PRIVATE REAY’S DIARY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1526, 23 March 1916, Page 3

PRIVATE REAY’S DIARY.

Mr J. F. Reay, of Mar otiri, has received part of the personal belongings of his deceased b; other, Private Ernest G. Reay, D. Company, Fourth Reinforcements, who, while on active service at Gallipoli, was stricken with the dread colitis and died on his way to hospital, and was buried at sea in sight ot Anzac. The late Pte. Reay was a comparatively young man, and was well-known in the Pahlatua district, where he foL lowed farming pursuits prior to taking up land in this district in partnership with his brother. While on holiday in the Otago district he answered the call of his country and enlisted, going into camp on January nth, 1915. The late Pte. Reay kept a .diary, which has fortunately been returned, and will remain a valued treasure to the family. The diary gives a daily outline of events which transpired from the first day at Trentham till June 30th, 1915, on which date it ends abruptly. The diary deals interestingly with the embarkation ot the troops and Wellington’s farewell, and life aboard the transport Willochra. Touching reference is made to the strong attachment which existed between the men ■and two of the officers who were left behind. Referring to parting scenes at Wellington, the writer states : “Perhaps the most touching of these scenes was the parting with two officers by the men whom they had charge of during training operations. These were Major Childs, who was attached to B Company, and Lieut. Pow. who had been my officer at Trentham. Both officers had been detained to assist training the next large body of men. The officers expressed their disappuintmet as soon as they received orders to remain, but when the time really came to depart, disappointment became grief, for they could not complete the hand-shaking with their men, for griet overcame them, and they shed tears of disappointment. It is safe to say we will never forget our parting with those two good officers, and we cannot hope to again find their equal.” Here is a reference to discipline : “Life on a transport is certainly not the sweetest thing on earth, for they introduce a word called ‘discipline,’ and the officers carry it out to the letter. A few' orders will suffice to prove that a breach of discipline is not worth indulging in It is God help the culprit. Sixty-four hours in the cell and four days stoppage of his pay will release a first offender.” On June 2nd arrived at Lemnos, and received cheers from the British tars. On June Sth arrived in the trenches at 5 a.m, Quite an interesting landing. Were fortunate iu having only one man slightly wounded in the foot. Firing is even now going on steadily behind the hill where we are resting. We see the good work done by our boys in landing and taking an almost impossible position. June y.h— Holding a position until the mil is taken. Are now watching our A and C Companies going into trenches. We go on as supports to night, and to-morrow go into the firing line. One of our boys now showing us where the Australians fought so bravely and where the snipers picked so many of their officers off. All the while the warships are bombarding the hill and the peninsula. Only a few of our boys are hit at present, though the Turkish rifle fire is travelling over our heads all the 1 while. June xo Things are pretty quiet only for the snipers, who are continually at work. June xxth —Heavy firing between outposts this morning, but quietened towards 6 a.m. The Australian boys are continually pushing their saps under the Turkish trenches, and soon hope to destroy the outer trenches, which are only 10 yards apart. 2 p.m.— We have now moved to Courtney ’Place, as supports will go into the firing linear 2 p.m. to morrow. Now close to the spot where the Australians repulsed the Turks with 3,000 dead. Watching the Tapanese mortar at work, throw ing bombs into Turkish trenches, which are 100 yards away from us. Our cruisers are firing away in the direction of Cape Palliser, probably at the hill. One of our 18th Regiment men has just been shot through the head by one of the snipers, another seriously wounded. The sniper trouble is about over, as our snipers are continually on to them. Looking over the country which was captured by the Colonials on the day of landing, and cannot but wonder how they managed it in the way they did. doing in three hours what they were supposed'to do in two weeks. Off the coast are several cruisers patrolling the sea front in case trouble crops up. J uue 12th—Put in our first day in firing line. The Turks seem very careful what they do, and as we only want to hold on to this position, there is not any chance of anything extra being done for a few days. We had an interesting time last night firing upon one another’s positions, but now it has settled down to sniping at the Turks as they throw up their earth works. Our engineers are now busy sapping, and have come in contact with the Turks’ sap, which will probably be blown up as soon as the explosives arrive, Bomb throwing is now getting a great sport, (Concluded next issue.)