Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 28, 2013 23:06:55 GMT 12
I found this great little diary in the Auckand Star. I get the distinct feeling the anonymous writer was one of the many Cambridge soldiers at Gallipoli. Not only does he make mention of Cambridge men but also A. Swayne who's mentioned was a very well known Cambridge soldier and member of the 4th Waikato Mounted Rifles (our local regiment), Alfred "Cocky" Swayne.
Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 308, 30 December 1939, Page 9
Leaves From A Digger's Diary
Thousands of us, when we left, made up our minds to keep a diary of our experiences. Each day for a week, maybe a month, and maybe a little longer, we made an entry, or sometimes we would write up three or four days at a time till exigencies of the service ultimately broke our original resolution to compile a documentary history of our experiences.
Some men kept it going longer than others, and several Diggers have "rooted out" old diaries now and again —in spring-cleaning time, perhaps—and derived much pleasurable recollection from perusing them.
In the "short and snappy" sentences of the following diary, much drama, comedy, pathos and cheery fellowship is concealed and thousands of men in New Zealand to-day will be enabled again to retrace their steps over scenes recalled between September 22, 1914, and December 30, 1915.
The writer, who wishes to remain anonymous, was with the 4th Waikato Mounted Rifles.
Sept., 1914.
22 —Farewell in the Domain, Auckland. Embarked on "Star of India."
24 —Sailed from Auckland at 5 p.m.
25—Woke up in morning and found ourselves back in Auckland Harbour.
28 —Troops disembark and go to Takapuna. Had a good time at Takapuna.
Oct.
5 —Troops move to Otahuhu.
10 —Embarked again on transport.
11 Steamed out of Auckland Harbour.
14—Arrived in Wellington, joined by Japanese cruiser Ibuki.
16—Leave Wellington and New Zealand; 10 transports.
21—Arrived at Hobart and had a long route march.
22—Leave Hobart.
28—Arrived in Albany. There we joined Australian transports. A dreary place.
Nov.
1 —Leave Albany; 42 ships in all.
8 —Passed Cocos Island. Not visible.
9 —Great excitement. Sydney destroyed Emden.
25—Arrived at Aden. Barren sandhills. No leave and no one wanting it.
26—Depart from Aden, 6.30 a.m. Enter Red Sea, 6.30 p.m. Very hot.
Dec.
1 —Arrived at Sues.
3 —Beached Alexandria about 7.30 a.m. and rounded breakwater, anchoring near 20 German ships, prizes of war.
5 —unloading commenced. Everybody busy.
20—Egypt proclaimed a British Protectorate.
23—Route march through Cairo.
25—Christmas Day. Very quiet in camp.
Jan., 1915.
1 — The New Year came in with much band playing, carol singing and drinking. Parade, attack practise, during the day. No rest for the wicked!
* * * *
May.
7 —Left Zeitoun at 10.30 a.m. for the Dardanelles. Not taking horses.
8 —Arrived at Alexandria 4.30 a.m. and went on board the Grantully Castle. At 6 p.m. we sailed for the Dardanelles.
12—Arrived at the mouth of the Straits early in the morning. The warships were bombarding the Narrows when we arrived. At 4.30 p.m. we sailed for Gaba Tepe where we landed at 6.30 p.m. One man was hit while we were on destroyer. Turkish battery shelling us as we were landing. No one hit.
13—Slept on the side of the cliff last night. Made dug-outs in the morning; shrapnel falling everywhere. In the afternoon we relieved the R.M.L.I. in the front trenches. They kept up a heavy fire all night.
15 —Our battery in position above headquarters; No. 4 Troop in main sap. I was working sap when a machinegun started to play on me. Had a narrow shave. Stopped work.
16—In main trench; was relieved by 3rd A.M.R.— did a bit of sniping.
18—3rd and 4th troops digging dugouts all day. Captain Black and S.M. Marr killed by snipers. Relieved 11th A.M.R. in trenches at 11 p.m.
19—The Turks attacked us at 3 a.m., but we held our position till dawn, and then a scrap took place. Some of the Turks got in our trenches, but we killed them by hundreds; 2nd and 4th troops got the most of the fighting. Turks used a lot of hand grenades and killed a lot of men.
20—Buried dead men to-day; were relieved at 6 p.m. thoroughly fagged out. Had about six hours' sleep, out of 72 hours. The Turks tried the white flag dodge. We gave them two minutes to clear out. We had a narrow shave, as their men were massing in a gully on our left flank.
21—In reserve trenches and arranged for an armistice. Turks shell base and beach as usual.
22—Relieved at 12 noon by Aust. Light Horse. Our regiment in reserve trench.
24—Armistice from 7.30 a.m. till 4.30 p.m. We buried the chaps who were killed in the landing. They had been dead three weeks. The Turks' dead numbered hundreds; 3000 men dead in front of Gaba Tepe.
25—Raining very heavy. H.M.S. Triumph torpedoed and sunk off the base. She sunk in 20 minutes. Turks shelling trenches as usual.
26—Had a narrow shave to-day when shell burst in trench about four yards away, but I happened to get round bend in the trench. Got half buried, but was not damaged.
27 —Started sapping at 12.30 a.m. I was working in a tunnel all night and got through to cliff at 5 a.m. 30 —Went to reinforce outposts at 7 p.m. They were surrounded.
31—Turks shell our camp. They dropped about 25 shells and only wounded six of our men.
June.
2 —Working in trench to-day. Was cleaning a revolver, which went off, and was taken aboard hospital ship at 2.30 p.m.
3—Hospital ship left Gaba Tepe at 6 p.m. and arrived at Lemnos at 10 p.m. Outside harbour.
4—Anchored in harbour, 7 a.m.; full of shipping; 45 transports and 47 warships. The island is very pretty. Left at 6 p.m. for Alexandria.
5—Passed through the Aegean Sea and buried a lot of chaps who died; 27 men died on board in seven days.
7 —Arrived at Heliopolis at 4.30 p.m. and was taken to Abbassia Hospital.
27 —Discharged from hospital to-day; at Zeitoun.
July.
13—Left Lemnos on destroyer for Peninsula at 8 p.m. Arrived 1.30 a.m.
14 —A.M.R. in reserve trenches.
25—Sapping, nearly blown up by mine.
29—Landing 4.7 naval gun at night. German aeroplane dropping bombs on us. 'Plane brought down by shellfire.
30 —Our howitzers nearly blown up by Turks. Another German 'plane flew over us. Expecting big attack by Turks.
31—We took two Turk trenches at night and captured three machine-guns.
August.
5—Served with emergency rations for two days; going to outpost at 9.30 p.m. (big row expected). We are going to open the argument.
6—Was camped at outpost all day. At night we left at 8.30 to attack No. 3 outpost, which we took at 9 p.m. with the bayonet, completely surprising the Turks. We had about seven killed and 15 wounded. The Maoris attacked our position, thinking it was still occupied by Turks.
7—Left the outpost at 1 p.m. to reinforce infantry in the attack on 971, but we were not needed till 2 a.m. next morning, so we camped in the gully. A. Swayne hit while in gully.
8—We charged Turk position at 4 a.m., but had to stop half-way and take cover till late in the afternoon, as the fire was terrific. We had a lot of chaps killed. It was 4 p.m. before we got up to infantry.
9—The fighting last night was terrific. The Turks were up on the top of a slope and we were halfway up, so all they had to do was to roll the bombs down on the top of us. Practically all the A.M.R. were killed or wounded. The 4th had 16 left out of 89. All the officers killed. Tom Phillips was wounded by one of our own shells falling short. We were withdrawn from the front at 4 a.m. completely exhausted. The Wellington M.R. and 5th Infantry relieved us.
10 —Back in No. 3 outpost resting. Was down dressing Tom on beach. He has not much chance. Very cheerful.
11—Still in No. 3 outpost. Got Tom away on hospital ship. Thousands of troops landing.
12—Strengthening our positions. Anzacs have suffered very severely.
13—Lost more men by stray bullets.
16—Still holding No. 3. Shrapnel as usual. Shrapnel does not do much harm when you are in trenches.
23—Went out to Hill 60. 4th Mounted Reinforcements arrived from Egypt. Squadron up to 72 men.
24 —Holding trenches at the foot of Hill 60. Getting shrapnel all day and bombs at night. Things very lively.
25—As usual. The old men (Main Body) are worn out. I am still doing well but getting very thin.
28—The N.Z. Mounted Rifles' Brigade charged the Turkish trenches at 3.30 p.m. The Connaught Rangers were our reserves. Got out after us, lost all their officers and came back.
30 —Relieved out of trenches by Australian Infantry—done completely— 21 left out of 70 men. Was promoted to corporal. Australian Light Horse charged the trenches on our right at 12.30 that night. Our line is straight. We gained about 400 acres in four days' fighting; 1000 men killed and wounded. Land is very dear here.
31 —I have charge of the 4th Squadron; no officers or N.C.O.'s left. Two sergeants were sent away sick. Mail arrived to-day. Parcels also.
Sept.
2 —Shifted back to Chestershire Ridge at 9 p.m. No bombs as there are 400 yards between us and Turks. They are on one side of gully and we on the other. Getting shrapnel as usual.
13—Left the Peninsula for Lemnos Island.
21—General Godley received us to-day with a French general. About 250 men left out of 2500. There are 67 in our regiment out of 875.
28 —All troops being inoculated again. A good thing.
Oct.
3—Fifth Reinforcements arrived. Some Cambridge chaps among them.
15 —All the Main Body men examined by doctors, but they would not pass us and have been ordered back to Egypt.
31—Left Lemnos for Egypt in the Crosshill.
Nov.
5—Stayed at Musta Pasha Camp last night and came on to Cairo by express. Only nine men of the 4th (Waikato) Squadron.
8—Have been given charge of one of the stables. 218 horses and 34 niggers and six of our own men.
Dec.
29—All the troops have arrived from the Peninsula.
30—Everything reorganised.
Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 308, 30 December 1939, Page 9
Leaves From A Digger's Diary
Thousands of us, when we left, made up our minds to keep a diary of our experiences. Each day for a week, maybe a month, and maybe a little longer, we made an entry, or sometimes we would write up three or four days at a time till exigencies of the service ultimately broke our original resolution to compile a documentary history of our experiences.
Some men kept it going longer than others, and several Diggers have "rooted out" old diaries now and again —in spring-cleaning time, perhaps—and derived much pleasurable recollection from perusing them.
In the "short and snappy" sentences of the following diary, much drama, comedy, pathos and cheery fellowship is concealed and thousands of men in New Zealand to-day will be enabled again to retrace their steps over scenes recalled between September 22, 1914, and December 30, 1915.
The writer, who wishes to remain anonymous, was with the 4th Waikato Mounted Rifles.
Sept., 1914.
22 —Farewell in the Domain, Auckland. Embarked on "Star of India."
24 —Sailed from Auckland at 5 p.m.
25—Woke up in morning and found ourselves back in Auckland Harbour.
28 —Troops disembark and go to Takapuna. Had a good time at Takapuna.
Oct.
5 —Troops move to Otahuhu.
10 —Embarked again on transport.
11 Steamed out of Auckland Harbour.
14—Arrived in Wellington, joined by Japanese cruiser Ibuki.
16—Leave Wellington and New Zealand; 10 transports.
21—Arrived at Hobart and had a long route march.
22—Leave Hobart.
28—Arrived in Albany. There we joined Australian transports. A dreary place.
Nov.
1 —Leave Albany; 42 ships in all.
8 —Passed Cocos Island. Not visible.
9 —Great excitement. Sydney destroyed Emden.
25—Arrived at Aden. Barren sandhills. No leave and no one wanting it.
26—Depart from Aden, 6.30 a.m. Enter Red Sea, 6.30 p.m. Very hot.
Dec.
1 —Arrived at Sues.
3 —Beached Alexandria about 7.30 a.m. and rounded breakwater, anchoring near 20 German ships, prizes of war.
5 —unloading commenced. Everybody busy.
20—Egypt proclaimed a British Protectorate.
23—Route march through Cairo.
25—Christmas Day. Very quiet in camp.
Jan., 1915.
1 — The New Year came in with much band playing, carol singing and drinking. Parade, attack practise, during the day. No rest for the wicked!
* * * *
May.
7 —Left Zeitoun at 10.30 a.m. for the Dardanelles. Not taking horses.
8 —Arrived at Alexandria 4.30 a.m. and went on board the Grantully Castle. At 6 p.m. we sailed for the Dardanelles.
12—Arrived at the mouth of the Straits early in the morning. The warships were bombarding the Narrows when we arrived. At 4.30 p.m. we sailed for Gaba Tepe where we landed at 6.30 p.m. One man was hit while we were on destroyer. Turkish battery shelling us as we were landing. No one hit.
13—Slept on the side of the cliff last night. Made dug-outs in the morning; shrapnel falling everywhere. In the afternoon we relieved the R.M.L.I. in the front trenches. They kept up a heavy fire all night.
15 —Our battery in position above headquarters; No. 4 Troop in main sap. I was working sap when a machinegun started to play on me. Had a narrow shave. Stopped work.
16—In main trench; was relieved by 3rd A.M.R.— did a bit of sniping.
18—3rd and 4th troops digging dugouts all day. Captain Black and S.M. Marr killed by snipers. Relieved 11th A.M.R. in trenches at 11 p.m.
19—The Turks attacked us at 3 a.m., but we held our position till dawn, and then a scrap took place. Some of the Turks got in our trenches, but we killed them by hundreds; 2nd and 4th troops got the most of the fighting. Turks used a lot of hand grenades and killed a lot of men.
20—Buried dead men to-day; were relieved at 6 p.m. thoroughly fagged out. Had about six hours' sleep, out of 72 hours. The Turks tried the white flag dodge. We gave them two minutes to clear out. We had a narrow shave, as their men were massing in a gully on our left flank.
21—In reserve trenches and arranged for an armistice. Turks shell base and beach as usual.
22—Relieved at 12 noon by Aust. Light Horse. Our regiment in reserve trench.
24—Armistice from 7.30 a.m. till 4.30 p.m. We buried the chaps who were killed in the landing. They had been dead three weeks. The Turks' dead numbered hundreds; 3000 men dead in front of Gaba Tepe.
25—Raining very heavy. H.M.S. Triumph torpedoed and sunk off the base. She sunk in 20 minutes. Turks shelling trenches as usual.
26—Had a narrow shave to-day when shell burst in trench about four yards away, but I happened to get round bend in the trench. Got half buried, but was not damaged.
27 —Started sapping at 12.30 a.m. I was working in a tunnel all night and got through to cliff at 5 a.m. 30 —Went to reinforce outposts at 7 p.m. They were surrounded.
31—Turks shell our camp. They dropped about 25 shells and only wounded six of our men.
June.
2 —Working in trench to-day. Was cleaning a revolver, which went off, and was taken aboard hospital ship at 2.30 p.m.
3—Hospital ship left Gaba Tepe at 6 p.m. and arrived at Lemnos at 10 p.m. Outside harbour.
4—Anchored in harbour, 7 a.m.; full of shipping; 45 transports and 47 warships. The island is very pretty. Left at 6 p.m. for Alexandria.
5—Passed through the Aegean Sea and buried a lot of chaps who died; 27 men died on board in seven days.
7 —Arrived at Heliopolis at 4.30 p.m. and was taken to Abbassia Hospital.
27 —Discharged from hospital to-day; at Zeitoun.
July.
13—Left Lemnos on destroyer for Peninsula at 8 p.m. Arrived 1.30 a.m.
14 —A.M.R. in reserve trenches.
25—Sapping, nearly blown up by mine.
29—Landing 4.7 naval gun at night. German aeroplane dropping bombs on us. 'Plane brought down by shellfire.
30 —Our howitzers nearly blown up by Turks. Another German 'plane flew over us. Expecting big attack by Turks.
31—We took two Turk trenches at night and captured three machine-guns.
August.
5—Served with emergency rations for two days; going to outpost at 9.30 p.m. (big row expected). We are going to open the argument.
6—Was camped at outpost all day. At night we left at 8.30 to attack No. 3 outpost, which we took at 9 p.m. with the bayonet, completely surprising the Turks. We had about seven killed and 15 wounded. The Maoris attacked our position, thinking it was still occupied by Turks.
7—Left the outpost at 1 p.m. to reinforce infantry in the attack on 971, but we were not needed till 2 a.m. next morning, so we camped in the gully. A. Swayne hit while in gully.
8—We charged Turk position at 4 a.m., but had to stop half-way and take cover till late in the afternoon, as the fire was terrific. We had a lot of chaps killed. It was 4 p.m. before we got up to infantry.
9—The fighting last night was terrific. The Turks were up on the top of a slope and we were halfway up, so all they had to do was to roll the bombs down on the top of us. Practically all the A.M.R. were killed or wounded. The 4th had 16 left out of 89. All the officers killed. Tom Phillips was wounded by one of our own shells falling short. We were withdrawn from the front at 4 a.m. completely exhausted. The Wellington M.R. and 5th Infantry relieved us.
10 —Back in No. 3 outpost resting. Was down dressing Tom on beach. He has not much chance. Very cheerful.
11—Still in No. 3 outpost. Got Tom away on hospital ship. Thousands of troops landing.
12—Strengthening our positions. Anzacs have suffered very severely.
13—Lost more men by stray bullets.
16—Still holding No. 3. Shrapnel as usual. Shrapnel does not do much harm when you are in trenches.
23—Went out to Hill 60. 4th Mounted Reinforcements arrived from Egypt. Squadron up to 72 men.
24 —Holding trenches at the foot of Hill 60. Getting shrapnel all day and bombs at night. Things very lively.
25—As usual. The old men (Main Body) are worn out. I am still doing well but getting very thin.
28—The N.Z. Mounted Rifles' Brigade charged the Turkish trenches at 3.30 p.m. The Connaught Rangers were our reserves. Got out after us, lost all their officers and came back.
30 —Relieved out of trenches by Australian Infantry—done completely— 21 left out of 70 men. Was promoted to corporal. Australian Light Horse charged the trenches on our right at 12.30 that night. Our line is straight. We gained about 400 acres in four days' fighting; 1000 men killed and wounded. Land is very dear here.
31 —I have charge of the 4th Squadron; no officers or N.C.O.'s left. Two sergeants were sent away sick. Mail arrived to-day. Parcels also.
Sept.
2 —Shifted back to Chestershire Ridge at 9 p.m. No bombs as there are 400 yards between us and Turks. They are on one side of gully and we on the other. Getting shrapnel as usual.
13—Left the Peninsula for Lemnos Island.
21—General Godley received us to-day with a French general. About 250 men left out of 2500. There are 67 in our regiment out of 875.
28 —All troops being inoculated again. A good thing.
Oct.
3—Fifth Reinforcements arrived. Some Cambridge chaps among them.
15 —All the Main Body men examined by doctors, but they would not pass us and have been ordered back to Egypt.
31—Left Lemnos for Egypt in the Crosshill.
Nov.
5—Stayed at Musta Pasha Camp last night and came on to Cairo by express. Only nine men of the 4th (Waikato) Squadron.
8—Have been given charge of one of the stables. 218 horses and 34 niggers and six of our own men.
Dec.
29—All the troops have arrived from the Peninsula.
30—Everything reorganised.
