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Gallipoli Diary

[February-1915]

Monday Feb 1/15

Usual routine through day
½ our coy. reinforced No 2 Post
on East bank for night. Pocket
book taken from Turkish officer
killed at Kantara the other day
contained system of signals etc
& copies have been sent to us.

Tuesday Feb 2nd

½ our coy
crossed Canal to improve trenches
on East bank at No 3 Post.
½ coy again went No 2 Post
for night. I took remaining ½ coy
to No 4 Post per launch at 11 pm
Just reached fort when Turks
attacked No 3 Post I had left
about 3 miles away. They fired
on our lines for about 2 hours page 72 in the dark. Our men did
not reply & enemy did not come
to closer quarters than 800 yds.
H.M.S Himalaya lying by
No 4 Post fired 3 rounds from
a gun & Turks retired before dawn
to the hills. I returned to No
3 with detachment at 7 am

Wednesday Feb 3rd

Taranaki
Company removed into trenches
at Post No 3 (El Kubri) on East
side of Canal other occupants
of the fort being the Gurkha
Rifles & Manchester Regt. Machine
Guns. Our men are now in
very front line and find patrols
every two hours during night.
They also sleep fully dressed
with rifles loaded and all
ranks stand to arms 4 am
to daylight. Excellent training
for the men & they do it well.

page 73

During day they play
football & cricket in the fort
when off duty. Each morning
we spend improving defences
& wire entanglements etc & men
usually have afternoon off.

Everyone is cheerful and
only hoping Turks will attack.
Aeroplane reconnaissance takes
place daily & cavalry patrol to
the front of all positions.

First important engagement
took place today near Ishmailia
when Turks attacked in force
& reached the canal with metal
boats. Enemy were severely
defeated & left 500 dead on
field & we took about 800
prisoners. Warships greatly
assisted with gun fire.

Enemy brought 6″ Howitzers
to bear on our positions but page 74 our casualties only about
100 all told. Nelson Inf. Coy
participated & had 1 killed and
1 wounded. Four of enemy
crossed the Canal & escaped
but were subsequently captured.

Thursday Feb 4th.

Quiet day here, slight
rain in night damped us
in trenches a little. North
of us convoy of 90 camels
with amm. & supplies and
several machine guns were
captured subsequent to the
engagement of yesterday.

I left for Cairo 5 pm
on duty. From Ishmailia I
travelled on train with
Turkish prisoners arriving Cairo
4 am.

Feb 5th & 6th

duty in Cairo.
stayed at Shepheard's Hotel

page 75

Feb 7th. (Sunday)

Left Cairo for El Kubri
at 7 am. reached Ishmailia
10.30 am. Inspected here the
captured Turkish boats etc &
left for Kubri at 2-10 pm. returning
to Fort with company that night

Monday Feb. 8th

Usual routine at Kubri
Post.

Tuesday Feb 9th.

ditto

Wednesday 10th.

ditto

Thursday 11th.

NZ mail

Friday 12th.

Usual.

On Thursday 4th. 2 platoons
of Taranaki Coy with ditto
Gurkhas, a squadron of Indian
Hydrabad Lancers and a
battery of E. Lanc. Artillery made
a strong reconnaisance to
the front from our Post to
clear up the situation. page 76 At about 2 miles distant
they encountered a party of
Turks several hundred strong
who opened fire on the Lancers.
Our Artillery replied and the
enemy retired before we could
come up with them. One
Lancer was killed. Things
have been quiet here since.

Today (Friday) enemy are
reported to be retiring and
no strong force is within 20
miles but we anticipate
their return and are quite
prepared. On [gap — reason: illegible]Friday (12th) 400 Gurkhas
have been landed at Fort by
the H.M.S. Minerva on a
small expedition.

Saturday 13th Feb 15.

Usual routine. Aeroplane
scouts report enemy shows
no signs of advancing.

page 77

Sunday Feb 14th 15

All quiet & continued fine
weather. Gurkha expendition
returned from Gulf of Suez
having completely destroyed
the Turkish Force at Lor &
only casualties 1 killed & 1
wounded. Turks had over
60 killed and 102 prisoners were
brought to Suez. The force
landed from the “Minerva”
at 1 am & night marched
until 6 am completely sur-
prising
the enemy of whom
more escaped. On the approach
of a Gurkha (with good intent)
towards a wounded Turk
the latter, probably thinking
his life was in danger, fired
& shot the Gurkha clean
through the chest. The latter
though thus wounded page 78 drew his “Kukri” (a huge
native blade he carries) and
clove the skull of his enemy.

The Gurkha is now doing
well in hospital. These men
are splendidly trained and
are excellent fighters, and
being in touch with them
personally in this fort,
(El Kubri) I have gained a
very high opinion of them.

Some of this Regt were
in the fight on Feb 3rd
when a party of Turks
showed the white flag. Upon
a Gurkha officer going forward
they then opened fire, killing
him & others. In the face of
this fire the remaining Gur-
khas
rushed forward & almost
annihilated the Turks party
& taking many prisoners.

page 79

The white flag has now
both here and in Europe been
so much abused that we will
in future disregard it & unless
the enemy throw down their
arms will take no prisoners.

Monday Feb. 15th 1915.

All quiet as usual. General
Wilson (O/C Canal defences)
& staff visited our Post.

Tuesday Feb. 16th 1915.

Uneventful day. As our
Coy. Moves from No 3 Post
tomorrow I am arranging
for them to have a concert
this evening to mark our
pleasant associations with
the other members of the
garrison (the 7th Gurkha Rifles)
10th Manchester Machine Guns page 80 and Naval crews operating
the searchlights & ferry services.

Wednesday Feb 17th 15

Last evening had a most
successful entertainment with
aid of the searchlights. Had
assistance of Wgt'n. Batt. Band
and noise of our revelry
will surely entice the Turks
to the post. Our only regret
is that they refuse to attack
in force. Col Taylor & other
Gurkha Batt'n officers & Col. Malone
attended. I afterwards dined
at Gurkha officers mess and
hope I may have the pleasure
of meeting them again. We
have formed a very high
opinion of them & their men.

9 am Taranaki Coy
moved from No 3 Post The page 81 left ½ coy. under Major Brunt
going to No 5 Post and the
right ½ coy. under myself being
stationed at Headquarters
and occupying West Canal Bank
from kils. 149.5 to K. 150.

Thursday Feb 18th 1915

Very hot dry day &
no news of enemy. Spent day
improving defences & com-
munications
of [unclear: new] ground.

News of death of Capt.
Galbraith at Citadel Hospital
midnight of 15/16th inst.

Deceased died as result of
motor accident in Cairo and
was on staff of General Birdwood
to which he was appointed
from Ceylon Planters Coy only
10 days before the accident.

page 82

Friday Feb 19 th/15

Usual daily routine.
2 Turks surrendered at No 2
Post South of us about 2 miles
to a patrol of Gurkhas.

Saturday 20th.

Usual day
short period of drill and
remainder of day improving
trenches & communications.

Strong reconnaissance
from No 3 (EL KUBRI) Post
(opposite our position). Force
consists of 500 men including
200 Camel Corps 1 battery F.A.
and remainder Infantry & Cavalry

It will be accompanied by
an aeroplane & remain out
several days in order to
locate the enemy and discover
his intentions. Granted
leave to Mr Wells to visit SUEZ.

page 83

Men are in great spirits
and only regret that the Turks
have not yet been bold enough
to attack us in force. We
are right on the Canal banks
and passing steamers and
the often jocular remarks
& conversations carried on
with passengers (especially
of the fair sex) greatly interest
the men and helps to keep
up their ardour. It is
a most unique position
for civilians to be passing
up & down the actual out-
post
line, and what will
be, if the enemy advances,
the line of resistance.

12 noon. I am ordered
to report to A.A.G. at
Headquarters, Cairo in charge page 84 of Capt. G — who is up
on enquiry. Left by 6 pm
train arriving Cairo 11.15 pm
Capt Martin met me at
Ishmalia with documents
for H.Q. Stayed at Shepheard's
Hotel & reported to Col. Chaytor
9 am Sunday. Ordered to report
to G.O.C on Monday. Visited
Mr. Andrews in Cairo on Sunday
afternoon. Also met Hon. Arnold
Diplomatic Agent for U.S.A.

[gap — reason: illegible]Monday Feb 22nd

Duty at H.Q. concluded.
attended reception at U.S.A
Embassy on occasion of anniversary
of Washington's birth. Returned
to Zeitoun camp for lecture
on War in France by Brig.
General C. Owen, who has
just arrived from front.

page 85

Most interesting lecture
especially in view of fact that
we are to go to France soon
as part of 26 British Division
(about 520,000 men) At the
conclusion of lecture I
trained to town & attended
Kursaal Music Hall and
had supper with private friends
Ret'd to Zeitoun camp by
1-30 am train.

Tuesday Feb 23rd

Orders for N.Z. Inf Brigade
to return from Canal on Friday.

I spent day in town and
left for Kubri 6-15 pm
arriving on Canal banks at
11-45 pm.

Wednesday Feb' 24th

Rec. Force returned to
El Kubri, after having page 86 marched 35 miles into
enemy's country. Aeroplane
went on another 35 miles
to Me [unclear: Nekhl] where Turks
were located, (still retreating)

Aviator dropped bombs
on their camp & was fired
upon by guns, two Shrapnel
bullets passing through the
wing of machine.

Major Brunt with left
½ coy. rejoined us from
Shalonf (Post No 5) arriving
by launch at noon. Mail
from N.Z. letter from Rita
of Jan. 17th.

Thursday Feb 25th 15

I am detailed to act
as Railway Transport Officer
for return of troops to Cairo
and proceeded to Campimento page 87 station at [gap — reason: illegible]10 am. Ceylon
Ruahine & Hawkes Bay Coy's
arrived there afternoon and
bivouaced for night. I
despatched this force for Zeitoun
at 9-35 am on 25th.

Friday Feb 26th

Despatched first Train
9-35 am and second with
West Coast, Taranaki &
Headquarters at 11-35 am
arrived Zeitoun 3-20 with
second train and proceeded
to camp.

Saturday Feb 267th

Morning devoted to
settling in camp.

Mr. Heslop arrived 11 am
having landed at Port Said
previous day.[gap — reason: illegible]

He lunched in camp and page 88 afternoon I showed him
round the lines to meet
various friends. Met
“Mat” P. and dined at
Shepheard's afterwards
taking Mr. Heslop & Capt
& Mrs Home to Kursaal.
“Mat.” being refused late
leave — rotten —.

Sunday Feb 28-15

Divine service in
Camp 10 am afterwards
spent lazy day in lines

Mr Heslop & Home's having
gone to Pyramids—