The last party to arrive at Gully Beach found that the lighter which should have taken them off, was on a reef. “Saturday night, and we’ve missed the last train home!” sighed one of the men, as, in the small hours of the morning of the 9th, they set off along the shore road to “W” Beach, where the last two lighters, already packed like tins of sardines, awaited them. R.A.M.C. men and sappers got on board—one of the former complaining that the night had passed without the promised excitement—and as they steamed away the dump on the beach went off with a most appalling din. As a spectacle it was magnificent, the entire stretch of coast being lit up; and immediately the Turks awoke to the situation, “went mad,” and began to shell the whole of the Helles portion of the peninsula furiously and indiscriminately. Thus, on the 9th of January, 1916, the last men of the 42nd Division left Gallipoli. Yet is much of the ground in the south-western extremity of that peninsula still held for Lancashire by thousands of her best and bravest, who, in the bloom of youth or prime of manhood, died fighting cleanly and without hatred for love of country, faith in her cause, and the honour of their corps. LIST OF GALLIPOLI CASUALTIES, M.E.F. (LAND FORCES, NOT INCLUDING FRENCH) Killed, 28,200; Wounded and Missing, 89,349 117,549 Sick (of whom a large number died) admitted to Hospital 96,683 ------- 214,232 ======= Casualties of the 42nd Division in Gallipoli: 395 officers, 8152 other ranks, killed, wounded, and missing. CHAPTER IV THE SUEZ CANAL AND SINAI (_January, 1916—March, 1917_) The Division remained at Sarpi Camp, Mudros, until the middle of January. Gallipoli had left the body weak and the spirit dulled; every unit was much below strength, and most had less than half, and some barely a quarter, of their full establishment. Death, wounds and sickness had played havoc with the organization, and squad, platoon, and company drills disclosed the fact that the men had lost much of their barrack-square smartness, but drills and exercises, guards and pickets soon put an edge on the dulled blade. The weather was not particularly good, but the decent tents, the thorough and much-needed wash, the immunity from shell and rifle fire, the freedom to walk upright, to take exercise and play games, the arrival of six weeks’ mail, the canteens, the unfailing interest in the shipping that went in and out of the great natural harbour daily, all combined to promote content and happiness.