World War, 1914-1918 -- Campaigns -- Turkey -- Gallipoli Peninsula
We were shelled with the 5·9 at eight this morning, and had about six
casualties in this valley. They were, however, very quiet for the
rest of the morning. Just as Way, Cox, Baxter, and I were leaving for
Brigade, they started to shell, and we were glad to get off the open
space of the beaches. Now they have three guns firing 5·9 shrapnel at
us, and they come over in threes, usually bagging somebody. The Turks
seem to be getting very cocky lately. They actually cleared away all
the barbed wire that one of our battalions in the 88th had put in
front of our trenches, only fifteen yards in front. Also their bombing
parties are getting very daring, creeping up each night to within
throwing distance of our trenches.
Barbed-wire lines and trenches are now being constructed further back
towards the coast—in case!
As we are up at Brigade H.Q., we notice one of our aeroplanes swoop
down on to the Salt Lake, obviously having to make a forced landing.
A short pause, during which we notice the pilot and observer climb
out, when suddenly shrapnel bursts over the machine and very near. It
is quickly followed by another and another, and later high explosive
shells, when the pilot and the observer scurry away pretty quickly.
They are wise, for the Turkish artillery are now well on to the
machine, which is rapidly becoming a helpless wreck. I should think
they put a hundred shells on that machine before they stopped.
_October 14th._
Last night they tried to disturb our rest by putting one shell over to
us every hour. One seemed to come very near our dugout, but we were too
sleepy to bother. What’s the good?
At eight this morning they get very busy again with their shelling, and
at nine three of the big deadly shrapnel come over at once, followed a
few minutes after by three more, and then later still another three.
It is evident that they cannot spare very many of these every day, but
after each bout the cry of “Stretcher-bearers!” is shouted down the
valley. Shortly after, the wounded are carried away to the hospital,
and this scene has now become a painfully familiar one.
It is very cold to-day, and the gale still continues, hampering the
Navy’s work of landing stores.
The afternoon was quiet. A great gale sprang up at dark and blew hard
all night. It is now very cold. One consolation, flies are dying off.
_October 15th._
To-day has been cold and cloudy, with a strong wind. Artillery duels
all day, with ships joining in. We were shelled this afternoon, but
fortunately to-day had no 5·9 shrapnel. Cox and Gennison came to tea,
and Walker and myself walked back with them. Called in at Brigade H.Q.
Hear that now we are at war with Bulgaria.
_October 16th._
At five this morning (dawn) the Turks began a general bombardment,
chiefly on our right (Chocolate Hill) and at Anzac, but the subsequent
attack on their part seemed to die away quickly. No news as to results.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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