World War, 1914-1918 -- Campaigns -- Turkey -- Gallipoli Peninsula; World War, 1914-1918 -- New Zealand
It was an anxious day, but there was much to do. Men devised all sorts
of mechanism to keep rifles going mechanically after the last party had
left. The favourite method was as follows: It takes a certain amount
of pressure to pull the trigger of a rifle. After many experiments a
device was perfected whereby an empty tin was suspended by a piece of
string to the trigger of a loaded rifle. Another tin full of water, but
with a small hole in it, was placed above the empty one, so that the
water leaked into the bottom one, thus gradually increasing the weight
until it was sufficient to pull the trigger!
Actors at Anzac.
In an endeavour to mystify the Turk observers, the few men left at
Anzac became very energetic. With packs up they marched uphill wherever
the Turk might see them. Like actors impersonating a crowd in a moving
picture studio, these small bodies of men passed ostentatiously
backwards and forwards until they were tired.
Reinforcement drafts always went in reserve for a time after their
arrival, so down in Reserve Gully and Waterfall Gully enthusiastic
parties entertained themselves and mystified the enemy by spreading out
blankets to dry even as the new arrivals did! The innumerable small
fires that smoked incessantly were made to smoke more copiously than
ever, for the Turks must fully understand that the great new army was
now arriving in strength.
Every man ate as much as he could of the tinned goods now so plentiful.
Pennies were tossed freely in the air--"Heads for Constantinople; tails
for Cairo!" Everybody was in great spirits and betrayed no anxiety.
There was little departure from the normal, except that at the Apex
there was heavier shelling than usual.
A, B, and C Parties.
The 3,000 men of the Division still to be withdrawn were divided into
three: A, parties totalling 1,300; B, parties totalling 1,100; and
C, parties totalling 600. All of A and B were to withdraw and embark
as the parties of the preceding night--they came to the divisional
rendezvous and embarked in their groups of 400. It was quickly decided
that if A parties were for Alexandria, B parties must be for the Beach,
and C for Constantinople.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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