OUR SOLDIERS
ASCOT VALE LAD'S DIARY.
"I'VE BEEN THROUGH HELL."
Writing from a hospital at Malta on June 21, Private George Gideon for wards the following interesting letter to his relatives at 28 River terrace, Ascot Vale: I am sending you a brief outline of operations. You always knew me as one for, not taking things seriously. Well, the time has arrived when this has changed some. I've been through hell proper, and I ask you to prepare for anything but the best. I was wounded on May 8th, near Achi Baba, the hill that seems to be the key to the position; but Malta is much quieter than Turkey. Well, after our long wait in Egypt, we arrived at Gallipoli on 25th April, and we didn't want alarm clocks to wake us, as shells were landing all round our ships, and we got rather anxious to get off and at them; but system had to take its course, and we had to settle down to patience. At last a string of our ships' boats were alongside, with a naval pinnace at the head. We got in, and away we went for the shore, where the rifle flashes were plentiful. We passed an up turned boat, and knew what that meant for the poor fellows who had occupied it, considering the heavy equipment each had strapped on him. Once in the water, that was the end. Our boys set their teeth, and each murmured something to himself. Nothing was said till the pinnace let go, and our own headway, with a pull or two of the oars, brought us to the beach, and out we jumped, waist deep, with fixed bayonets, and the water did not lighten our loads either. Up the slope we went, calling the Turks all sorts of nice names. The further we went, the wilder we got, for now we were passing our own lads lying dead or wounded. A wounded chap would sit up, his face covered in blood, and call out: "Go on, lads, give it to them." Nervousness had by this time fled from one and all. On and on we went till we got over three big ridges, when; all of a sudden, we got it properly from shrapnel and machine gun. Didn't we cop it! I never want to witness that scene again. I was with two other chaps unknown to me (for we were all separated in our excitement); one was killed on the spot, and the other was badly wounded. I patched the latter up as well as I could, and took him to the bottom of the hill, to a dressing station. Up I went again. We were getting it hot at last and there were now only six of us left on this little ridge.
I crept forward and saw about a dozen Turks coming up the slope. I got back and reported to the young lieutenant, who was with us, and he only said: "Keep your nuts, boys, and when they come up, retire back to the next ridge. This we did, and on they came trying pot-shots, which didn't ring one bull's eye. Over this ridge we went, then crept back to the top. One got about five yards from us. "Fire!" was the order, and down he went; two more got the same, and the others ran for their lives down the slope, and our little party after them, getting four more of them as they ran off. On our left our main body were retreating. Seeing us, they called out: "Back to the next ridge, boys." We got back on it, and made for the left, so as to meet them. We were now at the front of about three miles along this ridge, and it was a case of hold on to it or be driven back into the sea. Some dug, while others poured in the lead, with occasional bayonet rushes to drive them back. The cries were awful, especially from those in front of us who were too weak to get back. Some brave attempts were made to get them. Some did, but many didn't, finish their jobs. At last, our trenches were ready for us all to get into, and orders came to play the waiting game and save our lead, and to hold on at all costs.
We got very quiet, with plenty of ammunition coming up from the rear, and the Turks, thinking we had all gone home, came up in masses. "Let them come, boys; hold your fire." When they had got within fifteen paces in places, there was a roar of rifles. We simply mowed them down. They ran for their lives, calling out "Allah Allah !" The next morning found us with good trenches and plenty of dead Turks in front of them. In twenty-four hours we had got a firm footing, and nothing is going to push us out again.
26/4/15.-We learnt that of our 32 officers, only six were left on the field. Heavy shrapnel fire took place all day, especially toward nightfall; but the splendid design of our trenches saved us from much loss. But some of us had to take chances in carrying ammunition or water. Our warships were now able to support us. You should hear the "Lizzie" let go. The very earth trembles.
27/4/15.-Things got serious again to day. A new Turkish division came up and attacked several times; but they were repulsed each time. Our artillery had landed, and with some difficulty had got into the firing line. About a hundred of us to each gun, with long ropes, dragged them up from the beach. Night is the favourite time for the Turkish attacks. They came at us several times, but our waiting game proved very effective, and the morning showed them lying dead, in hundreds.
28/4/15.-Things fairly quiet. We amused ourselves watching a train, in the distance, which was probably bringing up reinforcements. Lizzie's shells were getting pretty close; at last, one caught the train and up it went. We got up more artillery; also some Indian mountain guns. They are only little guns, but they can do some damage. We also got a transport section of Russian and French Jews- refugees from Palestine. They were very handy with their pack mules. Also some Greeks from the islands, with their handy little donkey teams. It was moonlight early, and there was a little green crop in front of us. A scout came in and told us the enemy was forming up there. Our skipper passed the word that the signal to fire would be our machine-gun. He waited for a cloud to come off the moon, and there they were. The rifles spoke as one in answer to the signal and in the morning the crop would hardly be called a green one.
29/4/15.-We lost our position through late support, and we had to turn to and get it back with the bayonet; but the Turks won't wait for the steel.
30/4/15.--Quiet.
1 /5/15.- Things fairly well settled. Each battalion was. having a rest at the beach in turns.- Our turn to-day, and until to-morrow night, so we had a swim and made some good stew; and are quite ourselves once more; Len was wounded to-day.
2/5/15.--Heavy rifle fire, and artillery all day. One of ours transports was hit, but is still afloat.
3/5/15.-Busy with the rifle, the Turks using all their strength to drive us out, but in vain.
4/5/15.--Things busy all day, and especially at night. They came as they never did before, but we kept our heads. All reserves standing ready. On they came, calling "Allah ! Allah!" and their buglers caused much amusement by imitating our calls--the charge, cook-house; defaults, and several other calls. One officer (we presume he was a German) called out in perfect English: "Come on, you Australian ---s, we're ten to one now." One of our lads called back: "We don't care for a thousand to one black ----s like: you." They were repulsed as usual, but not so easy this time. I believe in places they got right up to the parapets.
5/5/15:-The R.M.L.I. gave us great praise, for the position we had won and held. By this time, we were being called the "White Gourkhas."
6/15/15--Re-embarked, and set sail for Kaled Bahr, where the English and French are operating. We got a great welcome from both the Tommies and the frogs: We dug in and slept. This is very different country--quite civilised compared to the place we had just left, which is very much like our Australian bush.
7/5/15.-Quiet. Watching artillery fire. Being cleared country, it is a great sight to see what artillery fire can do.
8/5/15.--To-day saw us in it. We charged over three lines of Tommies' trenches, singing - "Tipperary." Of course, it was only a bit of "grand stand." The Tommies would stare and say: "Well, you're a cool lot of lads." Then we got into the last trench for a rest. Running with your pack up isn't like sprinting on the football ground. When we got our wind, the word was given: "Come- on, Australia!" Up we got and charged, our yells putting fear into the Turks. They wondered what had been let loose on them, and here and there a couple would pop out of the trenches and get for their lives. But when we got about 300 yards from their trenches, it was proper hell. Their fire was like a dust storm. It's marvellous how they missed, not how they hit. Our poor lads suffered very heavily, and it was here I got my lot. I thought I had hit a stick, and didn't tumble to it being a bullet till I had run about another 50 yards; but I soon woke up and found I was hit about six inches above the ankle. It grazed my shin-bone and came out about six inches from where it went in. I left my rifle and pack and started back. The dead and wounded were lying around everywhere. I came across our poor Major Wells. He had a hole through the upper part of his left leg, and was bleeding very freely. He said: "Hullo, Gideon, you got one too?" I got close to him, cut his trousers away, and started to bandage him. It was a nasty wound, and the brave old Major was suffering great pain. It was awful to see this fine man weakening. Another battalion (the 7th I think) was advancing to support our chaps, and we were right between their fire and that of the Turks. I advised the Major that we should lie flat till they passed on, which we did. The fire at last eased off. I said: "Well, we'll get to work again." I looked at him. He was bleeding from the mouth. He had been shot through the back of the head, near the neck. He said: "Don't worry about me, boy. Get to safety yourself. Take my money-belt; there is £5 in it belonging to the company." I saw that his wounds were too much for me, so I shook his hand. He said: "Thanks, lad; look after yourself." I got down the gully and directed the stretcher-bearers to him. Another lad and I got further down to the dressing station, and got our wounds dressed, and the next morning I was on the hospital ship Braemar Castle.
Got to Alexandra. No room here, so we were landed at Malta on 17/5/15. Waiting for us was a band of English ladies. More homely faces never appealed to me before. They treated us to lemon squash, chocolate and cigarettes, and put flowers in our hats and coats, and those ladies still call on us twice a week with cigarettes and pipes, tobacco and matches. (Learnt on the boat that our poor Major had died from his wounds.) It's worth while being a wounded warrior, as they call us; but I am quite willing to go back to the lines again as soon as they ask me.
OUR SOLDIERS. (1915, September 23). The Essendon Gazette and Keilor, Bulla and Broadmeadows Reporter (Moonee Ponds, Vic. : 1914 - 1918), p. 4 Edition: Morning. Retrieved January 11, 2012, from
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article74590171
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