Evacuation of Gallipoli.

Ellesmere Guardian, Volume XXII, Issue 3788, 5 April 1916, Page 1

Evacuation of Gallipoli.

DECEIVING "JOE TURK."

The following interesting description of the evacuation cf Gallipoii was written by Corporal W. S. Pratt, who was on the staff of the West Christehurch District High School prior to the outbreak of war. He It ft for the front with the main body of. the Expeditionary Force, and was attached to the New Zea'and Divisional Headquarters Field Post Office, The ws i:er says : So much has happsnned since last I wrote that I hardly know how, when, or where to commence I think my last letter was written jtj'-t after the Turks sh^i'^d our out po*;: so severely. I shall never f.>rge that afternoon or the shells they sent over. They put several into the hospital behind us with the result that some of the poor beggars have not been .found since—absolutely blown to pieces. It was about a week after that the evacuation began First the hospitals, and all unfit men were sent off. The hospi tal tents were left standing to deceive Mr Turk in case he came over for a fly in his Taube.

The next intimation was that in stead of stores being landed they were being taken off. In fact they pulled the bully-beef partitions out of the P.O. to feed the army. Fresh meat and bread were finished and we existed on bully and biscuits. Then batches of the infantry went off and two guns from each battery, Finally I got half an hour in which to pack up my stores and records and get them away. I got them packed and asked if anyone was to go with them. Oh no, they would have to go with the rest of the baggage. "But," said I, -'I've got a hundred pounds in one of those boxes." Well, the colonel told me to hang on to that and let the rest go. So until yesterday when I handed the money over to. the chief officer aboard this ship, I have been floating around with £ico in my pocket. What a win I'd have been for a pick-pocket. Of course after I .had got rid of my storss I bad practically finished. as far as P.O. work was concerned. But return mail still continued to dribble in and it was nob until the.last day I was on the "Pen" that I got rid of the last bags.

. During the last few days we were on the y Pen " we " straffed " the inside of the P. 0.. so that little or nothing would be left for Joe Turk. Letter-rack. hoppers, stretcher, lamp, etc., were all "straffed," and I took up my quarters in the PO. dug-out,

We moved off the '• Pen V on the 18th, the final evacuation was on the 19th. They got off without a hitch. Just marched through the sap to the pier on to the lighters and out to the troopship. We sailed straight away to Lemnos. The final crowd Came oft in batches and got off without losing a man. I believe Joe Turk thought we were about to attack instead of get out. In fact, he was very busy putting out extra wire entanglements when we made our getaway. Very little of aay use Was left and only a wortt out howitzer Was left out of all the artillery attd that was blown up»« We weut straight to Lemnos and went Into camp there. Just at present we are lying In Alexandria harbour. Got in this morning and are still on board. Really this - has been a festive season I shall not forget. Christmas Day on a trooper with bully beef and biscuits for dinner. To-day is the 28th and since we came on board we have had nothing but bully.