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The Auckland Regiment

XII. Lemnos

page 69

XII. Lemnos

"The winter winds of Lemnos,
They blow exceeding fast.
There's nothing quite so stiff on earth
As that persistent blast."

That afternoon was a most joyful time. New bread, fresh eggs and fresh meat were served out, also a bottle of stout between every two men. Cooking fires were lighted between stones, so arranged as to keep off the wind. Steak and eggs were frizzling merrily, and the smell was good. For a whole fortnight the men did nothing except eat and rest. The food continued good, and there was a very large issue of milk. Apparently all the milk sent from New Zealand had been concentrated on Lemnos. The issue worked out to about a dozen tins per man, which was very acceptable, but much more than could be used at one time. If it had been sent across to Anzac during June, July, August and September, a large wastage of men would have been avoided. During all that time a tin of milk was worth a dozen tins of bully-beef. Yet bullybeef was landed by the ton and wasted by the ton, while the milk that would have saved thousands of evacuations for intestinal diseases was withheld.

The first Sunday was noteworthy, on account of the church parade, held on the open level flat before the camp. Everyone was of opinion that the New Zealanders had done enough fighting to last them for the whole war. Egypt was talked of. Garrison duty was thought of. Some cheerful optimists even discussed the possibility of a trip back to New Zealand. Then Padre Taylor preached a sermon, saying that no man had done his bit while he had a leg left to stand on and life in him. General Godley made the startling pronouncement that the war had only just commenced, and that there was much fighting still to be done.

page 70

"Oh, Hell!"

It was a hard note, but a necessary one.

On September 30th, the Sixth Reinforcement, under the command of Major S. S. Allen, arrived, and absorbed the Battalion. In the eyes of the old hands the new men were "leadswingers." They looked down upon them with infinite scorn, and were at great pains to remind them that men who had fought at the Landing, at Helles, at Quinn's and Chunuk Bair were in a very different position to that of the men who had been forced out of New Zealand by sheer pressure of public opinion. It is all very laughable when one comes to think of the 42nd Reinforcements and the late arrivals of 1918, but in those days the Main Body took themselves very seriously, and, after all, who can blame them ? The 6th Reinforcement, on their part, were torn between two emotions. On the one hand they were impressed by the fame these early men had won; for in those days the name of "Anzac" stood very high.

"I'd count it the greatest reward
That ever a man could attain.
I'd sooner be Anzac thanLord
I'd rather be Anzac thanThane."

On the other hand, it was very difficult to connect honour and fame with the handful of decrepit, homesick, thoroughly verminous and blasphemously "fed-up" scarecrows who represented the Auckland Battalion.

By this time a daily routine had been established. "Right turn! Left turn! Slope arms! Form Fours!" and so on, with the whole paraphernalia of barrack-square drill. There is no doubt that the Anzacs badly needed a straightening up; but, nevertheless, it went against the grain to do recruit drill with reinforcements.

On the whole, life was good and interesting. Leisure time was plentiful. A few miles away, over some rough and barren hills, was the tiny hamlet of Therma, where hot springs provided the luxury of a hot bath. Further on again was the considerable town of Castro, with a wonderfully strong old castle crowning the hill above the town. In all directions were small page 71villages inhabited by rather dirty, greasy-looking Greeks. The inhabitants of these, anywhere near the camp, immediately commenced to make their fortunes. They opened cafes and shops, endeavouring to do trade at exorbitant rates in anything they could sell. The children stayed away from school and sold grapes, chocolate, figs, raisins, etc. round the camp, varying this occupation by raking over the incinerators and begging for "backsheesh."

Water was scarce, and as the transport had all been sent back to Egypt, it had to be carried from the pumping station, in the heavy cooking dixies, over a distance of nearly half a mile. Water fatigue was hard work. The queue at the pumps was often a very long one, and it was here that the ancient and honourable game of "Crown and Anchor" flourished exceedingly. All sorts of hard-looking individuals, with raucous voices and a splendid control of the Australian language, here plied their calling assiduously, despite the Manual of Military Law and Brass Hats of all sorts.

Some camp-fire concerts were a great success. None who were there will forget one man with a magnificent voice singing "The Last Rally."

So the time passed pleasantly enough. The news of Loos made the Sixth Reinforcement fear the war would be over in a few weeks. They were very eager to prove themselves. All sorts of rumours were going round as to the next front the New Zealanders would be fighting on. Salonica, Mesopotamia, Alexandretta, Egypt, France, all had their supporters.

Time was up. The Battalion was something over half strength by reason of the reinforcements and a number of convalescent sick and wounded who had rejoined. Camp was struck early in the morning of November 8th. The men fell in, carrying enormous packs. Word had gone round that the destination would after all be Anzac; so everyone laid in what store of provisions he was able to procure. The Brigade moved out from Sarpi, embarked once more from the rough pier, and sailed out once more on the Anzac track.