World War, 1914-1918 -- Campaigns -- Turkey -- Gallipoli Peninsula
A very windy day, almost a Gallipoli gale blowing down land, and in
consequence dust-storms start as usual.
Two guns on Achi start firing towards our tents. Why? Lord knows, for
there is nothing here to fire at but our tents, and those can’t be seen
by them. They do no harm, but are a beastly nuisance, as we keep on
having to duck. The wind is so strong that we do not hear them coming
till they are right on to us.
After lunch I ride along the top road with Carver, and dipping down on
to Gully Beach, ride up the gully a little way, and turn off to the
left into a ravine, where we leave our horses. Climbing up the cliffs,
we call at the mess of Major Gibbon’s battery, where tea is awaiting in
a delightful summer-house surrounded with rocks and shrubbery. Duff is
there, and Monro too. The battery is in position a few yards away in an
artfully hidden spot, never as yet having been discovered by the enemy.
Out to sea a small cruiser is in action, firing on a target on the
left of Achi Baba. A Turkish battery on the extreme right is in action
against her, recording a few hits, without causing much damage, but
making it necessary for the cruiser to manœuvre constantly for a fresh
position.
Heavy firing occurs in the night, and the enemy strongly attack the
Anzacs, with no success.
_August 16th._
Having been invited to breakfast with the Hampshires, who are up the
line, I ride up to the nullah in front of Pink Farm and leave my horse
there, where he is given his breakfast. On arrival at the Brigade H.Q.
at the end of the long trench—or the mule-track, as we now call it—I
am given a guide of the Royal Scots, who, however, has difficulty in
finding the battalion H.Q. We wander about awhile before we reach our
destination, reminding me of an endeavour to thread a way through
Hampton Court maze. Up one long winding trench my guide puzzles me
somewhat by the remark, “‘B’ trench, sir, but not a bee-line.” At first
I am puzzled as to what he is driving at, but gradually it dawns on me
that he is cracking with difficulty an obtuse Scottish joke, occasioned
by the long winding walk up the trench, which I notice is called “B”
Communication Trench.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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