THE SUVLA BAY DASH.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 November 1915, Page 6

THE SUVLA BAY DASH.

A STIRRING STORY. TOLD BY A TARANAKI N.C.O. Staff Sergeant-Major C. S. Mahonev was one of those in the fighting at Suvla Bay, Gallipoli, and in writing from St. Thomas' Hospital, London, to a friend in New Plymouth he gives a stirring account of his experiences:--"I thought it would be interesting just to let you know \vhat sort of job the Canterbury and Otago Mounted Rifles had to do at Gallipoli on the afternoon of Saturday, 21st of August last. On August 6 our Regiment, and the Otago Mounted Rifles carried out a bayonet attack on Bauchop's Hill, nam ed after our gallant colonel, who, sad to say, wa3 mortally wounded in the attack and died on board ship. The attack was preceded by a heavy cannonade from the destroyers and cruisers lying in the Bay. At 0 p.m., our lads moved out with fixed bayonets. No firing was to take place, but orders were 'to make straight for the trenches, accompanied by the bomb-throwers, and take them at the point of the bayonet. The Turks were taken by surprise, and our fellows put the fear of old Nick himself into them. As our men made for the trenches the cheers could be heard all over Anzac Cove.

The attack was a great success and paved the way for a general advance all along our front. After taking Bauchop's Hill, we were held in reserve. The Maoris, who were with us, did very good work, showing that the fighting spirit of their forefathers, which purvaded in the Maori War days, is still as strong in them as it was then. Our casualties were numerous, more so amongst our infantry comrades, who carried on the attack. For two or three days there was incessant fighting. Colonel Malone was killed on the 6th. He was a good soldier. We consolidated the position we had won and remained there until August 20, Major Grigor being theft in command of the regiment. So suddenly did our chaps come upon the Turks, and so surprised were they, that they left all their kit and clothes behind, and a good number even left their equipment and rifles. They seemed to have Tjeen living in a very cosy and comfortable fashion, and no doubt, had no idea of our approaching attack. Well, on August 20 we received orders to move out to our left flank, which we did after dusk, arriving at our destination about 11 or 12 o'clock that night. We were not quite sure what was the plan of operations, but we had an inkling that we were going to be up against it. We bivouacked for the night and then were up at daylight. We made some coffee with our iron rations. The troop leaders were then sent for, I among the number. Owing to dearth of officers, through sickness, wounded, and killed, I was given a troop to lead. We proceeded to the trenches and had the direction pointed out and our sector of ground upon which our flanks should rest also pointed out. The 2nd squaddron were on the right, the Ist on the left. The Australians and the 2nd Squadron were to keep touch, and on the left our Ist and the Canterbury Mounted Rifles, the Maoris, to follow behind, with picks and shovels to make good the Turkish trenches after we had captured them. There were two lines of trenches to be taken, the first line about 450 to 500 yards from our own, and the next about GOO to 650. The supposition was that the first line of Turkish trenches were only thinly held. The advance was timed to take place about 2.30 p.m., to be preceded by a violent bombardment from our battleships and destroyers in the Bay. Well, the ball was set rolling. Shells flew screaming overhead and bullets whizzed past, but the funny part (spare the expression!) was that not a solitary shell from our guns was fired at the trenches that we were to attack. As we sat and waited behind our parapet for the word "go," we were buoying ourselves up with the hope that considerable damage would be done to the Turkish trenches, and also to "Joe" Turk, which would make our task lighter. Alas! It was not to be. With bayonets fixed, rifles empty and teeth dosed our time was drawing near to face that Hell over the parapet. At last the order, "Charge!" was given. Over we went like hares and made for the nearest scrub for a blow. As soon as our bodies showed on the parapet a perfect hail of shrapnel, ma-chine-gun and rifle fire was directed at us. Some fell getting over the parapet. Others where they lay were hit. But the job had to be done. "Right on and no turning back" was the order of the day, wounded to be left lying where they fell. Off we rushed again. Squadrons in troop column. Our boys fell like chaff from a chaff-cutter. Another blow to collect the lads together, then up and at them again! But our ranks were quickly thinning. Officers, N.C.O's. and men were still getting knocked over. We prepared now for the final flutter, to rush across the gully or flat to the Turkish trenches which were just ahead of us. We got it hot and strong. You talk about a hail storm well, it was a bullet storm. As I braced myself for the final spring, I "copped one." It was a beauty, right in the breast. It seemed as if a sledge hammer had hit me. Over I went, breathing heavy, and blood oozing from my nose and mouth. The Turks saw they had hit me, for they kept firing as I jay there. I thought to myself, "you must get under cover somehow," so after an effort I managed to get to a small rise jn front of the Turkish trenches. There I lay, unable hardly to move. Bullets were still coming as thick as peas. I thought my time had come, and at once iny thoughts flew across the water to my home, in New Zealand. What I saw, thought, and littered in that short space of time I will not repeat, but thoughts of my wife and children were uppermost in mind.

Shortly after this, I received another dose from a shrapnel in the leg. The shrapnel bullet went clean through my leg, and pieces of the shell also went ill. All round me, although, I couldn't see them, were killed and wounded. I could hear their groans, but I. dared not lift my head, a s I should have been a "gonncr." I could see our lads ready to spring into the Turkish trenches, and heard them cheer as they captured the first trenches. When night came 011 the stretcher-bearers bound me up, and I was taken off at 12 o'clock at night. Those stretcher-bearers are brave fel lows, and do their job thoroughly. They are on their feet all day, bringing 111 the wounded under fire, and out sometimes all night. Our lads, what was left of them, did their job the same as other lads from New Zealand have done theirs; once they got there they made up for what they had gone through. Only about 10 of my troop reached the trenches. I am now in London at St. Thon/as' Hospital, under the best medical skill and care that you could get anywhere. The

New Zealand War Contingent Society of Ladies are very kind and supply us with anything we want, and the High Commissioner's office suplies us with all information we may require. lam getting on splendidly, and hope to be out soon. Then, I suppose, I shall be ready for another flutter.

Sergt.-tMajors Dunham, McGlade and Bonar who were my fellow comrades in Taranaki on the Permanent Staff, are gone. They were all real good fellows and good sports. It leaves only Sergt. Dallinger and me who left Taranaki with the main body Anyhow, lam hoping to see you all one day But a man never knows his luck, does he? Well, goodbye, and good luck to you!

HOW IT OCCURRED. In the big operation early in August, many things did not turn out as expected, owing to the fortunes of war, which no created being can control, and the New Zealanders considered tliev had a grievance (writes "C.5.K.," a returned soldier, to the Stratford. Post). One heard of the grievance on all sides, and according to who the narrator was the vehemence and uncharitableness of the views expressed varied. But there was always a blaming of the other fellow. On the trip home I met one fellow whose story varied from the usual run, and it was a very welcome change from the chorus of condemnation, wnich, even if deserved, was not only uncharitable, but impolitic. The man in question spoke as follows:—"In reference to the August attack one hears too much against the men of Kitchener's army, the most frequent remark being that they were all lads of very tender years and were unfitted for the tough operations characteristic of the Peninsula. They certainly were young, but personally I believe the battalion spoken of would, under the right conditions, give as good an account of themselves as any battalion of New Zealanders." The New Zealanders had won a good position on Hill 071, and in turn a battalion had held on to it against frequent counterattacks. "Then," proceeded most of the accounts, "a 'Kitchener's army battalion was sent up to replace the New Zealand battalion, and in next to no time the Kitehener men were turned out and the position was lost." These unofficial accounts were never lacking in blame of the Kitchener men, who were freely stated to have hit out for the beach on the first sign of activity on the part of the Turks. The soldier who spoke to me (I hope he had firsthand knowledge—l forgot to ask him) put things quite differently, absolutely absolving the men of the Kitehener battalion on the charge of lacK. of stamina. He said: "The blame properly belongs to the officer in charge of the Kitehener men manning the firing line. Under the impression that they were in a reserve trench (that is, with another trench between them and the firing trench) he gave instructions to his men to discard their equipment, dig themselves in, and make themselves comfortable. Naturally, equipment and rifles were thrown down anywhere. The Turks, there being no fire from our trench, crept no and opened an attack with bombs, You can imagine the shock to the soldiers, and how they were entirely at a loss to defend themselves, their rifles and.equipment being all over the place. The position of affairs was one to try to the utmost the resources of the most seasoned soldiers, and these Kitchener lads cannot be blamed for believing that in the circumstances flight was the beat policy. The officer," concluded the narrator, "was at. once sent back to the beach to look after some more peaceful operations there." It is not easy to come at the exact- facts regarding any operations during a big advance, but it is to be hoped the version here given is substantially correct—it is much better that one man should get the blame for an altogether inexcusable mistake, than that a battalion, and with them a large section of Britain's soldiers, should be accused of a lack of the stamina and doggedness which are characteristic of the person of British extraction, no matter where he happens to be born.