World War, 1914-1918 -- Campaigns -- Turkey -- Gallipoli Peninsula
the guns. The officer who had first stopped us most charmingly and
politely apologizes in English for delaying us, and our convoy proceeds
on its track. I chat to the Padre; find he is fifty-five years of age
and before the war a peace-loving rector. What circumstances to find
one’s self in after fifty-five years of peaceful life! I record him in
my mind as a very gallant old gentleman. We pass through the French
camp down through the trees to the poplar-grove cemetery, which always
now fills me with a curious awe, so ghostly do the graves look in the
moonlight, lying peacefully amidst the poplar-trees. It is a most
beautiful sight, with the glimmering water of the Dardanelles beyond.
Ahead on our right the reflection of the bright beam of Chanak
searchlight, swinging round from east to west across the Narrows, can
be seen in the sky, searching for any of our ships, should they make a
dart up the Straits. Past my friends the loudly croaking bull-frogs,
past the stately white pillars, on up the white road that leads to
Krithia and towards our dumping-ground—Brigade H.Q.—the little mules
pad carefully and surely along, led by the Syrian mule-drivers, who
chatter confidentially to each other in Russian, for they now are at
home in their new life, and delight in the thought that they are doing
their bit in the great cause.
[Illustration: BATHING OFF GULLY BEACH, HELLES.]
[Illustration: “Y” BEACH, CAPE HELLES, WHERE THE K.O.S.B.’S LANDED ON
APRIL 25, 1915, HAVING TO EVACUATE THEREFROM ON THE FOLLOWING DAY.
The beach was captured later from the land by the Gurkhas. Its
situation remained close behind our front line during the whole
campaign. The high ground was well within rifle range of the enemy
during the whole campaign. The enemy lines are behind the camera.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account