World War, 1914-1918 -- Campaigns -- Turkey -- Gallipoli Peninsula
On account of shelling, I have lately managed to get my issuing of
rations to units all finished by 9.30 a.m., and to-day, no sooner had
I finished than over the brutes came. There is a lot of artillery work
about to-day, and we have pushed a little in a very small part of our
centre, just to straighten a bulge in our line. Three cruisers have
been in action up off the coast above “Y” Beach, bombarding the Turkish
right part of line, and right over the Peninsula on to Asia. It is nice
to hear the sound of the guns of battleships again, but I do not think
that their guns do the damage against positions on land that I imagined
they would do before this campaign. The trajectory of their shells is
too low, especially considering the geographical formations on this
Peninsula, which provides good cover everywhere for the enemy. There
is great anticipation in the air about this coming landing, but nobody
knows when and where it is to take place.
_August 3rd._
Aviatik aeroplane comes over this morning and drops a few bombs. Later
in the day high explosive howitzer shells come over from Asia. Heavy
artillery duels now going on. Everything the same, but shelling a bit
heavier on “W” Beach.
We hope each day that the great fight will come soon and end this show,
but each day seems the same as yesterday, and we can only anticipate
that to-morrow will be the same as to-day.
Two officers buried in dugout at Supply depot by shell this morning.
Both rescued and carried off to hospital. Shells over all the time we
are issuing, and it is terribly trying, as there is absolutely no cover
for us, and we, of course, have to stick it.
Our S.S.O., Major Shorto, just managed to get behind stack of hay in
time, out of the way of an “Asiatic Annie.” Two cruisers come up in
the afternoon and heavily shell left of Achi Baba with broadside after
broadside, and it is encouraging to hear their welcome boom.
After dinner I ride over to Gully Beach with Cooke and Petro, via top
road. Not much fun riding by day now.
Very quiet in front, but at 10 p.m. firing begins, and we can
distinctly hear the explosions of those terrible weapons—bombs. It dies
down after a while.
_August 4th._
Perfect, calm sea; hot day. The big gun at Achi Baba left us alone
while issuing this morning, but in its place a howitzer on Asiatic side
kept us alive and steadily dropped shells around us. Phew! I am glad
when that morning issuing is over, for every morning regularly now we
are shelled.
Later in morning, she tried dropping them on edge of cliff, and reached
once or twice. Not much damage, and a howitzer gives plenty of warning.
But one cannot so easily gauge where their shells are going to drop as
with the other guns.
_2 o’clock._
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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