A HARD TASK

Grey River Argus, 3 July 1915, Page 7

A HARD TASK

ELEVEN DAYS' FIGHTING. NEWS FROM FIRING-LINE. j "BAYONET ALL THE TIME." PICKING OFF SNIPERS. A narrative of the early clays in the campaign agafiist Turkey has been received in Auckland from Lance-Sergeant W. Russell L. Beresford, 10th " Battalion. Australian Imperial Forces. Sergeant Beresford volunteered in Adelaide, and was posted to E Company, his battalion being part of the 3rd Brigade. Lance-Sergeant Beresford forwarded extracts from his diary, which he apparently wrote during odd moments in the fighting. "We are now in the boats in the dark on the way for the shore, 2.30 a.m.," he wrote on the fateful morning of April 25th, and later added : "Now, about one hour after daylight, we have got a landing, but such a landing ! We had just got the boats on shore when we were fii'ed on from the hills all along our front. The bullets were ripping all round, and we had to get as good a landing as we could, -and simply advanced in skirmishing order up the cliffs and hills, being fired on and not firing a shot, but using the bayonet all the time. The chaps seemed to take it as a joke, and I did not feel in the least nervous. We took up a position about a mile inland, and had just time to dig a shallow trench when the enemy came on in large numbers, about 20,0d0, I think, and we had a tough time of it to keep them back and hold our own. Then a battery opened fire on us from the side, and swept our trenches with shrapnel. The poor old 3rd Brigade got fairly wiped .out, and in some places we were forced to retire for a bit. AN IMPROVISED MEAL. "Most of our officers were hit, and it was a miracle that I came out Unscratched. A spent bullet did strike me, but it did not hurt, and another made a hole through my trousers, just above the knee. One time we got it exceedingly hot. They are using 4in. shrapnel shells, but something is the matter with most of them, as quite a lot do not explode." Returning to his diary next day. Ser geant Beresford remarks, "Got no sleep last night, and was deadly cold, had no putties, as I had used them to bandage a wounded chap." He then relates that with the assistance of a c-.omrarle lie carried a wounded man about three-quarters of a mile to the nearest stretcher-bearers. "I am now on my way back to the firingline, and not having had anything to eat, except a few biscuits, since we left the transport, and little or no sleep for two nights, you can imagine how my head throbs. One hour later — thought I would like something to drink, so filled a couple of spare dixies with water and made myself some' tea and some bovril found in a discarded equipment. It revived me wonderfully. TURKS ATTACK HALF-HEARTEDLY. "Have been well peppered with shrapnel and m.ichine-gun fire most of the day," he wrote on April 27. Just at dusk the Turks came into the gully in front and we gave them a particularly warm reception. It is funny how cai'eless a fellow gets with bullets flying a,ll around when he is firing at the enemy. For my part ,1 cannot stand the shrapnel yet, and duck every time I hear the whiz of a shell near me. Anyhow, the Turks entered the gully in the dark, and started to entrench. Then they mnde a sort of half-hearted attack on our lines, but seemed to. abandon it. In the morning we cleared them right out of the gully and got shelled in conse-' quence. It was terribly exciting waiting all night, expecting a bayonet charge and not being allowed to fire, although we could see some of the enemy about 12 yards in front, behind the bushes. We did give thorn a volley onoe, and there were a few rlead Turks left there. VERY LITTLE REST IN TRENCHES. "Wednesday, 28th : Wo have now been in the firing-line, since . Sunday morning, and have not had sleep since' the night before that, so that is only about four hours' snooze in about 104 hours,- and strenuous hours at that, lying on the damp ground without an overcoat all the time. Have had a fairly busy, time with the enemy, who have entrenched on a ridge on our left front. The enemy attacked in front, but were driven back in disorder, and w,e had quite a pleasant time having shots at them as they were retirins:. One of the chaps oa my left just lifted his head above the trench/ and was sighting, when a sniper put a bullet in his head, and he died by just letting his head fall on his left shoulder, not a movement of his arms or "rifle. "We had a good time this -afternoon. We' found out that the enemy had some snipers on the hill to our left, behind some bushes ; so the sergeant in the next trench and I took it in turns to pop them off, first one having the glasses, and then _the other, to see how we were shooting. I am sure we accounted for five or six Turks, and there was no more sniping from these bushes for the rest _ of the day. At dusk the word came down that the 10th Battalion was to be relieved by the marines, who were well equipped. lam pleased to be relieved, although it seemed like leaving home to leave my little dug-out." Sergeant Beresford refers briefly to bathing: in the sea, and being shelled on Aoril 29th, and mentions that he was on fatigue duty on the following day. He fell ill \vth dysentry on May sth, and was taken aboard a hospital ship.