, all the flatites in a funk, the cook retires hasity to the right
Wednesday 28th
Indians move guns to the left near our snipers place to infalade Turks trenches they land one into Tasman post,
Thursday 29th
Clarke killed bullett in the head I get his riding pants
Friday 30th
Youds killed by bomb, Connell seriously injured. Bomb falls in trench
Saturday July 31st
Turk trenches mined and then
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captured by the 11th Battalion, severe hand to hand go, trenches 8 ft deep Turk counter attacks easily beaten off, captured two machine guns, severe bomb and Artillery duel, we loose 22 deaths 70 wounded, Turks have 100 killed Turks squeal like pigs, they mined ours but we got in first blue light gave the signal to start, 3 men killed in B Coy by our Howitzer falling short
Monday 2nd
heavy Howitzer fire on our guns 3,000 kitcheners army arrive
3rd
two men killed by snipers, 8”shell falls in grave digs corpse out his head on our parapet, his clothes on telephone wire
Wednesday 4th Aug
Aeroplane duel in air Taube clears out sixth Reinforcements arrive, several English and Gurkhas arrive, Beachy land 40 rounds on new troops arriving Turk see blue light and blaze away for all they are worth
Friday the sixth
Turks attack 11th trenches make a violent bomb attack, Turks capture trenches, but our lads take them again, we lose 300 men they took us by surprise, Tune and Walker snipe a lot of the Turks, our big battle starts five 2 trenches taken 5.30
Saturday
Big battle raging Artillery defeaning
The Battle of Lonesome Pine
40,000 Tommies under Gen Stopforth defeated after landing at Suvla bay
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Colonel killed in front. Turks would not jump over there Parapet go to our lines, they are bayoneted 7ft 6’ Turk too long for our sap he is dragged out, Turks men in half moon tunnel, we bomb them they howl and cry, saps full of dead 70 of C Coy 12 Batt killed men out of bombs have to leave trench guard on trenches and saps
one of our guns fires 182 shots in 2 hrs 5 warships and 3 monitors arrive 1st and 3rd Brigades have a bad time, two divisions land on left, get in three miles without firing a shot, Indian No13 follows up Turks.
Saturday August 9th
Received cards Photo 1st and 2nd Brigade still hiring in for theirs and taking trench after trench capture 16 maxims 3 Norden – buts two mortars, the sky is full of flying shells, Colonel could not read map
Colonel makes our wounded fight, Turks made to rebuild captured trenches, dont shoot Australia me Christian 1000 dead carried out 2nd day. 2 brothers in charge wounded
could not get in 1st line run to last line trenches
turks tear there clothes to make flags of truce
800 wounded at Lemnos in Sun exposed to weather for day, Nurses rush to Anzac bring 4 loads
18 Batt wrongly lead 750 killed
Monday 10th
Johnsons scatters the back of the Hill Brigade, retreat 100 yds to right, we have no dinner water carrier cannot come up Gully schrapnel to bad, our boys still advance of the left
sank Turk warship take 750 prisoners sank transport, submarines fire on troops, Kitcheners men do fatigue bury the dead etc, while we do the fighting
Tuesday 11th
five of our Aeroplanes up, we chase Fritz, 250 wounded men go past in two and a half hours Bombs get them, our lads have none to throw back Tommies desert our lads, Beachy kills 8 mules, 7,000 casualties to date
Friday 13th
Joe Knight and Jack Meade killed by sixth inch Howitzer shell falling in their dug out, Artillery men find Joe’s legs apply to get in Amm Park
Jacks body cut in two, Joe lives 2 minutes
Gen Sir, Ian Hamilton, recalled to England, a scape goat for Stopforths failure
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August 16th
write to Mr Knight Edna Rodgers Miss Moor Attention Dept, Chas Banks Royal Edward Torpedoed off Lemnos 3000 on board 600 saved
Wed and Thursday
Heavy fighting Achi Baba
August 23rd
3rd Contingent arrived, 18th Batt loose 800 men through getting in wrong trenches, NZ troops take four trenches, Turks get scared and give us rapid fire for over an hour, our lads marching about all day with Bayonets fixed, Jack think we are going to attack him, the fire Incendary bombs at us
August 26th Thursday
Ginger Dale has hand blown off by bomb faulty fuse, Bob Inwood peppered General medical inspection
August 27th Friday
1½ divisions Tommie landed they go straight into action, heavy firing for 25 hours, luck in England
August 29 Sunday
German Aeroplane droops 5 bombs the water carriers raid a bees’ hive
Monday 31st
lad killed in D Coy 6” shell, things very good to day Humpy begins to fall in
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Tuesday Sept 1st
700 Prisoners captured on left our lads bring them to Beach 70,000 Troops at Egypt to relieve us
Thursday Sept 3rd
Clarke captures two Turks, they bring rations with them, I get a new pair of trousers
Friday
Italians land at Boular, Watching bombard Beachy, Don and I build a snipers possie,
Tuesday Sept 1st
Dorflinger Southland torpedoed off Lemnos 4 Pte and Brigadier killed
6th Brigade aboard beaches in Lemnos
Harry Horder killed by 75 Gun both legs blown off,
our boys in England make the acquain-tance of some ladies, the asked who the lads were "Australians” the boys replied, "You speak perfect English for foreigners” the ladies replied they think every state in Australia speaks different lingo
Thursday Sept 9th
Rocky Maxwell shot by our own Patrol while out on a screen, Baynes and Caine fired on while laying Barb wire things are hot in front
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Sept 9th
Dobson says 35 Aust were drowned on Southland, two of the crew shot, Australians had to man the fires to run the ship into Lemnos seen torpedo coming, submarine tied of behind mine sweeper
Sept 10th
Heavy howitzer fire 19 shots at observation station on gun ridge 8” shell lobs near my dug out, new men run for their life, we have a stunt in front,
Sept 11th
Frank Huges dies from the effects of bomb wounds at Malta 26
Sept 12th
Man sniped on WC filled his key hole, Turks fire on Red Cross, acting Lance Jack in firing line Lowland battery has six misses, ground to soft
Sept 13th
lad killed in circular trench shot in head, loop hole open 3rd contingent fighting on left
Sept 15th
in rest trenches Howitzers blowing up Turk trenches plenty of bombs about Roy Inwood goes to Hospital
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Friday 17 September
12th Batt relieve us for two days have a stunt last night, we throw empty tins at the turks warships bombard trenches Turks think we are going to attack, they pour shots into our lines, 6 of the light horse go out for keeps attacking on left Gen Hunter Weston goes home, 2000 Turks oppose new landing
Tuesday 21st
7th reinforcements arrive on Sept 17th one of them got a bullet through his Periscope, machine gun placed in Handcock trench, we again sling Jam tins over parapet
September 25th
A big stunt on Turks in front of our position, our artillery open up heavy cannade, we fire colored rockets, hoist dummies, burn flares, on timber guard, made a Lance Corporal on Sept 24th,
Sunday 26th September
Five Months today since we landed McLean goes to hospital, I have a severe headache for five days,
Wednesday 28
I am orderly Corporal for the week Sprott goes to Hospital we buy 6 dozen eggs only one pound
our siege Howitzers play havoc with the Turk Trenches
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Thursday Sept 30th
Taylor A Cm Killed bullet through head
75, lands 5 shells in our Circular trench Tommy Kelly blows half his foot off with bomb
Dr Pott leaves for Hospital Enteric
Saturday Oct 2nd
20,000 Gurkhas & New Founlanders arrive on the left, Essie’s cake arrive heavy Howitzers play havoc with Turks trench. Monitor fires on Gaba Tepe lay barb wire in front heavy firing at Ache Baba, seven days rations come up
King of Greece betrays us
Monday Oct 3rd & 4th
Turks shell us in there trenches with Bayonets fixed, we all stand to, but they don’t come, Gaba Tepe again bombarded,
Thursday Oct 7th
Attacked lone Pine, one of our lads kill 5 Turks and wound two with bombs, three lads shot while saving a Turk
Saturday Oct 9th
Turks use gas on the left, Bulgaria enters the war arena, Jim Merry killed by a bomb falling in his dug-out in old firing line,
Sunday 10th
Turk surrenders is shot in leg on Beach Turks fire on him. our stretcher bearers go for him at night our covering party fires on theirs we win
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Oct 12th
My Birthday we have some sport firing on a Turks blanket his batman will get the sack, Monty has a duel with Turks he throws 65 bombs at them Biscuits arrive from Ivy Tommy Hunter Corporal
13th
6 unknown men buried (here lies six dead heroe’s, 23 Batt chap blows head off with bomb, he held it too long, we have to stand to Turk bomb throwers coming too close, eyes bad get a pair of glasses
Oct 20
Two days spell had lovely mutton dinner
Oct 21st
12th Battalion man shoots his mate while cleaning his rifle, he looks down Barrel, bad with Diarreha
Oct 16th
Play accordion in Artillery Road, Turks fire trench bombs at us, our observers give us the office, howitzers try to blow up a trench mortar, they land two on our circular trench, Wade sings out who threw that pluck,
Oct 26
heavy bomb lands among nine Platoon packs, & packs are blown to pieces our machine guns knocked out 14 shells fired at it, our machine gun wont go off it is trained on a Battalion of Turks when the bloke blows the whistle machine jams
[Page 32]
Gaiting gun on Boulder dumps
Oct 27
Our fleet bombard Dedargatch, knock the Pier to pieces, blew up Torpedo Base, knocked railway to pieces, cuts off communication with Turks etc, French link up with Serbians, everything is lovely
Oct 28
German Aeroplane brought down at Suvla Bay, another Fritz comes over but keeps up very high, 6 Beaship open out on our stores we have half rations for a week, ½ rations water, our names come out in orders for doing 6 months continuous service,
Our troops are giving Bulgaria a hard time
Nov 1st
Our lads blow up Johnsons Jolly they rush the trench to soon two officers and 5 Pte die from fumes a mug pulls the tags on a bomb
bomb goes off finish men, 17” gun supposed to be on Imbros, spies expited in they will have a job on 200 men left in 3rd Battalion
Nov 5 Guy Fawkes
Turks try to charge light horses lines, they sneak up with sand bags for protection
our lads bomb them off, we are preparing for another fresh attack tonight machine guns and Mountain Battery in trenches
[Page 33]
Monday Nov 8th 1915
Light horse take Turks trenches, they meet with no opposition, Howitzers blown the trenches up first, Turks shelling our lines to make up for us taking their lines
Tuesday 9th
Beachy Bill fires 16 shots into Chathams Post, trenches knocked about badly, we cannot man one trench on account of it being blown to pieces, things are in a bad way down there, bags smashed all over
If we had of countered attack on May 19, we could have wiped the Turks off the Peninsula war will finish next Easter
Nov 12th
Large bomb explodes in 23 Battalion AMC dugout 3 killed 5 wounded 20 casualties caused by another bomb
Nov 13
Lord Kitchener, arrives put in for Japanese Mortar 75 knocks officers WC all roads bloke cooking in dugout never heard it
Monday 15th
Heavy bombardment Achi Baba cannot leave for Lemnos sea too rough
Nov 16
Rough sea delaying our tugs little water for 2 days captured Hill 60,Mortars heavily bombard Gallipoli
Flour Mills destroyed, shelled city
17 =
Left lines for bivouac heavy gale blowing, high sea, all our dugouts drenched we have a lovely night, drying blankets all next day we sneak back to old lines for shelter
[Page 34]
18 Thursday
Beachy heavily bombards the Beach Taube flies over guns chase it off finds out our Bivouac
Friday 19
Wind goes down water very scarce very cold Beachy gets 90 men
Saturday 20 Turks fire heavy shells on to our Bivouac one lands left of my dugout, several fall in Gully, we are not disturbed
Sunday 21
Church Parade, Gilbert goes to Hospital, officer & men killed first day they relieve us officer puts his head over parapet finish officer
Monday Nov 22
Leave Anzac on water tank, then on to Princess Ena very cold cast anchor 6 AM arrive Lemnos after very cold and rough passage 12 men stay on board all day and night
Tuesday Nov 23
Leave Princess Ena at 8 AM. Board Ferryboat Waterwith, very cold and hungry no food for two days land at 9 AM. March four miles to camp 2nd Brigade Band plays us in sleep in large tents 45 men
Wednesday 24. 25
Rested in camp received bottle Porter
Friday 26
Visited villages chummed up with women folks, learned how to make cotton, and
[Page 35]
wool, weave clothes, buy Margarine cakes had a cup of tea [indecipherable] and cake [indecipherable], with the work-ing folks, a very interesting days outing
Saturday 27th Nov
Received 8-9-10th Reinforcements shifted to new tents reformed,
Sunday Nov 28
Church Parade very cold, sailors from Battleships give us a lively concert in ymca Tent, then play a game of football everyone gets wet, going for photos today
Tuesday Nov 30th
Two cases Diptheria 1 meningitis all 3rd Brigade isolated, 300 Tommies from Suvla Bay frost bitten, trenches half full of water, very cold, heavy sleet blowing, men suffering very bad from rheumatism, had my teeth seen to, met Sister Daw in 2nd Aus Station Hospital
Thursday Dec 2nd
Heavy rain in Gallipoli 30 Tommies drowned 200 Frost bitten, 2 case of Diptheria, camp isolated, off Duty no boots to wear
Saturday Dect [indecipherable] .1910
Played W A Football scores WA 1pt SAus 8-7- a good game, our lads took 3 rows of trenches at Courteneys post lost 15 casualties
Sunday
Church Parade, took washing to village [indecipherable] bombards Lone Pine, grand
[Page 36]
concert by 12 Battalion meet Gordon Douglas, received a new pair of Boots Selected for the Scouts
Tuesday 7th
Played Tasmania Football scores Tasmania 6-5-10th 8-4
Thursday 9
Played A.M.C. Football scores AMC 10[indecipherable] made corporal Dec 7th in charge ration Fatigue 42
Sunday
Church Parade 5 & 6 Battalions arrive back from Anzac only there 3 weeks they say 23 & 24 men were buried and 260 killed by big guns when changing over we play No-9 Platoon football
Friday 17th Dec
Troops leaving Peninsula 5 & 6 -27-28-25 & 26 Battalions arrived back, Howitzer Battery, many Lighthorse arrive, Light Horse embarking for Egypt, Long Tom blown up, all trenches mined ready to blow up as soon as Turks come in. Turks charge our vacated trench the men charge blown trenches up and our lads retake them this was a ruse for later on, Reef has pick through all tins men have run of the ordanence stores, machine gun men will cover retreat, B.O.C yesterday
Sunday 19th
4- 8-11 & 12 Light Horse arrive, all stores burnt up on Peninsula, trenches mined dummies rigged up in trenches, Barb wire layed, Rum run away to waste 600 mules shot,
[Page 37]
Dec 25 – 15 Xmas Day
Xmas Puddings and Boiled Beef. Received cans, received no mail, could not land it waiting any moment to proceed to Tel-el Kebir
Sunday 26
Packed up left at 7 AM. for transport Seang Bee pulled out to North left 5 AM Monday morning for Egypt
Monday 27
Ord Sergt for week, Sub guard good boat, good food, Hammocks having a fine time
28
at Sea, no subs yet first hot meal for 10 months hot cocoa and buns for supper had a good wash and rest
Wednesday 29
Reach Alexandria at 11-AM. standing out waiting to disembark, had my first hot bath for 10 months, reached wharf A & B Coy leave by first official train for Tel, el.Kebir at 11-45 PM had no rest all night knocked nigger and got a meal of tin fruit, fish and Pudding, had great fun at zag a zig chasing niggers along station arrived at camp 6, A.M Bivouaced for day
Friday 31
Company out training, hot day, cold night, New Years Eve
wear shorts in winter time, on Battlefield where big battle was fought in 1882,
[Page 38]
troop trains arriving all the while 250,000 men to camp here Essad Pashas trenches
January 1st 1916
men breaking out of camp cannot procure food, strong guard all around lines on 2[indecipherable] allowed 30 hrs leave
2nd
no food large batch of our men brought in from Cairo 9th Batt revolt at Alexander cannot collect them
Turks kill 30 men 1 officer who surrendered Turks officer shot our officer dead, our men were blamed for shooting their prisoners
4th
Fatigue all day men being tried for breaking camp
6 Jan 16
Church Parade visited zagazig stayed Grand Hotel had good meal bought Beades for Beryl. Moslems hold their procession Egyptian Brass band leads, soldiers and warders follow, Mounted police lead on beautiful Arab ponies
Monday Jan 9th
Leave camp at 3. PM for Cairo pass several troop trains,
12 Jan
Pass stayed at Royal Hotel had a good bed morning coffee in bed, visited Bazaar, secured presents for Elsie Beryl, Miss Davey, posted Birts’ Bible Cairo full of troops. hired car to go for Kit bags, had two blows outs fastes drive ever I had through Cairo missing everything by inches, more exciting than Gallipoli
[Page 39]
15 Jan
Joined grenadiers in charge of C Coys men, dig trenches practice throwing bombs
19th
Several train loads of camels Mules Indians and Tommies go through to Ismallia had my photo taken with an Arab boy Cairo is out-of bounds no leave granted
22nd
Received news to shift camp bomb throwing all day, received Mabels medal got a new pair of boots 5=0=0 pay canteen is suffering trip to desert night operation everyone lost, treacle spilt all over our blankets, Black kit bags sent back to Base on 22-1-16, Buckshee money 16/- presented to us by trench fun Hill men only
Jan 24th
had a day in camp, had a lovely drink of Egyptian coffee, with Railway fitter gave him seven pairs of boots, had coffee with him at night, bought watch off him, he teaches me Arabic
25th
struck tents at 8. AM cleared up lines, entrained at, 2 PM for canal reached there at 5-30 crossed over at 8, oclock marched inland one mile camped for night ,terrible cold no sleep all night only one blanket, we swear all night,
[Page 40]
26 Wednesday
got up in morn very stiff with cold we pitch tents, go for walk along canal, sent to Canal on Fatigue, men pinch have the others coming back Machoniche milk etc
27 Thursday
Skirmishing on water fatigue at Canal raining like Hell, Suffolk tied up 3 men clear out on her,
28
Strike camp at 5.15 AM, had to wait until 11-15 for water before moving out several men fall out on march beaten they crawl in during night, water very scarce, we had four biscuits and small piece of cheese issued to us for 24 hours to march on, to severe all soon fall asleep after tents are pitched
29
9-A.M parade inspection Rifles etc nothing doing all day carried barb wire out to defense works, spit on our hands to wash face
31st
digging trenches on outpost all night dry biscuits and tin of Bully for dinner
2nd February
Trench digging near our old positions for No-4 post lads dig up dead Turks use skulls for Football, other Coy arrive food very scarce
8 Feb
Start our Grenade class with new men, inlying Picquet
[Page 41]
11-12 February 1915
stopped trench digging, Bomb Throwing ordered Rations stores etc, Lectures on our next Battle inlying Picquet carrying sand letter from Jean Rowe, wrote Miss Ninham
19 Saturday
Turks patrol coming near digging trenches crimed for leaving Equipment in bins, inlying Picquet, Batt orderly cpl,
26 Wednesday
Left Kabeita front line camped at Rail Head
27 Feb
Bivauc boarded train for Suez canal arrived at one oclock had a lovely swim in canal had dinner left Serapium by train for Tel-el-Kebir
28 Feb 29 Feb
Pitching tents for 11 Batt New Reinforcements 11 & 13 arrived Batt ord N.C.O.
Thursday March 1st
Reinforcements arrive, put into Platoons
Saturday 4
Left Tel el Kebir for Zeitoun at 9-30 arrive Zeitoun 1-30. open trucks, look around Heliopolis.
March 5
Visit Cairo afternoon
Saturday 12th March
examination in Musketry 91 points
19 March
examination in Musketry 90 points
March 24
grand concert in Sgt mess
[Page 42]
March 26
Leave Zeitoun for Tel el Kebir
March 29
bad rash breaks out on my face doing Route Marches preparing to leave on Friday very hot weather
March 31st
up 4.AM. Breakfast 4.45 leave camp for Massamah dusty and hot arrive at Bivouac 12 noon rest all day got hold of some lemonade and muck
April 1st
up 4.Am. Breakfast 4-45 leave Massamah 6-10 for Mahsomah fearfully hot and dusty 15 miles trip arrive at Bivuoac 4. PM. had a swim followed canal all the way,
April 2nd
be up 4.AM. Breakfast 4-45 strike camp 6-10 follow canal arrive Serapieum 3-PM., very heavy sand all the way very hot, pinched 4 doz soda water hung up at canal, 12 mile trip old hands and 27 reinforcement us 64 men in plt, had a swim in canal
15 Bdge lose 13 men died of thirst they came to salt water swamp all swim in it some go mad and drink water die afterwards, New Zealanders go out with ambulance and rescue many colonel lost his track, over page
April 10th
2 Spanish troopships pass through canal
[Page 43]
2 Russian ships go pass with troops for France
13 April
Enter 13 field Amb Hospital Debility
16
9th Light Horse Patrol goes out to capture Turks and blow up wells which they
are sinking Cpl Nonogan killed 8 wounded capture 60 Bedouin Arabs and Turks, 1 Austrian officer
17 APRIL
Transferred to No-3 Aus Auxialliary Hospt Ismalia go down Canal in Hosp ship
19
transferred to No=3 Aus Gen Hospital Abbassieh, leave at 10-30 on Hosp train hung up for 1½ hrs at Serapieum get tea bread and butter reach Cairo 4-15 met on station by Red Cross ladies given tea and biscuits, go off in motor amb- to Hospital
April 2nd
14th Bdge lost by Colonel Irving in desert on march to Canal from Tel el Kebir, 12 ptes died from thirst and sunstroke Lieut and NCO shoot themselves, throw away all their packs equipment, staggered out all over country drink salt water go mad scouts go out aeroplane find men, N Zealanders go out with all the Ambulances and Watercarts, bring in scores of men, they saved scores of men, men run about naked awful sight
[Page 44]
APRIL 23
Sunday we go to church
25 – 25 Anzac Day
we have lovely sports and concert in Hospital Ground. Receive cigarette case from Red Cross fund boarded by colonel for Australia
May 1 st
still in Hospt. large body of wounded men arrive from England, on there way to Australia, British Yeomanry lose 400 dead 7 mile out Austrians and Germans surround them and shoot their horses,160 ladies captured 40 suffering from V.D.
May 5th
Afternoon off to go to Anzac Hostel had a look around city
May 3rd
8 German Aeroplanes attack Suez drop 40 Bombs, try and wreck wharf 140 killed 230 wounded
10th
all Light Horse leaving for Palestine & Syria, Infantry at prison
13
Transferred to Luna Park, Hospt
16
Concert given by the Countess Jasinsky in Dining Hall lad dies with heat
[Page 45]
23 May
190 men leave for Suez 80 are returned no room for them on the ARMIDALE
24 Empire Day
have a walk round Cairo, buy neck-laces for kiddies
about June 8th
480 men leave on Itonias for home
14th
buy horns have a walk around Heliopolis list to be called out today
June 22nd
Up 5.30 Breakfast start to leave hospital by Motors for Cairo station 6-30 I arrive there 8.30. Train leaves for Suez 9-45, we have tea and cake before leaving have bottle of drink outside Tel-el-Kebir arrive at Suez 3-15 PM, go aboard 5. PM, have a scramble for food etc Sid and I leave sleep on deck to hot below
24
Pull out to stream at 7-AM steam pipe burst hang us up leave stream at
1-20 PM, great excitement man over board 6-40 we lower 3 lifeboats capt throws out lifebelts, cannot find man for ½ hour, men see him 300 yds from life belt boat rescues him collapses, have great difficulty in hauling men and boats aboard rough sea, men cheer as sailors come aboard, our soldiers and Dr helps, Lunatic
[Page 46]
June 25
Hot as blazes in Red Sea
28
Passed Perium Hells Gates at 10-30 Aden 8,PM
29th
Pay day out in mid ocean, very hot & developed Prickly Heat
30th
very rough sick as a dog had no lunch all the lads are knocked out 14 days to WA cross the line on the second
2nd
Cross the line at 4.30 very close still
July 4 th
buried Pte Tucker 27 Batt, buglers play last post, firing party fire volley of three rounds, Dysentry
5 July
Pte McDonald lost supposed to have gone overboard, man throws hot water over Sgt Gibbs
July 9th
going good want men to handle coal
Saturday July 16th
Arrived Fremantle Friday night anchored outside in roadstend pulled in to Wharf on Saturday morning troopships there bound for France, left WA at 12-30 for Melbourne.
Monday
Good trip but very cold
[Page 47]
22nd July
arrive Melbourne
23rd
leave by special train for Adelaide
24
Arrive Adelaide go into Hospital
finis
9th Au
[Page 48]
To Jack Macarty Gallipoli
From Maud C
Will the finder please forward the book to Miss Carthew
Carlton
Oconner St
Haberfield
Sydney
and oblige a soldier mate
This book is the property of H Macarty
10th Inf. first Australia Forces
next of kin J Baker: Filsell St
Henly Park
Thebarton
Adelaide
Ammusing Incidents of War,
Pte to Turks, How many of you are over there,
Turks Tousands of us, Pte throwing a bomb, here divide this amongst you
Turks throw a bomb at N. Zealanders hits on the Head, fails to explode, examine it afterwards it is full of solids
Turks call us Fenians, Australia aboriginals, wasters no good at fighting, to determined to surrender though we are beaten,
Right wing 18 lbs guns in firing line Colonel Weir sits down for a chat gun is fired Colonel "am I hit” rises two feet in air
RSM, ”Macarty your finger is in the soup”
Macarty "Its all right Sir, it is not hot”
[Page 49]
two Turks captured feed up for four days sent after wood but return
Turks say we are worse than fenians we are cannibals and blacks from Australia give us a rifle and we go mad the sailors call us the white Gurkhas
Excited soldier rushing to trenches "Submarine has just dropped a bomb on Aeroplane”
fishing sailing boat comes in doing 18 knots against wind, Turks cannot understand that
Francis Birites shoots a sniper
Turks say send Light horse but not Australians
Divide this amongst you (bomb)
swimmer hit by schrapnel bullet rushes ashore and swears he is Torpedoed
[indecipherable] killed on his 21st Birthday, good Brave lad gone, (July 29th ) great regret amongst the boys,
Mickey Connell has his second trip to Hospital,
During attack on Turks Corporal Brady has his eyes blown off also hand he wanted to know if he was blind
[Page 50]
S. Major of Instruction Staff calling roll of Sergeants, Sgt Jenkins, Sgt Russell, Sgt Nash, Sgt Montague, no answer, Sgt Mon-tague still no answer, Sgt Mon –tague is it Montague you mean Sgt. M. On Montague is it well Montague take four day Fate-gue, finish
Australian chases Turk four miles British officer shoots Turk, Australian goes off and says you damn fool I could have shot him three miles back, I wanted to bayonet him,
`
I met with difficulties trying to get the Doctor to come into the trenches to see Sergt Baynes, he does not like the 8” 2’ gun but retreats
The cook leaves his quarters and all the back of the Hill brigade retreats Jack Johnson has us all bluffed, every time he fires the word goes along stand to, the Mulberry flatites never come out of there dug outs
Batmen lower there officer down hole officers tell them to be sure and put lid on,
Tommies drag Turks to grave and toss them in four deep,
Old soldier tell me the story of how our young lads from Australia fell [indecipherable] in battle, he said they were wonderful could not walk for dead men
[Page 51]
Joe Knight and Jack Neads my true and faithful friends Killed by 6” Howitzer in there dugout August 17-1915
Mr J Knight 35 Nicholas St Hoxton London
Turk [indecipherable] Indian fetches back Turks head in his bag Hospital stunk out
Capt Cornish goes out to capture Turk hears them Allahing and Mahommeding. Caseys hemeshee’s
Two Jackaroos trying to photograph bursting schrapnel, they have a bad time
Curly Richards killed June 18th
Steg Glades killed April 27th
Birt Davey killed May 19th
Tom Atwell "
Jack Meade August 17
Joe Knight "
Alex Gilpin killed April 25th
Cyril Smith same day
Stanbridge ditto
Buffalo Bill looks for bally snipers, Lieutenant of signals
Two Turk prisoners are sent out for wood, they would not escape but come back smiling
[Page 52
The day we landed a soldier had 8 Turks (wounded) to guard he was placing them along in a row he said I am only going to bandage them up, finis Turk.
Two Turks sneak up trench and sur-ender to Clarke
Turks going down hill crying Allah Artillery chap sings out I will Allah you if I come down
I put in for a pair of pants had to get an old pair, someone borrowed mine off the line
I give Harry Hoader a French 75 cap two days afterwards a 75 shell blows his legs off he subsequently dies
The following are the troopships engaged in first Aust Division Transport
Australia
Wiltshire-Southern-N. Zealand
Medic-Pera-Wanganui
Ascanius-Armidale-Limerick
Star of England-Suldanha-Oraria
Geelong-Katuva-Suthenic
Pt Lincoln-Hymettus-Orani
Karos-Suffolk-Star of India
Marrarere- Anglo Egyptian-Tahiti
Clan McQuadale-Euripedes Waimano
Orvieto-Argylshire-Hawkesberry
Afric-Schropshire-Ruapihi
Rangaturia-Benalla
Star of Victoria-Hororata
Omrah-Militades
[Page 53]
we have a severe damping practising landing in the early hours of the morning at Lemnos
Youds Meade and Jerry have an exciting experience at Lemnos trying to man a boat Youds strips and swims ahead pulling boat
Gainsborough B.2.Ward St Andrews Intermediate Base Egyp Malta
Tune Aus 2nd Gen Hospital Ginzeh Cairo
Pte Gregor Imtavfa Hospital Malta
Scotty Dobson comes ashore with boots about four sizes too big some one pinched his
Swimmer amid heavy shelling hope there is no sharks about,
Major Brand sing out come on Australians you cannot come back, you must stay till the last man
Girls in England say we speak good English for foreigners,
Two Bottle shouldered Tommies come crawling up the gully, a wag sings out why should England tremble "laughter”
[Page 54]
Miss Ruby Davey C/o HA & W Goode Ellen St Port Pirie
Our chaps play the dead march while the East Tanks are doing fatigue work on the beach,
Generals from France say our trenches are the finest of the war
Our Cementary is done up it looks beautiful, Barge sank by Turk Guns from the
Fun at Malta, Marios wont behave the all volunteer for service sent to Gallipoli, Maltese wont volunteer so they are ordered to Cyprus, they howl and moan all there women cry on the wharf while they embark, our lads give them fits call them cowards, they make things very warm for the Maltese
I have charge of stunt, bring a tin into Handcocks for luck, Les goes off pop,
Les goes off pop
To let mansion on sky line, owner having no further use as he has left for Hospital,
Jim Merry killed by bomb Oct 4th
[Page 55]
Miss Richards No-50 Coppin St Richmond Victoria
Kitchener’s man to Australian "for God sake keep your head down a man has just been shot in the foot”
Miss K Forward C/o John Martin & Co Rundle st Adelaide Showroom Department
Make pudding out of hearth salts use handkerchief for pudding cloth
cannot have potatoes Mules eat them, cannot have bread , mules bolted to Turks lines, so we are told
Dr Ormiston (906)
5th Lowland Battery
Anzac Cove
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Cheops Pyramids
height 451ft 755 feet long each side, Area 535,824 bulk 85,000,000 cubic ft, wall four ft high, one ft, round whole of Paris, Base area is 13 acres,
9th Batt Concerts
bandaged hand hurt lifting last pay
Diarrhea how many times 11, men want more buckets cannot shoot straight, - rum entering Q.M. tent. over-proof has not passed a tap yet give next man 2 doses rum, man immediately faints.
[Page 56]
officers enter concert with Nurses men start to sing who where you with last night Broken Toe through marching with head up, Arm swoolen through saluting officers,
Indians make slush lamp out of bomb, light bomb up goes Indian Australia very good slush lamp
Passing orders down line, Machine gun opened fire on us on sand Hill 500 yds away on left front, order reaches end of line 500 machine guns on sand hill
Squad Sgt to of men in front 500 yds 5 rds rapid [indecipherable] whose sight is wrong stated that he got the order for 500 rds rapid
General Birdwood and two English Generals passing up schrapnel Gully Birdwood asked man on stretcher what is wrong he replies he got about 6 in the B Ass
Pte guarding iron water Reservoir Major comes up and goes off because he does not salute, he says I don’t know any damn thing about form fours or salutes I know all about this water though
Brigadier stops soldier for not saluting soldier replies that he though the Brigadier was a red cap,
[Page 57]
Happy Soldier from Lemnos said he was Lowsy Broke F – and far from home,
Prisoner arrested for attacking [indecipherable] stack is clinked, gets the sentry drunk drags him in guard tent puts on his sentries equipment takes his beat outside stink, officer comes up inspects sentry everything satisfactory
Sentry to officer who comes up and asked who he is. Sentry "I am a bit of a sentry officer " I am a bit of an officer” Sentry well if you want I will get my rifle and give you a bit of a Salute
Tweedledum on Guard carry his rifle low officer how many Ducks have you shot”,
passing message down line it starts going to advance on right send us rein-forcements, message reaches end of line going to dance tonight lend us 3/4
man cut his throat sent his pal home to tell his wife, cut his blood throat
showing lady over Tower of London which is Tower Bloody one (the whole damn lot is)
Good awfully bye Swish
Tat awfully Ta –
[Page 58]
May 4th
897 Girls 330 Greeks and Turks
33 Syrians 97 Marinites
51 Armenian 5 Jewesses
25 Austrians 1 Belgian 4 English
5 French 15 Greeks.12 Italians
2 Romanians 4 Russians
46 Moslems rescued from Public establishments
150 captured last week
40 diseased
Justin McCarty running from shell made first night in firing line
Our dinner was blown up tune roars
Curly Slee and Red bolt out of dugout shell burst on top of it
New officer in Egypt makes Aust salute, first time he salutes me I will drop dead
Noby Clarke makes a pte salute him looking in shop window.
go for a blow through, nigger dont know how to do it, there you are I tell you I dont know how to do it’, she – himself, give him baccy
M Ormond Smith St Edwardstown Borrowed 10-0-0 off Publican – sent him into chemist shop for dressing
Cheap Jack at country show, arrived in Govenors carriage in costume
Kilog 2 2/9 of a Pound
[Page 59]
Henry th Flee, that is not my flee Madam –
Man in haunted room shoots his 3 toes off, that is how I lost my three toes
June – 19/6/1916
Luna Park
Egypt
The boy stood on the Ships deck tied up to the mast. He would not shift an inch until the storm had past
20th Battan
Pt- AE Edwards
c/o Mr Malavey
No 3 Baltic St
Newtown
--- Fools Gold ---
See him there cold and grey
Watch him as he tries to play –
No he doesn’t know the way –
He began to learn too late.
She’s a grim old hag is fate.
For She let him have his pile
Smiling to herself the while
Knowing what the worst would be
When he’d found the golden’ Key
Multi – Millionaire is he
Many times more rich than we.
But as that - I wouldn’t trade
With the bargain that he made
Didn’t let a Sorrow hurt him –
Let his friends and-kin desert him-
19/6/1916
Pt AE Edwards 20th Batton
Luna Park
Egypt
Pt A.E Edwards
c/o Mr Malavey
No 3 Baltic
St Newtown
[Page 60]
1161 Pte Peter Miller
B Company 2 Battalion
AIF
26 Kinncaid Street
Pulteneytown
Wick
Caithnessshire
Scotland NB
Here lies the body of Pte Burke who lost his life while dodging work
No3576 Pte G. Beadle
No 5 Toulmin St
Borough
London
SE Eng
Pte. S.A. George
65 Shephard St
City
Sydney
May the best you’ve ever seen be the worst you’ll ever see
May you always be as happy as I wish you for to be.
GB Scott
Gleniffer
Goomboorian
Via Gympie
Queensland
[Page 61]
Ich bien ein Deuscher
gephaugen eine von ill
Deuscher Truppen
Ernst Boehme
Pte A.B. Crook (Ribs)
No7 Copland st
Alexandria
Sydney
No-No=1 Division-Tonnage
3-Orvieto-12,130
27-Southern-4,769
4-Pera-7,635
26-Armadale-6,153
12-Baldanaha-4,594
13-Katuna-4,641
1-Hymettus-4,606
23-Suffolk-7,573
25-Anglo Egyptian-7,379
Division No=2
18-Wiltshire-10,390
7-Medic-12,032
11-Ascanius-10,048
15-Star of England-9,750
2-Geelong-7,951
17-Port Lincoln-7,243
10-Karroo-6,127
21-Narena-6,443
20-Clan MacCorquodale-5058
[Page 62]
Escorting Warships
HMAS Sydney
"-Melbourne
HMS Minatour
"-Pyramus
"-Hampshire
HM armed Merchantman
Empress of Asia
Japanese Warship
Abouki
Division No 3
18-Eurypides-16,947
8-Argyllshire-10,392
9-Shropshire-11,919
19-Afric-11,997
24-Benalla-11,118
22-Rangatira-10,118
16-Star of Victoria-9,152
20-Hororata-9,491
5-Omrah-8,130
28-Militades-7,814
New Zealanders
-Maunganui-7,527
-Oravi-7,217
-Star of India-6,800
-Tahiti-7,595
-Limerick-16,827
-Arawa-9,372
-Athenis-12,234
-Hawkes Bay-6,800
-Ruapehu-7,885
-Waiparu-10,089
[Transcriber's notes:
Militades = Miltiades
Orvieto = Orvietto
Argylshire = Argyllshire
Schropshire = Shropshire
Ruapihi = Ruapahu
Armidale = Armadale
Rangatiro = Rangatira
Clan McQuardale = ClanMaccorquodale
Angle Egyptian = Anglo-Egyptian
Page 28. Frank Huges = Hughes
Page 32.Gaiting Gun = Gatling Gun
Page 34 and 35 :Diaries entries written in Arabic
Diarist frequently uses Arabic symbols for numbers
[Transcribed by Eric Hetherington, Lynne Frizell for the State Library of New South Wales]