May 29, 1915

Yesterday evening shipped along to N.Z. lines on left flank. Deep communication trench cut round trench. Trench follow edge on high ground -very cliffy in places. Saw Robin Caskey - very fat and looking well. He told me Tom was all right also young Denis. J. Trotter, W. M'Connell. Tom Burnett, was killed on the first Sunday at head of gully also C. Stevenson. Saw young Harold of Timaru (at Cape Helles). Two Frasers here also Roy Priest. "Flannel" Dunsford posted as missing. 23rd (Timaru) Regt. lost 140 in landing. Saw N.Z. boy bring down a sniper. At dusk big body of N.Z. infantry moved out to make attack on flank.
After dark came back with donkeys to 9th lines. Our precious potatoes burst out of bags and spilt down hillside. Short ration of spuds today, 2 little ones each man. At 9 pm destroyers came close inshore and shelled enemy on small bluff near our left. 50 men of D Coy 9th volunteered to capture trench which they did without losing a man: bayoneted a few Turks and brought one in alive. Serg. Kenyon, a good man, led them. Our chaps expected to get machine guns in this outpost but they had been shifted. At 3 a.m. Abdul commenced to drop shells on our gully among the possies. One struck alongside dugout next to ours, peppering waterproof sheets and sending a shrapnel through Corp. Cameron's boot. Next shell killed a poor chap coming into his possie with water. Trenches also knocked about. The 9th lost altogether by sunrise 4 killed. Gilmore, Corp. Prendergast, Jones and Wrigley and 5 wounded including Jack O'Donnell of our Reinforcement. He was struck in shoulder in the trenches and is sent to base hospital. I have his mess tin (1828), blanket and sheet. One chap received razor blade in the head and another was struck by heel-plate of rifle so it seems Abdul is short of shrapnel bullets and is charging his shells with odds and ends.
   Further the gunboats nor our batteries seen to be able to silence the guns that are causing so much trouble. Since the submarine scare big cruisers do not come near us, and we miss the protection of their big guns. The Germans are fine marksmen. They have all the ranges to nicety. While raking the beach one day last week a single shell killed 28 mules. In spite of this continual danger men persist in bathing in the most dangerous and exposed spots. Life seems very cheap here. Even the authorities seem very causal and do not take reasonable precautions to avoid unnecessary losses. This morning down to Anzac Cove for fresh water which is supplied by shipping. Heard of Turks mining a trench on the left last night. 19 of our chaps smothered underneath. Trench afterwards retaken (forced back) with the bayonet and one of the enemy's with it. Many casualties. Saw 6 poor fellows laid out for burial on the roof of the hospital - wrapped up in their overcoats -boots and all. Six humble privates and yet they have done more for their country than the most generals plutocrat. They gave their lives - what more could they give!
Posted letters (more to be censored) and "Service" P.C.s.
Noticed Sergt. Gorch get a Timaru Herald in the mail. Will borrow it from him first. Pathetic to see the little heaps of mail for men who will never receive it as some missing, many dead. Major Gen Bridges died at Alexandra on May 19th. Wounded in leg which mortified. Buried with privates by same party. French aeroplane busy bomb dropping daily. The big fort sends up round after round of shrapnel after the Frenchman who eludes it with ease. The shells explode high up and the puffs of white smoke hang in the clear air like silky balloons.