A Soldier’s Letter.

Huntly Press and District Gazette, Volume 4, 12 November 1915, Page 3

A Soldier’s Letter.

The following is a copy of a letter from Mr George Mclntosh who was wounded at the Front, and is now in the Weir Hospital, Balham, S. W., London. It is published by the kind permission of his brother, Mr Alex. Mclntosh of Huntly: — Weir Hospital, Balham, S.W., London. Dear Alex,

You were asking me to let you know my little experiences, which are little as I was not very long there, but I suppose I was lucky to have a week and escape the way I did. I found time to enter a few notes in my diary, although we were kept pretty busy. It was 9 o’clock at night when we marched out of camp for Zeitoun Station, the mounted boys and British troops lining the way. They gave us a great send off, and pipes and brass bands played us to the train. The train left at 10 o'clock, and we arrived in Alexandria at 4.15 a.m., and marched out to the boat, which was a German capture (Anniberg). All day Sunday we were loading transports with mules, horses, etc., and on Monday we lay at anchor in the harbour alongside the American cruiser Tennessee. Our boat left on Tuesday about 6 o’clock in a heavy fog, and by morning we were out of sight of land. On Wednesday the Colonel gave us lectures on disembarking. Thursday we sighted land, we were sailing between two islands ; Friday we were met by a torpedo boat about 11 a.m., and escorted into Lemnos Bay ; we anchored at 11.30. What surprised me was the number of boats there. About 200 lay at anchor, French, Russian and British warships, torpedo boats, submarines, and mine sweepers and all sorts. It was a very busy little spot, and every day there were fresh boats coming in. By this time every one’s clothes were begining to walk, and it was the usual thing to see everyone on deck with just a pair of trousers on, hunting through their sliirfs, etc. Everyone took a keen interest in it. The biggest catch which I heard mentioned was 50 in one chap’c shirt and socks. Saturday most of the battleships and transports went out. We sailed off at 6.30 on Sunday morning, and by 10 o’clock we could hear the roar of the guns on the warships bombarding at Cape Helles. At 12.30 we were opposite GabaTepe among a few transports and warships. The destroyers came alongside, - and we were put aboard them. They took us into the shore as close as they could go, and the rest was carried out in open boats. My first baptism of fire was bullets striking the funnel of the destroyer, and lobbing in the water alongside it. The boat I was in landed safely. We had to wade out of the boat waist deep, but thatwasamere trifle. We were met by a staff officer; asked who we were; we had no officer or non-commis-sioned officer with us, so he pointed to the precipitous hills and said, “ The firing line is up there, that is where your battallions are going.” We threw off our packs and started for the climb.' By that time there were a good many wounded on the beach, not pleasant to see, but they all had a cheery word, and seeing the way some of them were knocked about made us more eager to go into it.

We did not find our company that night so we dug ourselves in along with some Australians. Monday morning we rejoined our company. In the afternoon I volunteered to carry ammunition to the firing line; they were running short and we had a hot time. There was an Australian chap helping me and v.ith snipers having pot shots and shrapnel bursting over us we had to do some ducking and diving for a little cover. At 5 o’clock our company was shifted to the next ridge to reinforce the Australians ; this was the main firing line then. At 2 o’clock in the morning we were moved again to the left of position. All that day things were very lively and we had a few slightly wonnded while moving round. That afternoon I was in the trenches with A. McGregor’s brother and A. Maxwell from Waikouaiti. Within ten minutes we lost six wounded and killed. Young Maxwell was wounded. I was on the observation most of the night with the glasses, but nothing was doing. The Turks kept us amused all night, blow ing bugles and yelling out Allah, etc., they were trying to play our charge,but we were’nt having any. On Wednesday night we were taken out of the trenches, but volunteers were called for to lay out as supports for a bayonet charge on what we called Death Trap Hill, so some of us went and I shall not forget it. When we lay down it began to rain. We had no coats or anything, and it was terribly cold. We were soaked through and lay awake all night till just before daybreak. My teeth t

never chattered like it before, my cobber was on one side of me and one of our poor chaps, who had been shot there on the other. I was glad when it was time to be shifted. If we had been ordered to make a charge I don't think that one of us could have moved. Thursday we wore relieved by the Marine Light Infantry ; we were taken down on to the beach to reform. We had our first cup of tea that day, since the day we lauded, and it was alright. On the last day (Sunday), the Parson held service with our company. At night the Otago Battalion was moved round to Suicide G ully ; we were to take a position that the Turks were holding, but I have not seen it yet, through the track being blocked with dead mules and provisions which were hampered during the day, and having to go up one part of the cliff like hill, one by one pulling ourselves up a rope. We did r.ot reach the position until 9.30. Well, we were sort of trapped, and we started to advance over the open ground which was continually swept with bullets. It was like being out in a hailstorm. We lost sight of our officers and non-coms. We had to crawl up on the flat of our stomachs. Before we had got 50 yards we came across our Major, who was wounded; we went on and on over two trenches with a few 7 dead Turks in. Our Adjutant then came along, (Lieut. Reid). He gathered about thirty of us together to make a charge; we were only a handful, but might have been able to do something. We got up within twenty yards of the Turks trench and the line of fire that was coming from their rifles I can see yet. The last that I heard from Lieut. Reid was the final word to charge. I was just getting up to sprint when a Turk thought I had no right to, so I had to get down again. You would see Lieut. Reid’s photo in the Press, that is where he was killed (poor chap) he was a fine fellow. I don’t think that there were many of those that were with me got back that night, and I ithink lam very lucky. My Major who was wounded has been back and wounded again. We were at a party at tlie back of the Hospital the other day; it is a Convent; French and Belgian women. They have two girls there from the North Island who have been here twelve months. They gave us a nice afternoon; showed us through the Chapel and gave us a cross each. Last Saturday we went to Westminster Abbey; we were shown round by the guide who explained all the tombs of the different kings who have been buried there etc. It put me in mind of Egypt, but the building is marvellous inside ; there was also a service while we were there ; it is a great honour to be in tlie seats where the choir sit, so we were priviledged to go in where the front rankers are. There were twelve male voices and the singing was lovely. We also had Princess Henry of Battenburg in the otherday, her two sons were killed in Franca. Hoping you are all well at home as it leaves me in good health. Yours affec., brother GEORGE.