World War, 1914-1918 -- Campaigns -- Turkey -- Gallipoli Peninsula
But it is against the tradition of the service to be morbid about it,
and so we “carry on,” knowing that those who have gone West would, if
they were still with us, be cheery, brave, cool, and efficient at their
respective jobs.
_4 p.m._
Go up to Brigade H.Q. with O’Hara—leave the horses at Pink Farm and
walk to H.Q. Find them all up at an observation post, just behind the
firing-line, which has moved forward after yesterday’s battle.
The C.R.E. 29th Division joins us. A most unconcerned individual. He
goes on up across country. O’Hara waits a bit to give some instructions
and then goes on, and I follow. After a bit across the country, with a
few “overs” flying about (“overs” are bullets which have missed their
target, but which are still travelling at a high velocity), we dip
down into a gully and follow its winding path for about ten minutes
to the observation post, where C.R.E. and the rest of the Staff have
already arrived. Bullets fairly whizzing overhead. Usher tells me to
step closer to the side, which I promptly do, on account of a few
bullets which are on the descent. Very interesting there. Telephone and
signallers busy, and orderlies arriving and departing. A few shells
scream overhead. We all have tea, and chat. Thompson looks rather ill
and worried. All the time we are having tea there is a constant “ping”
of bullets over the dugout. Look through observation hole and have a
perfect view of yesterday’s battlefield. The Worcesters advanced and
are holding their position. They are exposed to enfilading fire as
well as frontal fire from the Turks, but are digging in to protect
themselves. They are very near Krithia, digging on that green patch of
land which we call the cricket pitch. Krithia looks very formidable
the closer one gets to it. Turkish trenches are very deep, with good
dugouts for sleeping and very deep, wide communication trenches. Hence
we hardly ever see a Turk. Their firing-line and the sleeping dugouts
are actually boarded.
_11.30 p.m._
As I turn into bed there is firing all along the line. Turkish
counter-attack going on. Our casualties yesterday very heavy, but
Turks’ colossal. The _Goeben_ fired over to us to-day with not much
damage; shells did not reach the beach.
I hear that Colonel Williams, or General, as I have up to now been
calling him on account of his having acted as Brigadier of the 88th, up
to the arrival of General Doran, was wounded in yesterday’s battle. On
General Doran’s arrival he went to the 2nd Hampshires, his regiment,
and took command. When the moment for the infantry attack arrived,
they leapt over, and in an incredibly short space of time had taken
their first objective. Colonel Williams, with his Adjutant, then
followed over to make his H.Q. in the newly won trench.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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