3 June, 1915

. “Alphabetical” Davies, a slummocky dull-witted fellow, missing this morning. Heard later he is under guard in the trenches - arrested in a gun pit waving his arms in suspicious manner. There is some one in our lines giving information about gun positions but, “Alphabetical” has not the wit for that game. An Artillery officer has been caught signalling morse through a loop-hole with a glowing cigarette lighter. In the heavy fighting in their trenches lately the 15th lost a Major, and Captain Hughie Quinn, a fine man. Heard Serg Kenyon has been awarded D.C.M; Dr Butler D.S.O. 500 Reinforcements landed early yesterday including 15th. German “Taube” dropped bombs on us yesterday. This ‘dove’ lays high explosive eggs weighing 100 lb. More experience of whizzing shrapnel this morning on the beach. Fragments went screaming past us on the beach, scattering the bathers. At sunset every evening the sea frontage at hqrs is like a popular bathing resort so crowded with swimmers is it.
Watched 11 shells dropped round supply ship. The twelfth scored a hit her stern.
This evening cruiser is sending in broadside after broadside to the north, flames leaping from her gun turrets, wonderful how the roar of these heavy guns cheers us up. Heard graphic yarn from 2nd L.H. of the hand to hand fighting round Quinn’s post. Bombs and hand-grenades used freely. L.H. lost 25 killed 70 wounded in charge two nights ago. Trenches only 10 yards apart in places. Turks scrawl messages in English and throw them into our trenches. One ran like this "If the Australians do not surrender tomorrow we will declare war!" Another asked if it was true the infantry ate their prisoners. The infantry replied "No, it’s the light horse who do that.
This evening very unfortunate accident to 9th. From some as yet unexplained cause, a gun of 9th Btry (Tassies) fired a charge that burst short striking ridge among our posses. 3 killed, 14 injured, including some officers at Hqrs. Officers wounded by premature burst. The Major, Capt Melbourne, Lieut  Wilden and Williams.Ernie Booth who arrived only yesterday killed outright also Bird (both legs blown off). Another of the Divisional signalers Hammond chest and arm, Hansen chest and leg Lit in 4th 9th. Booth was my tent mate at Broadmeadows, also came across on same boat to Egypt. Alarm at 9 pm heavy fire in centre all support ordered to stand to but attack slackened off by 10 pm. One man who was in ration fatigue earlier in the evening pulled out of the trenches in drunken condition -evidently stealing rum, robbing his mates of their ration. A signaller who was talking "Borthy" round the telephone connections when the shell caught them, lost one of his limbs. Good bye, left leg, he said as they lifted him on the stretcher.
Heard that the result of the evening bombardment was the blowing up of a new battery the Turks were putting in position. One Turkish shell picked up contained beach pebbles - evidence of shortage of ammo.
Turkish numerals 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 __-