HIS LONELY VIGIL

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2729, 25 March 1916, Page 3

HIS LONELY VIGIL

WATCHING THE LAMP AT ANZAO.

j "l had a small part to play during tho withdrawal from Gallipoli," writes , a. modest Soldier. "A few days pro- [ viotisly word was sent through the batj telion that mechanics were wanted. [ Two others and myself were sent to 1 headquarters, where it was explained to us by the brigade captain what was ! needed. Tho job, we were told, was for one man only,. who was to remain on j the last night till ; midnight, on the top of a very high ana steep hill, known as Little '1 able top, to keep a i 300-c.p. lamp burning, and to leave it so that it would roniain alight for three hours. This .light Was of the greatest importance, as it. was by this means , tho navy would be able to direct their firo if the Turks attempted to advance. By this light, also, they were able to locate positions wuore wo had abandoned ammunition, so that it could be exploded by means of naval guns after we bad said good-bye to Johnny Turk. Wo wero asked which one would volunteer. The whole three of us did. After drawing lots I am glad to .say I was tho lucky one. "At 5.30 p.m. I started on the steep climb. It was impossible to go up hero in the daylight, as about GO yards'was along the skyline, thus making an excellent target for the Turks, who wero about 500 yards distant. This particular night it was littlo darker than daylight, <m account, of the very bright moonlight.' I had the light going about 6 p.m., and after a littlo troufile with it at 7 o'clock it kept burning brightly. I shall never forgei'tlie next fSw hours till midnight. I oould distinctly see for half a mile our. troops winding their serpent-like way down the gullies. and saps ,to the beach. At 10 o'clock tho last of these noiseless troops moved out of sight, and I knew that the main body had reached the sea in the same quiet and orderly manner. I also knew that our whole line of seven miles of trenches was manned by but 1000 troops, and how valueless our lives were in the event of the Turks charging. During the last couple of hours bullets had Been zip-zipping very freely round mo. The Turks must have noticed tho strong rays which the light gave out; but the only part of it at all vulnerable was the compression/chamber, and it would have been an extremely lucky shot to hit that. In any case, I had a | couple of omergenoy lamps at hand, "A few minutes to 12 I bad a final look round, and left it at midnight, witH the lamp going beautifully a£ full pressure. I then made my way down the gullies to the beach, a journey of over two miles. I was rather lonely "on my pat' on' such a night, and I was relieved to find, when I reached Watson's Pier that there was a bargo just ready to push off for tho transport." |