World War, 1914-1918 -- Campaigns -- Turkey -- Gallipoli Peninsula; World War, 1914-1918 -- New Zealand
On top of a big yellow mound at the head of Monash Gully there was
a rough cross, inscribed, "Here lie buried twenty-nine soldiers of
the King." Two of these men--one an Australian of the 14th Infantry
Battalion, the other a sapper of the New Zealand Engineers--had been
found just below the fatal crest of Courtney's Post, with their arms
still clasped around each other's waists. As they lay among the scrub,
those poor lifeless bodies seemed symbolical of the new spirit that
had grown up on the Peninsula. While in Egypt, the Commonwealth and
Dominion soldiers had their little differences; but the first two days
on the Peninsula swept away all the little jealousies and the petty
meannesses. Every man helped his neighbour. There was no question of
corps, or rank, or colour. By common trials, a common suffering, and
a common interest, Australian, Indian, and New Zealander realized
they were brothers in fact, as in arms. These first two days made
great things possible within the Empire. The experience of those sweet
sensations of brotherhood will be cherished and handed down as one of
the priceless gifts of Anzac.
[Illustration:
[_Photo by Col. J. G Hughes, C.M.G., D.S.O._
HEADQUARTERS OF THE N.Z. AND A. DIVISION.]
The New Zealand machine gun sections experienced a particularly trying
time. They were attached to individual battalions and were not fought
as a unit. The Auckland guns were pushed forward with their battalion,
and somewhere at the head of Monash Gully were so hard pressed that
they had to abandon one gun, which was retrieved from its hiding place
two days after. The Otagos also came under a very hot fire. They, too,
abandoned a gun, but never regained it, as an Australian party found it
and consistently refused to give it up! Right through the campaign the
Otago Regiment were one gun short, fighting only three guns.
The Wellington gunners were heavily punished on April 27. They
evidently pushed too far forward in their eagerness to get at the
Turks, but snipers picked them off one by one, until the officer was
killed and the whole of the personnel disabled, except one lad who was
acting as ammunition carrier.
Gradually the field artillery got their guns from the barges, and with
long ropes manhandled them to their almost inaccessible positions.
Tracks were cut on the hillsides, rough jetties were improvised, and
dugouts were constructed. Mostly these were holes in the ground big
enough for a man and his mate to get nearly into. A waterproof sheet
served as roof, and when it rained, as it did nearly every night, the
waterproof sheet collected and deposited on the occupants whatever
water had fallen in the catchment area.
Washing became a lost art. Mirrors were converted into periscopes. The
previously spic-and-span New Zealand Army grew dirty-faced, unshaven,
and ragged looking.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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