Saturday 30 May 2015

May 30, 1915

Awakened at 3-30a.m. by cheering and "whoo-hoos" which puzzled me. Thought it came from the water but heard later it was a ruse to draw the Turks fire, making them believe we were charging. Was in NZ lines again. Saw Tom Caskey at Headquarters looking well, also W Johnson. Heard Harold Hay killed by NZ pickets at night while burying dead; they though he was an enemy as he had his head muffled, and did not answer at once in reply to the sentry’s challenge. Poor unfortunate chap. At noon today a coy of 2nd Bat captured a trench in the centre. Enemy bombarded heavily for two hours, but failed to dislodge them. Casualties - about 150.
Burst, of 4th, 9th, wounded in leg while sleeping in his possie. Shrapnel bullet through my cap which was on bush beside me. Heard the rattle of musketry to the south last night very plainly; the Tommies are getting closer. The warships also are creeping up the coast. We could see the shells from their guns bursting along the shoulder of the big fort. The battle destroyers in the bay are doing great work for us. Always on the move, restless, alert, they harass the enemy’s flanks, and keep his outposts in check with enfilading fire. Tonight is dark, with spitting rain, for some time a crackle of rifle along centre, which died down when moon rose.

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