On the Gallipoli Peninsula
Landed from Destroyer Grampus
yesterday evening at spot Australians stormed on 25th April. We were
shelled by enemy's hidden battery with shrapnel. One Destroyer hit (not
ours) and 4 killed with 10 wounded among troops. Hard luck to be knocked
out before landing. Saw shells bursting on hillside and some killed
among dugouts. This position is a series of steep ridges rising straight
from the beach partly covered with scrubby bush, partly bare clay and
sandstone cliffs. Marvelous how Australians landing party gained a
footing on these ridges. Every foot of ground was accurately mapped by
Turks with distances marked. Small plots of clear slopes had been
cleared of cover to decoy attackers, and then play the hidden machine
guns on them. Whole hillside is now a network of dugouts, appearing like
a gigantic rabbit warren. Fairly safe from shellfire except lucky
shots. Ninth Btn is entrenched on top of ridge about 1½ miles from
landing beach at headquarters. Trenches are well built with overhead
protection and sandbag loop holes for lookouts. Entanglements in front.
Heard of big night attack by Turks in force last Wednesday night. They
came on in droves with white robed priests leading shouting their
eternal "Allah, allah." Our line reserved its fire till they reached the
entanglements and then poured in rapid fire mowing them down in heaps.
Turks asked for armistice later and 3000 dead were buried in front of
our trenches the other day.
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