DARDANELLES

Taranaki Daily News, 17 July 1915, Page 3

DARDANELLES

A NON-COM.'S STORY. OX Tin: WAX. Writing to his wistcr in New Plymouth, Scjir-iciuit T. Mrdcehiu says:—••\\V broke ii)i camp at Cairo mi ihe j Dili April, mill entrained for Alexandria that evening, or rather lad' that nigh;. It was a weary, tiresome journey, un.l wo reached Alexandria at. daybreak after a seven hours' journey, tli' distance being covered by express trains in 2hr linnii. However, ".'c were willing to eiiilure anything now, fo>- it looked as if we wore in for some real business after our weary monotonous training in the deport. On leaving the train we had a very pleasant surprise, for we found that our battalion, with two companies of tlie Canterbury battalion, and divisional headquarters wore to travel on Hie same boat as (leneral (lodley. }t was a line large steamer, the "l.utzow," a Herman capture, but we liad too many on board, for the men wv.c orowdei' in i'.i holds, .mil many ha ! to sh en on the cold iron docks. There was a ;;oi>d deal of sickness, and many patients had to be sent ashore to the hospital at Lcnmos Island. Wo remained in the ha>'bov at Alexandria for 2 days, leaving on April 12th. Wo hud an uneventful trip, and readied Lemnos Island on the morning of the loth. When dav broke we sot a groat, surprise, for the harbor was crowded with vessels of all descriptions. There were between tiO and To transports, each carrying from 1000 to '.'.000 troops, so you can see our force for landing' at the Dardanelles was largo. Resides the transports, the majority of the vessels comprising the Mediterranean fleet were in the harbor, for naval i operations in the Dardanelles had been temporarily suspended. You would see submarines sneaking through tie' water wilh onlv the conning tower showing, vicious little destroyers steaming about amongst the fleet; light and heavy cruisers and then, to crown all, the magnificent super dreadnought "Queen Llizabetli," She is a magnificent ves--el and her eight loin gnus made b t look invincible. The boats which took inv fancy most were the torpedo destroyers.' They are small boats with 2, .'!. or four short funnels, and the whole boat as black as pitch. They can travel at an enormous speed, the fastest of them doing nearly -10 miles an hour. They can turn very quickly and when travelling at top speed verv little of them can be seen for the foam wlvcli they kick up. We had a very quiet time at f.o'.nnos. It; is a fair-sized island and the people live j in numerous- small villages, the chief occupation being fanning, many sheep being reared and numerous crops grown. jThc chief town of the island is Kastra, , but we were anchored near the village of Mudros. However, we had no leave there and all we saw of the island was when we were on route marches. We remained at Lemnos for nine davs. lea--ing for the Dardanelles on the 24th' When day broke we were just within sight of the Peninsula, and there we saw the fleet carrying on a heavy bombardment. In the dull grey of the morning we could see the flashes from the guns, and hear their dull booming. I, was just at this time the Australians commenced landing, for thev formed tli" first landing party. We w'or- told that 1 as wo were given first chance at tli" (anal engagement the Australians were to have lirst chance bore. You mav be sure we watched the shore very anxiousI lv. and as wo steamed in close ready for ( disembarking from the steamer into tie- ( small boats shells began to drop around us.

Tin-: r.AXnixt,. We jrot ready for disemharkin;.' about S a.m. on the ioth. but did not reach the beach till .-limit 10 o'clock. Hillbullets and pieces of shrapnel were landinf in the boats and all round ns, and 1 can tell von we did duck. However. no ..lie in niir boat was bit till we started the liiniliiifr, and then Private Skinner, a boy in mv platoon, was shot in tee, face and neck as lie stepped on shore Several more were hit as we made our wav np the beach, but the real trouble did' not start till we commenced to ascend the tirsl bill. The enemy lo pour the shrapnel over us and snipeva were firiiif; from all direction-.

DKADI.V SXIPKIIS. These snipers "ave us a ::reat deal of trouble, and w,-rc still hard u< ; ! when J lift. They are the very lust shot,, lbTurks have', and many of Ihcm are (lormans. Thev are spceiallv traiie-d men. and as their force retires thev are left behind. Thev either db; ibein-lves in and conceal the boh- or hide themselves in some suijable place, nsuallv on the side of a cliff or some place where thy, are linlikelv to be ,-a>i!v seen. Here ih.-v lie hidden.' and all day lone; lley ,nv between our lirin- line and tin' beach. i'.u- they keej. i,ui< t while we an- wort;in;; past them and then lire mi ns i'r.i.n liehind. One sniper we found had a beautiful little cave on the side of a clilf. He had about SI'OI! neimis of ammunition, six weeks' supply of provision*, and about -If) carrier pb'.eoi;.,. lbwas continually M-ndiui; oil' picenus with messages and it. was bv wiilehine wicre these came from that' w- found him. Tie dropped out of bis hide limine, nine bullet holes in him. AX ADVAXM'.

In tin- innniiiii:. mli.ii wr landed c-.ii tin' beach, wi' found it slri'H n witli dead and wounded Australians who hail bi-n knor-ki-il (Hit curl,-. As sunn a.- we ad-viiiii-i'il from niir iirsl. position wi- had In extend iiiul reinforce (he Australians. V soon as we diil this '.v.. L '"t mixed up an.l 1 t'ulllld IllVM'lr and seen i.|' Mill- liii'U fm with tin- ."itli Itattalion «.l' Australians. It was the same all iilon- iho iinc. li'if uohodv cared and all fmi-lit just the same as if we had Icon v, ilh niir hpi men anil oliieers. The whole id' the ,■■-!■ onhil force made (lie e.roat mistake of advancine,- too far. and it was in this way lliat we cut up so niiieli. The partv 1 was witli must have lieen in about three miles, neailv half-way across to the Narrows, and I know tli.it others were fiiriiier in than lis AH Sunday uinlit «-c did notliiii'i leal advance ' and retire e.ml imiallv. The Turks are a cowardly lot. and the s'm'at of a line of bayonets made them scainpcr awav like a lot of rabbits. Only for their llernian oliieers 1 ,|uiie believe they would have ;4 iven in louj; io'o. Some of them actually jjot into our trenches dressed in the uniforms taken from our dead soldiers, and be.qan to ;:ive us wroiiLT orders, but these we,-,. -o,m f..un.l out. lb-fore ilavbrcak on Monilav ninvnin- we managed to establish a e.ood lU--inir line about a mile from He- 1-i-ach, alonjv the iii-st riil'j-o, and in some places alone; the -ecoud vidire. The Turks ina-e

a few half-hearted attempts to drive e.s out but. only managed to increase their casualties and leave us a few inure prisoners. The place we lauded at is called Sari Bahr. well up the coast and almost opposite the Narrows. The situation there has developed into what, might be called siege warfare, for both parties are well entrenched, and I think the idea is for the Colonials to hold their! position while the regulars work up tli--; Peninsula and join them.

THK 111-lAVY TOLL. When day broke on Monday. 2(ith. we bad a very sorry sight. All around our trenches, in front and behind, were dead Colonials and Turks. Those behind us lve managed to bury, but we could not touch those in front for at the least movement we were lired on from all directions. All day long a heavy lire was kept up and many of our boys were hit. We had great dilliculty in getting the wounded away, for the snipers were potting at us and shrapnel was landing around us all the time.

MAKINC PRflCin-'.SS. On Monday night the Turks made an attempt to rush our trenches (which we had in good order by this) but the distance they had to charge was too great and by the time wo had each poured 10 rounds into them they turned and He:.', in disorder, leaving many dead and wounded behind them. Tuesday, 27th, passed very much the same as Monday, but on Tuesday night we sufi'ercd very much from the effects of the cold, and to make matters worse it rained in the early hours of the morning. You see, when we landed on the beach wo were ordered to drop our packs, as it wou'd have been impossible to cany tlicui up the steep hills we had to c'imb, and now there was no opportunity for getting them while we were in this position. We had nothing but the clothes we stood up in so you may be sure we had some very cold nights. Then again, all food we had was what wo carried with us —"bully beef" and biscuits--and as we could not light a lire, had nothing hot to drink for five days. On Wednesday, 28th, we did more damage in one minute than in the rest of the dav. One of our hydroplanes was doing some scoul ing, and about 10 o'clock in the morning flew along the top of the Turkish trenches, several hundred feethigh. Thinking this a good chance of bringing it down the Turks stood up in their trenches and began firing away with their heads in the air. This was our chance, and before they realised their folly we had fired each between five and ten rounds into them. Thev must have been scores of dead and wounded in that short time. HARDSHIPS.

Thursday. 2S!h. passed very nu'oh the same as other days, liy this time our provisions li:i<l just about run nut, and we were livimr <>n what wo got from th.' men who were kill.ti in cur trr-nelcs and what, «'- pot from tlic dead men whom we lmri"<l. On Thursdav raoriiin;:, however, bully beef, biscuits, and I water was sent up to us and wo Mich had ] our water-bottles filled. Some meat ami ] two biscuits per meal issued to us, and we also pot word that we wore to ':<> relieved some lime during the night and eo down to the beach for a spell. T'uhi was verv welcome news, but it was 2 a.m. on Friday morning when the Portsmouth Murines filed into the trenches and we filed out. By this time the Australian 'Engineers bad dug a deep commimical ion trench right up to us from the gul'v behind, and.we could get right out with scarcely any danger. "We got to the beach about 3 a.m.. and at once got down to it and had as good a sleep as the cold would permit. We were up again about .1 a.m., and 'milking a fire had our first hot drink since breakfast on Sunday morning. As many of our company as could had collected by this time and f hud been reported minsiii:r. so when I 'turned up on Friday they were all surprise,! ami pleased to sec me. for thev thought that I had be-m settl'd.

v!i.:irnxr: ami worxnix.;. |-lid IV. Ist May lepi-llill" Of shooting season'.. (liven a (lav's rest mi the beach, lint had to die; into the shlo of the hill ami tlit- Turks were dr ippiii-; shrapnel ~ver it ill! day. Saturday, :2ml, rejoined company in new trench..-, and had rather ■piii-t day, except that several men were womid'-d with shrapnel. On Saturday afternoon we niou'd from these trenches to flic beach, ami there had a roll call. We do not know the exact numbers, lust we fonml that the Anckliind JJaUr.liun had lost about half of it.- men and several ollic-rs killed and wounded. We moved from the heaeh to a new position on tlie lefi ami there remained all ni-ht in reserve. Sunday, .'ird. iva- a very <piiet day for us. and many ( f us slept mud. of the day. Siime i,T l.'io men were suii'erin;; from none- and cmld not rest at nil. Dm .'dnnda',. ill), we mevi d to the beach, tie n mviipied some new trench ■; 111 li,e centre of Ihe po-iiimi. The I Turk- .'.are entrenched about lill,) varus from ii- and a \e,y heavy lire v. a- ken: ,d :■■• aitaei," here." The -hrapm-l dirl not tunil,!-. u- nine', here, IniL the sniper-pick-.i out a lev. We ri""e<l up a iluinmv man Willi a cap and funic on a rii!" ami ii was simplv riddled with hollers, fee barrel of the'riile beille, smashed to pieces. in, Tnc.-day hini'nin"; fhiny'S hit time we'lioiled our canteens and had -nine tea and then, as our water buttles were emptw I .nek three ef them ami intended makine, mv wav J.nm (o (h----v.ater-lu le in the .-ruMv 'to lill them. I went to the , ml o. ihe tr-aieh an,!, Ink in:: it run. jumped over, so I hat I would mil e\pn-e'my.-elf ton much. However, that little time was cnmi"h for Cm ■.-ulper-. I heard a "pin."-" and al dime'on the elbow »illi a brick. I.ookim: ,i„wn 1 saw tin- ldood slreamin;r fram mv a-m. and. v.ilhout civil]"' them tiim for .iin.Lli'-f -hot. i ran mi down ihe hi!! , to the drr-iim station ami had my arm I al tended 10. Mv wrist, and hand were | ,|iiii- naraivsMl and lliomdd that Ihe ncr\e was eiit and that mv limjcr, mini;. iiiiniv., he stir/, i passed on down to the heaeh ho-piial and then I was seel on heard the "< tloiico-ier Castle,'' which was hciiie; used as an hospihil ship. We lav there lor two davs tlmn set oil' for Alexandria. On Wcdno-d-.y, litii. while we were still lyiny nil' t!m i-land. la i e .»« mr company were hroimht on the s ~i waumded, including our lieutenant. Ml', iindlev. lie was shut, in the llesliy part of Ihe th'reh. Our men wi-n- just Itt-iitjr relieved from (he trenches by Ihe Marines when a hail of .-.hr.imiel came down, killim; (v.m and wouialim- la of ours, and about the ' .-aim- iiumher of Ihe Marines. My arm was verv sore at this time, and I had ; vere iim'a-" ni-hi--. On Thursday, the wind- Nov'/calami divUm re embark'd and v.-rr,' taken down the Peninsula In veiufore Ihe ro-übir- and the rTench. ; I 'Jm,.\ had laiaied at Ihe end of Urn I'-n- ---, insula and were "etting a bad time. nNVAUIIr'.I).

Ah vimirko' We had a lovely irip urn! ,'n ih." v.av.' Ileiween I'M am! HO nmn ,1i,,l ~„ t!,V wav over. We arrived •,: Alexandria, ami on the mornine of .Mom dav we were taken in Ihe hospital train to' Alexandria. We were taken to Ihe ! au'ii'u! Palace Hotel at lieliopnl'-. - >,;..!, 1,-.-, le-ii turned i.do ~.< ho-mi.,!.

second largest hotel in the world and cost a million and a half lo build, C'i-dei-neath. whore all the work is carried on, is a regular cilv. and urn c-i:i e.-,-,i : \ , "of lost in the maze „!' p-is.-ag- wins 1 mil tram lines. This hospital is hcauifullv titled out and vou »ot splendid itten'liou. Ibo.ve'.er. I was no! io en■oy it long, lor on the 12th I was sent to' I,una 'l'ark Hospital. The Palace is kept for the verv worst eases. Luna Park is jn.-l the opposite („ the I'ulace. There are nearly SOU patients, with oniv (v.-o dozen nur.-'es, and you have to look after yourself most of the time. You all have to t;.ke a turn at mess orderly if you are able to walk, and as there are imi en,,ugh dishes to go round there is ahvays a scramble at meal times. There is not. much food to lie had and what you get. would do a good navvy. Inn is nnt much good for an hospital pa tient. The heat here now is over 100 degrees in the shade, and you can scarcely cat, at all. If is now 20th May. and the wound in my arm is quite healed up, but mv fingers are not right yet. f have them massaged every day by a lady who comes in to help, and I have nearly got the power back into them. I expect I will be hack in camp within a week and then on to the front once more.