“WHAT IT WAS LIKE AT ANZAC

Another Anzac commemoration over, it is still timely to reproduce in these columns a letter written by Mr Ru Jacobson, the elderly gentleman who years ago sold Christmas raffle tickets outside Woolworth's store in aid of charities. A member of the family says the letter was written to Ru's father. Ru was one of the first to join the AIF, his army number being 48.

'April 25, 1915

We rose at 2.30 am and had breakfast. When we had finished we set to work to dismount our guns to prepare our ammunition, etc. for disembarking. About six o'clock, after standing on deck for half an hour, - under shell-fire – we all got into our respective lifeboats, which were towed by a steam launch to the shore, where we jumped into the water neck-deep, and to add to our difficulty, we had our Vickers machine guns, etc, with us, to carry, and were under fire, both rifle and shrapnel, the rifles being not more than 100 yards away. While doing this, Corporal Stan Goulding, Jimmy and Frank Mathews*, a lad named Butler** and two others of our section, were wounded.

Jimmy Mathews was our first casualty. One of the engineers ran out to help him and just as he reached Jimmy he was shot dead. Jim stuck to his gun and got safely to land, where some of his mates dressed his wounds. It was whilst doing this that four more were wounded by shrapnel.

However, we plunged on and drove the enemy well back, so as to allow our reinforcements to land. We got into action with our guns about eight o'clock, when the well-hidden snipers got to work. I did not get a chance to entrench so had to do my best with a twig and my hand and by two or three o'clock I managed to get about three inches into the ground, but I did not remain there long. An officer just in front of me stopped some ”Turkish delight” (a bullet) and rolled over beside me. I was doing my best for him when I had some “Turkish delight” placed in my back, and through my shoulder blade, and so I stopped my little first-aid game. I went into the air like a shot rabbit and crawled away like a whipped dog. The shot seemed like a sledge hammer, but did not burn. I sent an officer (Army Medical) to attend the wounded officer when he was also served with “delight”.

PRISONER

I went to the first Field Ambulance station where I saw the first Turkish prisoner. Among our wounded were some with the jaws, with the hands, and some with half their arms blown off.

Then I went to the beach for a return ticket to the boat. Whilst going back to the boat the snipers kept themselves busy at target practice; but they were not straight enough shots, although I could hear them buzzing past me. When I got back to the ambulance station, I learned that our artillery had been landed and that some of the Indian mountain batteries were already in action. This I could see for there were already some wounded lying on the beach. The engineers had established a wireless station and everything of importance had been rigged up. There had been steps cut up the hill sides, also roads for the artillery to advance up, so you will see that we are fairly well established.

FIRED ON

Before I go on any further I'll tell you what our wounded had to put up with on the beach. Being fired on whilst being brought to the hospital base was not enough, but we had shell after shell bursting over us and sending down showers of lead, few of which, however, had any effect.

Coming over by the barges, which we had towed all the way from Lemnos, were tins of water which were being emptied into artificial wells, made by the engineers. This was necessary because the Turks had poisoned all the water as they retired.

We were put on to the barges in which the water arrived and were towed to the ships which were transformed into hospital ships. We were about half an hour on these barges before we go on board, where the fourteenth battalion were.

We were received with cheers and were well attended by all hands – Cingalese, Chinese, Hindoos, and all. They could not do enough for us.

We were on the boat, lying on deck, while as many as possible ran round serving out tea and bread, butter and jam. Being on board until Tuesday, April 27, we found it somewhat rough, especially those who were unable to move without aid, for we only had a limited number of stretchers on which men could sleep. The remainder slept on the deck or on a table, our mattress consisting of a blanket and our covering, which was ample, being the same. It was here that one forgot he was wounded, when he walked round the wards and saw his poor helpless companions unable to move.

On Wednesday morning, April 28, we moved slowly off in a southerly direction. Then we made straight for Alexandria where we arrived on Friday and were transported to the hospital train”.

Newspaper cutting, probably from The Essendon Gazette, undated, courtesy of Margery Burston.)

* NOTE.  These wounded men enlisted at the same time as Ru Jacobsohn, whose regimental number was 48.  Stan Goulding's number was 47, Frank Mathews was No 49, and James Reginald Mathews was No 50.

** NOTE.  The 'lad named Butler' is probably John Francis Butler No 421 of the 7th Bn who received a gunshot wound to the knee on 25 April 1915.

PTE. J. R. JACOBSOHN.

Pte. J. R. Jacobsohn, who is reported wounded, is 22 years of age, and is the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Jacobsohn, of 26 Chaucer Street, Moonee Ponds. He was a pupil of St. Thomas's Grammar School, is a member of St. Thomas's Church, and of the Church of England Men's Society, and a member of St. Thomas's Harriers. He was attached to the Victorian Rifles, and a lieutenant of the Commonwealth cadets. He left with the first contingent as a machine gunner, 7th Battalion. His brother is attached to the 14th Battalion, now at the front ; and his sister has left for the front as a nurse.

Private J. R. Jacobson, of the 7th Battalion, machine gun section, 1st A.I.E. force, reported wounded, is the son of Mr. and Mrs. J. Jacobson, 26 Chaucer-street, Moonee Ponds. His age is 23 next June, and he was born at Moonee Ponds and educated at St. Thomas's Grammar School there. He was in the employ of Sargood Bros for about four years, G. R. Dunn and Co., Trade Protection Society, for twelve months, and about nine months, at Kettle Bros., Ultima, He had about three years with the Victorian Rifles and obtained his certificate as lance corporal in July, 1911. On compulsory service coming into force he became lieutenant of senior cadets, 58th Battalion, Essendon. He has always been a very enthusiastic soldier.

Captain Christopher Finlayson. (1915, May 31). The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), p. 11. Retrieved February 14, 2015, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article154946662