PRIVATE REAY'S DIARY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1527, 25 March 1916, Page 4

PRIVATE REAY'S DIARY.

The following is the conclusion of Private Reay’s diary, the first portion of which was published last issue :

Tune 13th— To-day has begun with an interesting appearance, for when we looked out upon the harbour we were very pleased to see several cruisers moving busily about. Shortly after 6 a m., one cruiser opened Are in answer to an aeroplane which is hovering overhead, and it was only a shame the way she opened out first a broadside onto a Turkish gun, then on to a reserve camp, putting eight or ten shrapnels into a gully and raked it from end to end, sending clouds of earth into the air. What the damage was we do not know, but felt quite satisfied with what we saw. The next was a Turkish donkey transport reserve laying! away five miles in the hills. It was quite refreshing to see her bob them over the hills, and the sound told the rest. Then a transport boat was sighted eight miles away, probably in the Marmora sea, so she put several speculators seaward. The explosion could be easily heard, but the damage we may not know. After these preliminaries were over, all the cruisers and the airship moved in the direction of the hill. Two hours later— A furious bombardment is now going on. The heavy guns on the battleships are pouring shot after shot into the Turkish positions. A continual roar similar to heavy thunder, and the earth fairly trembles after every explosion. Another battleship has also opened fire away towards Gallipoli, and is thundering shell after shell on some position. It would be impossible for anything to withstand the fire of those 600 guns. Two more contingents of Kitchener’s Army and Gurkhas have arrived, and that completes the line from Gallipoli to Cape Palliser, and from there to the Dardanelles. Next week we hope will see the downfall of the Turk. 2 p.m.— Have just returned from a swim at the beach, which was a treat after our forty eight hours in the dirty trenches, without sleep. Thousands of the boys were enjoying a swim, and also doing washing. It looked in one way like a pleasure resort, but all the while the guns were telling a different tale. We were lucky not to lose any of our company in the trenches, but two less fortunate were picked off by the snipers. Some of the snipers are still on the hills above, watching their chance to pick anyone off who gets a little careless 1 but our own boys are firing continually at them, so it does not give them much time to fire. Quite a little excitement at dinner time, two three inch shells striking the side of our trench and knocking six bags of sand down on us, but for tunately we were too close in to get hurt. Have just had a little amusement watching Samson’s aeroplane being fired on by the Turkish batteries. A. howitzer opened fire, and then a machine gun, but Samson quickly rose, and turning gracefully, he came back over their lines, and presented them with two large bombs, which burst with terrible force, sending up a cloud of earth. What the damage was we could not see, but something got it proper. June 14th—Having a good rest after our 48 hours in the trenches. Nothing of interest happening to day here, but have not heard anything from outside. Weather very dry and dusty here. No rain since landing in Turkey. Our cruisers are still bombarding any defence works along the coast. An additional 10,000 men have landed, so we will probably make a general move shortly.- June 15th— Waiting to shift back to trenches. Heavy firing still continues at the Cape, but we cannot find out what is happening. The Turks have - just given us a rally with their “gentle Annie,” but fail miserably even to take skin off. The shells are bursting with practically no effect. One burst on our track, and proved to be full of empty cartridge cases and pieces of old shells, A lot of our boys are suffering severely from dysentery, and are out of action. The weather is very hot, and the flies are here in millions helping us to eat our bully and jam. An aeroplane and monoplane have just flown over.' They seem to worry the Turks very much, for they open fire with their guns, but a miss is as good as a mile to an aeroplane. The aeroplane looks the best flyer. June 15th, 6 p.m.— Back once again as supports at Courtney Place. The sappers are now well on with their work, and hope to open a better firing position. Everything is quiet in the bay, but the Turks are sending speculators on to our

trenches, and also trying to locate our gun position. A shell has just burst a few yards away, and one poor fellow has been knocked senseless, but not seriously hurt. Another shell has fallen, this time more troublesome, getting one of 10 Platoon on the head in the support trench, killing him outright, and a shot on the beach killed two Australians and injured several others. We have not enjoyed our stay in the firing line today, the smell being a bit too strong. Our heavy guns are firing steadily on the Peninsula, and we can look for some news to-morrow. Received a letter from Bob Wilson at the hospital, where he is being treated for shrapnel wounds. June 16th — Resting in our trenches after two hard days in trenches without any sleep. Went to the beach last night for a swim, and saw the Turks try to catch the boys in the water. Amusing to see hundreds leave the water when the first shell burst. Some had near shaves. The Turks shelled us last night, and gave us a pretty good headache to go to bed with, but I did not hear of any killed. This morning they are at it again, and were more deadly, putting out five Australians. Several of our own regiment were hit, but only Copping was killed, making the second killed in the Fourth Reinforcements. June 17th— Preparing to go back to trenches. Saw Jim Bodley leaving for Lemnos on sick leave. Jack Ryeburn was with the Auckland boys—or what is left of them. We are told that more reinforcements have arrived, landing this side of Cape Helles. June 20th— Bacjk once again in the supports, and will not be sorry when we pack off again down hill, for the dust and dirt of the trenches is’ playing up with us all more or less. We had an unexpected surprise yesterday, for we got some N.Z. mail, the first on record, and I was not a little pleased to entertain a visitor from Feilding. In the firing line, too. Things generally are quiet to-day. Both sides seemed to indulge in a few minutes rest at mid-day, for only a few shots were exchanged. We will probably make up for it. A quiet before a storm. June 22nd —All day yesterday our fleet bombarded positions away in the south, and reports are coming to hand of the Turks moving in our direction. Our cruisers are standing off the coast about ten miles away, so that means a new move. All precautions are being taken here to prevent a charge by the Turks, but we are well entrenched. They shelled our trenches yesterday, and put out some of our boys. At the present moment a duel between the Turks and our guns is taking place, and the noise is deafening, making our heads ache with the concussion. The Turks are bursting their shells on our trenches about 200 yards away, and some of the pieces are finding their way here. June 23rd — It is going to be a very hot day to-day, and it is our duty to go back to the trenches. Quite a water famine is on now, and last night hundreds were waiting for hours trying to get their water bottles filled. 2 p.m.— Back once again to our old post, but it has not a very inviting appearance, as a poor chap lost his life in it last night, being shot dead through the throat. June 24th— Passed a quiet night in trenches. Cruisers and fort guns exchanging compliments. 11 a.m. —To-day is extremely hot. Turks busy all the time sapping in front of our trenches, but do not show. 5 p. m. —On terraces with supports. Turkish guns giving us a picture show with shrapnel, bursting them a few yards away, but we are keeping safely in our dugouts. The first dozen shells have done no damage, some of them not bursting, but they get a good many on the beach. Two battalions are seen advancing on our right, but we are well prepared for an attack. June 25th —Moved down to Auckland lines, and go on to morrow to Fatigue Guley for a rest, which will be very welcome, for it is extremely solid in the trenches, and many of the men are showing signs of knockout, for the two nights without sleep tell on one very much. We did not manage to clear the trenches this morning without a death. G, Dazeller, of the Tenth, was shot dead in the next trench. We have lost men steadily- since our regiment entered the trenches, but it seems to be Otago luck. One of our greatest troubles here are flies, which swarm us at meal times in clouds. The hot climate evidently suits them. June 26th — Making road to Godley’s Mistake to take heavy guns up a steep hill. Went out at 8 o’clock last night, being the third night without having any sleep. . This is the plan of some lunatic to get the work done quickly, but the plan was a failure, for scores of men lay asleep beside their tools, being worn completely out. Arrived back to our blankets at 2.30 a.m, to-day, after a few hours lying down with all our clothes on. We have to move on again, but we are all very tired indeed. War time is the time to see blunders. The plans are to have the guns mounted by Sunday— not a hard task if the men were treated rightly. A German flying machine passed over here last night. Rumours have it that the French are having successes at Achi Baba. June 27th— Sunday. The “nobs” have actually given us a few hours rest, having had all night in our “bivy,” but perhaps they could see they were knocking men out too fast. After a miserable failure to blow up Quinn’s sap, the work has stopped, and Joe Turk has had his laugh. Yesterday a Turk who gave himself up was in our

trenches, and gave us information about Turkish positions. Had a visit from Jim Currie. He has had some lucky experiences. Been down for a swim, but not a very pleasant swim xtnder shell fire. Six shells burst on the beach to-day, killing two and wounding several others. Nineteen were wounded yesterday, two of them dying. June 28th— A little excitement here to day. A large force of Australians are landing further south. The cruisers are protecting the landing, and are pouring out a wall of fire. The Australians on our right are advancing, and have taken two rows of trenches. A furious bombardment is going on at present. June 30th— A furious bombardment took place last night at the Cape, and continued to midnight. The sky was lit up with the flash of guns, being similar to a heavy thunderstorm. The Allies were successful, and took several new positions. The casualties were heavy on both sides. The Turks also attacked our left flank, but came off second best. To-day they are giving us a few shells, but so far have done no damage. Igo on sapping at Dunn’s Post at midnight. July Ist Resting after a rough night. A heavy thunderstorm set in after dark. Lightning, thunder and artillery made the night extremely wild, and when a heavy rain set in, things were miserable enough. 8 a m. — A sad incident has just happened, Ernest Jones being shot dead in his “bivy.” The diary here abruptly ends.