THE DARDANELLES

Otago Witness, Issue 3201, 21 July 1915, Page 12

THE DARDANELLES

THE LIGHTING AT THE LANDING. A CHRISTCHURCH SOLDIER'S GRAPHIC STORY. The following first-hand account of the fighting by one that was in it (says tho Christchurch Press) is by Private John C. Mullins (A Company, First Canterbury Regiment), who was a member of the New Zealand Referee staff when he enlisted, and is well-known in Christchurch. It was written on a hospital ship at the Dardanelles, and brought to Cairo by a wounded comrade, Private Buttle, of the First Canterbury Infantry. Private Buttle was wounded in the light arm biceps, and was taken to Heliopolis Hospital. He handed tho letter to Sergeant Seed, C.Y.C., who reports that Private Mullins was doing well when his mate ,left him, and Private Buttle was also doing well EXCEEDED EXPECTATIONS. At last the Australian and New Zealand troops have received tho opportunity they have long been looking ior—mat is to have a ‘•genuine go “ at ttie enemy. it must at once be said that they received a little more than they expected, but are satisfied with their own behaviour under the ordeal, and that they earned the very good opinions held of them. The battle of the Gallipoli Peninsula will be remembered in history as one of the greatest battles, and the landing made by the Australasian troops will bear comparison with the best work of its kind ever accomplished. Alter spending a week or so at Lemnos Island, the way was at last clear for the commencement of the land attack on the Dardanelles, and Sunday, April 24, found the troops in a little bay m tho Gallipoli Peninsula. The fleet had already arrived, and the different ships were stationed along the coash, their buisiiiesslooking guns trained on the land, and ready at, a moment’s notice to belch forth deathdealing shells. Before , daylight the motor launches from the battleships were dashing about amongst the transports, and very soon the Third Brigade (Queensland) Australians were towed towards tho shore. And these men then undertook what proved to be one of the greatest feats ever attempted in any war. The distance from the transports to tho shore was, roughly, a couple of miles, and within 100 yards of the water were very steep hills, covered with dense prickly scrub, occupied by Turks well supplied with machine guns and rifles, while on the third range of hills w 7 as placed artillery, which poured forth tho shrapnel iu great style. Had matters been reversed, had Britishers been ,in the trenches and any other body of men in the boats, the position would never have been taken. Irom a defensive point of view it was practically impregnable. UNDER HEAVY FIRE. As the boats were approaching the shore the enemy opened fire with machine guns and rifles, and before tho Australians had landed their numbers had been badly cut down. This made them the -more determined. They did not wait for the boats to run ashore, but, discarding their packs, jumped into the water and waded ashore. They fixed bayonets, and with a mighty yell charged up the steep sides of the hill. Ihe sight of cold steel evidently was not relished by the “unspeakable Turk.’’ Ho quickly vacated his strong position as the boya swarmed after him. Even when they reached the position the Australians did not stop. Thev continued tho attack through the dense brush to another range of hills, tho enemy still retreating at tho double. _ Here the Queenslanders took up their positions, while the enemy’s machine guns and shrapnel were working on them at full pressure. Perhaps tho attacking party made a mistake in not ’* digging’ in ” when they had taken the first hill, but flushed with victory, they went on with the game, and as it was some time before the reinforcements were timed to arrive, the advance party underwent a torrid period. CANTERBURY MEN LAND. The Second and Third Brigades followed, and about 9 a.m. the first-of the New Zealanders, the Auckland Battalion and tho First Canterbury and Second South Canterbury Regiments wore taken ashore. Our journey to the shore was not as exciting as tho Queenslanders had had. Only one bullet landed within anything like striking distance. I just happened to be the unfortunate (or perhaps fortunate) individual to get it, for tho bullet, evidently a ricochet, came straight down, cutting a very small hole in my tunic and shirt, slightly cutting and bruising the arm, and then landed on my ammunition pouch, denting one of the bullets there. It was a narrow escape, but no harm was done, and wo landed without mishan. Tho first sight that met our eyes on reaching the shore was not encouraging. Equipment and rifles were lying in all directions, and the dead bodivs of several Australians and a couple of Jack Tars could be seen. UP THE HILL. We quickly discarded our own packs, which are much too cumbersome to fight in, and raced up the first hill. The enemy was determined to prevent reinforcements from coming up. and shrapnel was raining about our ears like bail. Going down the hill I was with a squad led by Lieutenant H. PI. FlitcJi, and including private iloldernoss. Madden, Sutton, Harrison, Franklin, and a number of others. A box of ammunition had to bo taken up to tho firing lino, and Harrison and I raced .down the hill with this huge encumbrance, and our speed, I might say, was not slow. Neither did wo pick our steps. The other boys then got aw-ay from us, and wo wore relieved of the box of ammunition by another pair. This was tho last I saw of any of the fellows mentioned, and I fell in with a crowd of Australians, and made for tho left flank, while evidently Lieutenant Ffitch and his squad went to the right. The last I heard of our officer was that ho had secured a rifle and bayonet from a dead Australian, and was working in great style right in the firing lino. PERSONAL EXPERIENCES. I can only toll of my own experiences, but presumably nearly every other fellow had practically tho same. After veering fiwny to the left we followed a big gully for some time, bub evidently tho Turks had the range of this, and their shrapnel made things too warm for us, so we forsook tho cover for more open country. However, tho shrapnel, which was playing hell generally, continued to popper us, and several fellows I was with went hurling down the hill after being hit. At this stage the reinforcements were being peppered mercilessly, but after much crawling, squirm-

ing, and .dashing wo got into tho firing line. For a time little was doing there,*as tho enemy was confining his attentions to the reinforcements, who were coming up fast and furious. But then the machine guns and shrapnel were trained on the ridge on which we were, and the casualties became awful. Every now and again one of the boys would roll over—sometimes with an involuntary yell, at other times with the quiet remark, “ He’s got me.” If not seriously wounded he would do “the barrel trick,” and roll away out ot the firing line. Up to this time I “ had considered myself extremely lucky, for two men on either side of me had been shot, two of them fatally. The enemy was well concealed, and it was only now find again that we caught a sight of one and had a “ pot.” HOW THE WOUNDED BEHAVED. The mountain guns, handled by tho Indians on the extreme left, were going well, and the enemy suffered severely. We were still handicapped by tho absence of our artillery, and every now and again an agonised cry of “Vv here’s our artillery, ’ might bo heard from one of the wounded. The behaviour of the men under fire was wonderful, and their coolness in any position was marvellous. It was never pleasant. In time we got used to the whistling of the shrapnel shells overhead, but the machine guns were never quiet. BACK FOR AMMUNITION. I think I had been in the firing line for an hour or so when a couple ot us wore sent to get more ammunition. I had an Australian sergeant as mate accompanying mo. We rolled back about 20 yards or so, and I was just congratulating myself on getting out of the trouble so nicely, w'hen something burst, and the next thing I remember I was at the bottom of a fairly stiff hill, half buried, with my back, shoulders, and leg feeling as though they did not belong to me. The Australian sergeant was still with me, with blood pouring from his neck, but he assured me it was “only a flesh wound,” and I fixed his field dressing on him as best I could. THE STREAMS OF WOUNDED. The Australian Red Cross, who, by the way, were doing great work, were stationed in the valley, and I was sent to the shore in charge of one of them, w’tiilo my sergeant friend expressed his intention of returning and getting some of his own back. During our journey back to the shore wo passed hundreds of fellows shot through the arms, legs, or head, and some of the experiences I had I never wish to go through again. The slaughter was something frightful, and all tho time the wounded were going back to the boats they were peppered with shrapnel and rifle lire. Every wounded man was cheerful as he could be, and I can tell you that tho Australians have earned a reputation that will never die. There are many pitiful tales to be told, and the suffering of some of tho wounded men was awful. The Red Cross men could not cope with all tho cases, but they did very well, and when ■ I arrived at the boats the shore w r as strewn with hundreds of men who had suffered at the hands of the enemy. A hospital ship crowded with wounded left early in the afternoon for Alexandria, and I am writing this aboard the Indian liner Seangchoon Rancoon, bound for the same port with 630 odd men aboard, while ahead of us is the troopship Lutzow, with probably a similarnumber. At least six men have died aboard this ship during the past few days, and it .is impossible at present to give anything like a correct estimate of the total casualties. Most of the Australian battalions have suffered heavily, and the New Zealanders who were in the tiring line got their full share. It is stated that Colonel Macbean Stewart is dead, and that Major Loach, Major Row, and Major Grant have all beer, injured, but I know nothing definite on this point. As a matter of fact, I did not see one of our officers or non-coms, after leaving Mr Ffiteh. When we wore waiting on the shore to be taken to the hospital ships reinforcements were arriving, and tho Australian Artillery also put in an appearance. This was the signal for a lusty cheer from the wounded, for we all recognised the value of our big guns at this stage. During Sunday night our boys were driven from their positions, and as it was raining heavily they must have had a very uncomfortable time. On Monday, however, strong reinforcements arrived, and the lost ground was regained in double quick time, the big guns from the battleships (including the Queen Elizabeth) helping materially. A SHOCK AND AN HONOUR. It was, as can be imagined, a terrible shock for our troops to be selected for such an engagement, but it was tho chance we had been looking for for six months, and wo had reason to feel satisfied with the result. The behaviour of fresh troops like our own under severe fire was the most remarkable thing about the whole affair, and men who had seen service in South Africa stated that nothing of the kind had ever been experienced during that war, and that they did not wish for anything warmer than they received on Sunday last. The men behaved like veterans, and the officers were to all intents and purposes as one with tho rank and file. The Turkish “ snipers ” were perhaps causing more damage than anything else, and the number of men sniped from tho rear was very large. Officers especially were sorted out, and tho number of deaths and wounds amongst officers is especially largo. Men who wore in tho firing line on Sunday night tell stories of their awful ex'pk„ Turks were csneoiall- active and at one time it looked as though our boys would be driven back to tho shore. THE SUFFERINGS OF WOUNDED. There must have been a groat many ■wounded lying about, and their plight may bo imagined. It was bitterly cold, and tho rain made matters decidedly worse. On Monday more reinforcements arrived, including a number of Canadians, and when we left on Tuesday at mid-day they were still coining, so wo are in hopes that the boys have made good, and that the extra men will enable the issue to be carried out successfully. A rumour states that our boys took 2000 prisoners, and that these have been put to the congenial task of making roads for our artillery. A large number of German officers wore leading tho Turks. Wo saw one or two on our way to the firing line, but they were beyond taking any active part in the operations.