From the Front.

Huntly Press and District Gazette, Volume 4, 25 February 1916, Page 3

From the Front.

The following are a few extracts from a letter received from Pvte. J. McGill. Anzac, 15th November, 1916. There is a machine gun just at the back of where I am scratching this and John Turk is trying to get at it and that makes things uncomfortable for yours truly as I have to rub the dirt off the the paper every minute or so. He is trying to fill this dug-out in, I think. It sounds nice to hear about six machine guns going at once, firing about 600 rounds per minute, not too nice when you have to advance in front of them. One would think there was about 3,000 cats hissing at you. The bullets make a hissing sound when they are close. One of my few experiences here was rather good. I will tell it you. lam not going to make it up but give the plain truth. We were out as a covering party to some sappers that were making a new firing line about 100 yards in front of the original one. The Turks also started doing the same as it was a case of who would get dug in first. The trenches were 50 yards apart and we were 15 yards in advance of our trench and their covering party was out about the same distance. A chap called Jim Ryan and I were together. The 4th L. H. started bombing the Turks trenches and of course that raised their hair. They l startedwith machine gun and rifle fire, Ryan and I could not retreat or move as the gun was trained on the trenches above us and we had to lay there and wait for one to put us out of our misery. The bullets were clipping the branches off a small shrub that I was lying behind and we were counting the shots a sniper not 15 yards off was potting in our possy. Jim Ryan wanted to start a hook. He bet the 30tli would get one of us. But am pleased to say we landed in only suffering from raised hair and my heart had to be put back in its right place, they found it down under my knee, We could here them talking and you could hear them working the bolts of their rifles. Another one of my hair raisers. My hair stands straight up now and has gone whito “I don’t think.” Four of us had to go out to fetch two chaps in that were killed in a bit of a rally we had here. They were about 20 yards in front of the Turks trenches. But that part was covered in scrub. Poor Old Kid my pal was one of them. We had got out to them and two of us had put Kid on an oil sheet, and the other two were about 18 yards down further getting a chap called O’Brien. None of us had brought a rifle out with us as it wonld have been in the way. We were waiting on the other two when my mate said “listen,” I looked up and could see a Turk standing about 2 yards off. Luckily he did not see us- So I said to this chap that was with me “I will try and warn the other two,” asJMr Turk had gone in their direction.

He said O.K, I started my hair on end but I don’t think it was with fear, I was feeling pretty rotten at loosing poor Kid that day and did not care much which way matters went. I had got about five yards when Turks saw me. He never waited to argue the point or ask any questions. He bolted, you could hear him tearing through the scrub. He got about 20 yds away and started tossing lead rations at us so we had to get in as fast as possible. One came in the other night. He jumped over the parapet and started kissing one of the lads and of course you know how received, the chap did noUwant him to be so affectionate, he got a push in the face and told “ hands off.” They sometimes have singing lessons and it does sound O.K. We can hear-them quite plain. All along our front we are within 60 yards of them, and in one place they can throw tins of Bully beef in. They do throw tins but they have different stuff to beef in them, at that spot they have thrown 1200 bombs in the Turks trenches, from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. and Mr Turk was still there and doing his share of the throwing. This is the way they work it. One man has a couple of blankets or a sand bag, he doses while the other chap throws they have a spell about until some of them receive a long spell and there are any amount eager to take his peace.