World War, 1914-1918 -- Campaigns -- Turkey -- Gallipoli Peninsula
In our camp now we have the two Supply Sections of the 86th and
88th Brigades and representatives of each regiment in the Brigades,
consisting of a Quartermaster or his sergeant, and a corporal and
three privates. They look after the interests of their respective
regiments on the beach, drawing supplies, ordnance, R.E. stores,
letters, and baggage, which they escort up to the regiment each night
by the mule-carts. New officers arriving and officers returning from
hospital use our camp as a half-way house to the trenches. All drafts
arriving are met by these battalions’ representatives and “looked
after” generally by day and guided to their units by night.
Had a lovely bathe this morning with McDougall, Tooth, Carver, and Way
at the foot of the cliffs. Very peaceful and beautiful, and it was
hard to realize that there was a war on. In the far distance, across
the Gulf of Saros could just be discerned the coast of Bulgaria, the
country on which the eyes of all the world are turned at the moment. In
a day or two we shall know whether she has joined our enemies or not.
_October 6th._
Woke up at seven by a shell whistling over our dugout, but no more
follow. Curious how, when one is sleepy, shells do not strike fear in
one. A perfect summer morning. Artillery on our side very active. Go on
board _Swiftsure_ for lunch with Carver. Guest of Fleet-Surgeon Jeans,
a charming little man. Had a glass of beer! And the lunch! Nice white
tablecloth, attentive stewards, excellent food, and cheery society.
Topping fellows. Half an hour after lunch have a “pukka” hot bath. The
luxury thereof! And then take snapshots of the ship and of a group of
officers. We get a good view of Suvla from the deck: the sandy beach,
and to the left the three landing-places, crowded with lighters,
launches, etc., and with khaki figures. Further to the left, the rocky
part with its fringe of surf, and the frowning crags above towering
away in masses into the blue distance. Behind the landing-places the
ground slopes abruptly up to the gorges, crowded with dugouts and
transport lines. To the right, Lala Baba with its sandy cliffs and the
low plateau beyond, with the Salt Lake, stand out clearly. Further to
the right one catches a glimpse of “C” Beach, with its white hospital
tents along the sea’s rim, and in the offing, silent and slim, loom
the three hospital ships taking in their freight of broken humanity.
There are never less than three such ships of mercy here, which gives
one some idea of the daily human wastage, when one remembers that they
are big P. & O. and B. I. liners. We are told by one of the Gunnery
Lieutenants that at 4 p.m. ship is going to fire on a blockhouse just
by the Pimple, on the left of our line. While on board, the ship’s guns
“loose” off. It is a curious sensation. We watch their shells bursting
inland, and realize for the first time the difference between shelling
and being shelled. Get back on smart pinnace at 2.30. Get shelled a
bit at 3.30.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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