30 June 1915

1st Bn left for Lemnos last night to re-organise and spell. High wind and dust storm after dark started heavy rifle fire from both sides. Search party from 11th trenches got in a few bodies. General Birdwood complimented 9th on Monday’s action. The object of the attack which was delivered by a squadron of 5th L. H. 2 troops, 7th L. H., 9th and 11th Btns, was to prevent Turkish Reinf. at Eski Kaio from going down to Achi Baba against Anglo French, who were assembling trenches here. Our Artillery fired 1400 rounds in 3 hours, and got onto several bodies of the enemy coming into the open. The 9th attacked across the razor-back ridge in the direction of the Lonesome Pine and Johnston's Jolly. L.H. took twin trenches, lower down Poppy valley.

29 June 1915

Heard 5th L.H. lost heavily in morning in yesterday’s action. They took “Twin Trenches”, but retired during night. Our artillery got onto some Turkish Reinf. coming up from Olive Grove. Many of our dead are to be seen lying up against enemy’s trenches, stripped of equipment and clothes. Saw burial of 17 men, Capt Le Treve and 3 officers of 11th Battalion. Some bodies were brought in during night. Impossible to get those on far ridge. British made good advance yesterday capturing a hill and 3 lines of trenches. Steady bombardment again today. Saw trench on left of 11th being blown up. Turks cross-cut under sap of 1st Btn Engineer and 2 men were killed. Many carried away suffering from fumes. Although the officers were told of the danger the sap was in and were thought to hear the tapping of the Turks’ digging tools, they remained inactive and did nothing to counter the enemy’s move. Some of our “heads” are mighty incompetent.

28 June 1915

Big bombardment on Achi Baba at 12.15 pm B and C coy 9th Bn supplied firing party to join in attack on Turkish trenches. We came back at 4 pm. Casualties not yet known, but saw many wounded. Glennie badly wounded, young Gabites missing. Men are dissatisfied with the operation, as no one was told what to do. The thing seems to have been bungled. D Coy was standing to in support. Poor old Corporal Joe Woodsby (the finest non-com in the 4th Reinf.) was killed early in the action. Also Farance, Sergt. Rainsbury hit in back. Volunteered for party, to go out and bring in wounded – hope we are allowed to go.
Heard this corporal’s evidence at enquiry. When he left the position his section had taken up he was the only one able to get back. All the rest were either dead or wounded.
Crawley wounded, but heard he got in after dark, having include 2 more?. Sg. Hepburn killed, Major Welsh wounded, Lieu Jordain and many others. Casualties total over 140 in B and C Coys. Mon. 4th Reinf. killed Collier, McDonald, Glennie (died of wounds). Wounded - Serg. Warner, Comalleth, big “Bung”.
Heard from Corporal Brown of C. Coy that he saw Gabites lying badly wounded with foot shot off in firing line. He spoke to him when company retired, but he did not answer. Volunteer search party was not allowed to go out by Brigadier. Hepburn, Hamilton, Sullivan Quartermaster Harvey killed, 20 missing

27 June, 1915

City of Glascow Arty one half battery (4 guns, 5 inch howitzer, 50 lb shell, 12oz cordite) put in position. Did good execution.

25 June, 1915

Some Glascow Artillery landed with howitzers. Balloon steamer observing this afternoon. Battleship with 5 destroyers bombarded some object over Olive Grove. Dense column of smoke (said to be Maidos in flames) rising in East this evening. Capt Campbell got slight wound in foot yesterday.

26 June, 1915

Last night changed papers with young Gabites, of Timaru, who is on gallery below me, in C Cy 9th. He was on same station in Q as “Pop” Gunn and joined original 9th. More shrapnel today from above Grove (5500 yds) and high explosive from howitzer on Gaba Tepe. English officer of Indian Mountain Battery on hill top above us killed by one shell. No mail for me today! It makes me envious to see other fellows getting letters. However, Gabites has a Timaru Herald. I think the work is wearing him out – he looks ill.

6 July 1915

In support trenches. Letter from Mary dated 16th April. More shelling this evening. Some of the “Glesco” Territorials belonging to the Howitzer battery hit. 10th Btn leaving for Imbros tonight to spell. 16th left yesterday. Said that monitor silenced big howitzer (11 inch) this morning early, 10th Btn, who are spelling in the galleries, we left on Sunday, had 1 killed, 20 wounded by shrapnel this evening, narrow escape myself. Shell cap went “plunk” over my shoulder. Allen of 15th Platoon had finger cut off by sniper bullet while holding periscope. Flynn issued with loaded rifle blew off finger of left hand (another “accident”?)