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22nd November 1915
Rained heavily last night.
Thanks to someone we didn't
go down to the Beach for
loading purposes. Bitterly
cold today. Been muffled up
like a Polar Bear. Today all
NCOs went across to A69 5
inch Howitzer Battery for
instruction. Find the guns
very simple, much more than
the Eighteens! Our Battery
is taking over similar guns.
Awaiting their arrival. 'Beachy'
paid us his compliments
again. Awfully interfering
chap. Stormy night.
23rd November 1915
Along Howitzer Bty again
today. 'Beachy' spotted us
while coming back and
started interfering, also a
sniper had his little say.
Got a couple of mules but
didn't get us of course.
Bitterly cold again. Short
rationed in everything.
Haven't had a wash for 4
days. Played 500 at night. A
bit of hate landed at 8 pm
but died down about an hour
later.
24th November 1915
Party went down to complete
loading operations at beach
late last night. Forgot to
call me. Didn't reprimand
them of course. Had another
visit to that A69 both this
morning and afternoon.
Beachy waits for our party
now seemingly. We had to
take cover twice going round
by the beach. Capt Callaghan
DCO (our old Captain) at the
Bty today. Won't be long
before we get our guns now.
25th November 1915
Bitterly cold again. Working
party out again last night.
Got back some unearthly hour
this morning but saw nothing
of our Howitzers. Beachy
still busy on the beach.
Last night 5 Turks managed
to get through our lines,
but were met in Monash Gully
by some of the lads. The
Turks, not the 'lads', went
west.
26th November 1915
Slightly warmer today,
although plenty of room for
improvement. Round at A69
all day. Saw some of the
Turkish Batteries trying to
get some of the destroyers
and trawlers, also an
aeroplane or two, also got
introduced to a sniper who
nearly scored 2 hits I know
about. Our gully got shelled
in it's turn at Dinner time.
Saw most amusing incident
but can't put it down here.
Visited a 4.7 on the right
flank later. Raining.
27th November 1915
Raining and quite cold
enough for snow. Along at
A69 all day. Sea very rough
and things looking very
black in general. Horribly
short rationed with food and
water. Too rough for boats
to get close enough in for
the use of lighters. Can't
expect our guns to arrive in
this weather. Bunk at 5.30.
28th November 1915
Snowing hard. Started last
night at 11 pm and still
snowing 6 pm. Cold as
Charity with a 30 miles p.h.
wind whisking the spindrift
about. Lovely sight from my
dug out. Everything is
perfectly white. But gee,
isn't it hot. This afternoon
got issue with McIntosh's
warm underclothing. Don't
half need them either.
Managed to pinch some Quaker
Oats and had porridge for
supper. Wrote Linda. Bunk 9
pm.
29th November 1915
Stopped snowing, but
absolutely raw. Tired of
being an Eskimo so crawled
out into it. Form 10 till 2
the Turks have been
bombarding out trenches
positions, one shell, a 5.9
HE has just lobbed into
Shaw's dug out just above
me, but didn't explode. He
is only bruised. Johnston
wounded with shrapnel. Sorry
to report that Lt Dixon
(Jim) badly wounded. The
heaviest bombardment the
Turks have given us for
months. Sent over 8.2 HE
Howitzers. Smashed Lone Pine
about. Casualties very heavy
on our side. Expecting an
attack tonight.
30th November 1915
Contrary to expectations,
the Turks never attacked
last night. Just an
occasional shell lobbed by
them and our own reply with
Howitzer fire. Saw Jim
today, looking very seedy on
it, but as 'cheery' as of
yore. This afternoon the
Lord Nelson and several
cruisers and destroyers came
up and loosed 'Hell' round
the point. At present things
are perfectly quiet. Not a
gun firing anywhere. Believe
the final dash for the
Narrows to be made within
the next few days. Bitterly
cold.
1st December 1915
Heavy frost last night.
Turks again bombarded Lone
Pine, but stopped after
about two hour's flutter.
Marching orders came late
tonight. Have just got one
party away for Lemnos to
pick up guns and ammunition
there. Expect to go over
tomorrow. Rumoured on good
authority that we go from
there to --. Hope so.
2nd December 1915
Busy packing up all day.
Beachy still busy. Expect to
leave tonight.
3rd December 1915
Disappointed last night.
Still at Anzac awaiting
transport. Supposed to leave
at minute's notice. LATER.
Got orders to leave camp at
9.30. Walked via Wakker
Ridge to beach. Got on board
a semi-trawler and left at
12.30. Arrived at Embros
5.30. Camped in tents again.
4th December 1915
Spent practically the whole
day eating and I am still
hungry. Awaiting General
Birdwood's return from Cape.
Don't know where we are off
to yet. Guns and first party
on board the Queen Louise.
Saw Mr Selmes today. Looking
OK. Quite a novel experience
not to have to dodge shells
or bombs. Plenty of Turks
prisoners. Also aeroplane.
5th December 1915
Still no news as regards
shifting from here, so
filling in time doing the
next best thing to
fighting-eating. Delany and
myself got permission off
DSO Cal (?) to visit the
RNAS's aerodrome. Had about
31/2 hours there this
afternoon. Tried to go for a
'rise' but struck hard luck.
Having another try tomorrow.
Very interesting afternoon.
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