In the Line of Battle: Soldiers' Stories of the War
History
In the Line of Battle: Soldiers' Stories of the War
World War, 1914-1918 -- Personal narratives
I felt right cut up, as I had soldiered with him for years in India,
and I was going to visit his home if we had the luck to get through
together. So you see we were so near but yet so far in a few seconds,
and I am one of the lucky ones to be here to tell the tale. Out of
the whole of the officers and men who came from India in my splendid
battery, you could almost count those who are left on the fingers of
your hands. Fighting and disease have taken nearly all of them.
More than once I was nearly “outed” by snipers; but I managed to keep
a whole skin. It must be said in all fairness that the Turkish snipers
were both plucky and resourceful--snipers were brought in who were
found actually in our own lines; and once I was astonished to see a
young and pretty Turkish girl brought in as a prisoner. She was a
sniper, and had been hanging about our lines for a fortnight. There was
no doubt that she was responsible for the death of several good men. We
were greatly interested in this young lady, who was sent off to Tenedos.
These Turkish marksmen took every risk like good sportsmen, and we made
their acquaintance right at the start, for when we were carrying out
our desperate landing snipers were actually potting us from the beach,
where they were covered with sand, so that it was almost impossible
to see them. After that we got used to see snipers brought in who had
painted themselves green, to match the trees and foliage, and others
had decked themselves out with branches. It was funny to see some of
the beggars, and as they had played a straight game we could not bear
them any ill will. It was the Germans who did the dirty tricks.
Now for a few words on how I left the Dardanelles.
It was about July, when dysentery was at its worst, and quite half my
battery were sick with it, all at the same time. It came to my turn to
get it, and I was very bad for about three weeks. At last I could stand
it no longer, for I could not work without suffering awful pain--it was
like two pieces of sandpaper rubbing together in one’s inside, with
much vomiting; so I was forced to report sick to our doctor, who was a
gentleman and a brave man. He was very kind to me, and did all in his
power for my benefit. But it was no good. I had to go to hospital. I
thought this would be at a place a few miles away, and I was glad at
the prospect of being out of the firing, which was awful to a degree,
and to get some quietness; but I found myself at a beach hospital,
which was composed of tents and was always under fire. Several shells
dropped in on us, causing much damage and loss in life and material. So
I was pleased enough when I knew that I was to go on board a hospital
ship; gladder still when I knew that I was being carried to a place
which was a little safer than Gallipoli, namely, dear old England.
There was no room for us at two ports on the way home; but I didn’t
mind that. England was quite good enough for me.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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