August 22nd, 1915

Dear Brother,

Just a line hoping this finds you all well as it is with me at present.  No doubt you often think and wonder about me and think that I am a fool to leave dear old Victoria for these foreign parts of the world:  well, old chap, if things come out alright, it will not be so bad but there is nearly 99 to 1 chance of not coming that way for this is as hot as any part of France, for the Tommy that was in the retreat from Mons says that it was nothing to the landing here and if that is so I would not mind being in it for this was very hot.  The beach was like a hailstorm at the time that I landed. it was just before dawn and the first thing I saw on shore was some dead lying on the edge of the water.  It looked very enticing for us and when we 1st go of the pinnace we had to row to the beach a distance of about 60 yards.  The Sgt Major who was on the rudder "done his block" and ran us for a fort down the beach, but as good luck went there was only a few in the boat got wounded and only one who was not able to leave the boat.  After we had got cover for a while I bounced out and laid him down on his pack and bound the wound for him.

Well after this we struck on to the top of the Hills and settled down for better or for worse. Well, old chap, the better has followed me ever since. That week was  very warm;  the Turks made great efforts to force our left flank, they attacked for three days at the one point but every one was driven back with the aid of the ships.  They stood our friends, for the 18 pounders were not on shore and it was very hard for us to keep the Turks back but the hearts of all stood  good and faced the bullett.  The Turks shone out on a few occasions and were as brave as our lads, the only thing the cold steel is no friend of theirs, for they don't like to stand face to face with us, they like a back poke if it is possible. Well, Art you may not like this sort but I will tell you a few things another time. 

We had another engagement on the 8th May at Cape Helles.  We were taken by some mine sweepers there for a Show, at least that is what we  think for it was like murder.  They put us into it on the 8th and at 5 o'clock in the evening we had to make an advance over the Tommy's trenches.  Just as the time everything was done, the 2nd Brigade and a Battalion of New Zealanders went forward and gained 550 yards of ground before dark.  It meant a great loss of life but they got it.  The shot and shell was so thick that one could hardly walk through it.  A lot went down before midnight.  it was very hard for the stretcher bearers to get the men away, the ground is very level and not so much cover as up here and it was very hard for the wounded me.  A lot died for the want of looking after;  then the next trouble was food and water for the forward trench, we had no way to get it through.  They kept us there till seven days had passed before they relieved us but once we dug in they did not try and  put us out of it, it was easy to hold.

They brought us back again about a week after to the spot where we landed on the 25th and we camped on the side of a hill for a few days.  One night, the Turks attacked and got cut up so  much that they have been very civil since as far as making big attacks.

The 1st Brigade made a fine attack on a hill called the Lone Pine.  They lost very heavily but we still hold it.  Our chaps put in a good hour pouring in 6 inchs and got them disorganised and at the time the bombardment ceased the 1st Brigade charged it.  The Turks put up a fine go but our strength was too  much for them so they have settled down to rest over the matter.

Well we are holding a big line on this point and hope to have it over soon.  I wish it was over now for I have had a long time here and been under fire all the time, for out of the 17 weeks, the Machine Gun Section has been in the trenches 15 of them, so you can imagine what we feel like by now.  While I scribble these few lines I am on duty at the Gun in a small tunnell in a hill facing a nice spot,  but we get no fun here.       

Well, Jerry old chap, I haven't had a wash for about a week, the beach is too far to walk as I have a very tired feeling now, been a Trenchie too long.  Now you will have to excuse this as the piece of pencil is about 2 inches long and getting beggared.  There are a few big shells flying across now and then  thank goodness that the Turks have not got too many big guns for they seem to be very short of them.

You would break your ribs for a good laugh if you saw me now;  the backside is out of my pants and I have them cut short above the knees and no socks on, but I get a shave once a week and keep the wig short for there might be a louse about, for they come and have a feed eventime.  The daily menu is bacon for breakfast, and for smoko is a louse, then dinner is rice, then lunch in the afternoon, perhaps a game of cards then stew for tea.  Smoko before watch is a nip of rum or L. Juice, that is the daily thing. Tuesday is tobacco and match day.  2 ozs of tobacco and one box of matches for the week.  I brought a pipe from Egypt and I find it very nice now.  We don't get the mail too good for there seems to be a bit of a mix up in it but I suppose it is the best they can do. I     should have sent you a line before but they don't give us any paper or envelopes and I can tell you they are very scarce.  The issue has been two envelopes for 17 weeks.  This has to pass the Censor and he is not a bad chap, so heaps of love to all.

I remain
Your loving brother
G A Hill
Machine gun Section
7th Battalion

 I am among a fine lot of chaps, and we have had fair luck lately, not loosing too many of them, the only thing is that they are like myself, tired.

COMMONWEALTH. HEROES DECORATED. BY THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL. Melbourne. Nov. 7. Ten men whose courage on the field of battle had been recognised by the King were decorated to-day on his Majesty's behalf by the Governor-General (Sir Ronald Munro Ferguson) His Excellency, who was accompanied by his wife (Lady Helen Munro Ferguson) was received by a guard of honour on the terrace in front of the Federal Parliament House. A large number of citizens assembled to do honour to the heroes, and when they were dismissed a general rush was made towards Sergeant G. A. Hill, who bore on his breast the greatly coveted French military decoration, the Medaille Militaire.

COMMONWEALTH. (1917, November 8). The West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954), p. 5. Retrieved May 6, 2014, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article27459896

We have seen the Medaille Militaire won by Sergeant G. A. Hill, of 45 Grandison street, Moonee Ponds, and who went away from Essendon with the 7th Battalion. The medal is equivalent to the Victoria Cross, and was won while he was with the 15th Machine Gun Company.

OUR SOLDIERS' BUDGET.

[Which is associated with "Newsy Items," an 8-page publication issued every fortnight by  the Cobram District Soldiers' £500 Fund Committee to all soldiers from this district now overseas.] 

Copy of postcard received by the local Soldiers'' Committee from the   Front.:—"Dear Sir,—Sergeant G. A. Hill has been evacuated from this unit for some time now, and is probably back in Australia by this on sick furlough, and as I am a friend of his have taken the liberty of opening his parcel of smokes, and on his behalf have much pleasure in thanking your Society for forwarding same." The signature is somewhat obscured by a printed line on the card, though it

appears to be "F. Walker."

********

Sergeant George Hill, of Cobram, who was mentioned in our last issue as having won the Medaille Militaire, was presented with the decoration at Federal Parliament House last week, and it would seem that all the prying activities of keen Melbourne pressmen couldn't squeeze out of George any particulars of the deed for which he got the Medaille, for he was oyster to the end. The Melbourne "Herald" of last Wednesday, however, contains the fullest account of the ceremony, and from it we extract the following : "Ten men whose courage on the field of battle has been honored by the King were decorated to-day, on His Majesty's behalf, by Sir Ronald Munro Ferguson, the Governor-General. A great concourse of spectators assembled to do honor to the heroes, and when they were dismissed a general rush was made toward the stalwart form of Sergeant G. A. Hill, who had the unusual honor of bearing on his breast the greatly coveted French military decoration—the Medaille Militaire. His comrades were the first to congratulate him, and until he broke away from his enthusiastic admirers he had to act much as a man in the thick of a Rugby scrum. Everyone wished to catch hold of his hand, also to inspect his decoration." Then the "Herald" gives a list of the other heroes and the deeds for which they were honored, but in referring to our brave warrior it merely says ;—

"3. SERGEANT G. A. HILL BEING DECORATED WITH THE

MEDAILLE MILITAIRE."

THE GOVERNOR  GENERAL ADDRESSING THE SOLDIERS—Reading from left to right: Sergt. A. G. Ross, D.C.M.; Cpl. B. H. Cavanagh, D.C.M.; Sergt. R. Hedge, Military Medal; Sergt. A. Pender, Military Medal: Co.-Sergt.-Major T. E. Cunningham, Military Medal; Pte. W. J. G. Davis, Military Medal: Pte. F. C. Mason, Military Medal; Pte. A. Underwood, Military Medal; Sgt. G. A. Hill, Medaille Militaire.

[No heading]. (1917, November 17). Weekly Times (Vic. : 1914 - 1918), p. 27. Retrieved May 6, 2014, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page13605486