IN GALLIPOLI

Otago Witness, Issue 3216, 3 November 1915, Page 33

IN GALLIPOLI

STRENUOUS TIMES. A SOLDIER S LETTERS. Sergeant E. G. Pilling, of the Now Zealand Force, who was at Anzao on August 8, writes to his mother; — “Do you remember that in my last letter (August 4) 1 said that tho New Zealand troops wore on the tip-toc of expectation. Big things were expected in the next few clays, and wo were wondering what our part was to bo. Wo didn't have long to wonder. On Thursday the New Zealand troops packed their valises and stacked them in battalion heaps in Monash Gully. At 11 p.m, our battalion fell in and marched away. Every man carried .his tunio. That afternoon we had some white patches round our arms and on our shoulders. In the early hours of Friday morning we dropped down dog-tired and weary in one of the little yalleys leading off Happy Valley. In the morning wo awoke to find ourselves well out on the left of our position. On Friday we lay low, wondering and speculating and guessing what our job was to bo. About 7 p.m. our desires were satisfied. A big attack was to take place, and the New Zealanders hgd an important part to play. What especially raised our hopes was that wo Aycre led to believe that if wo did this job well we would get a spell. At 9 p.m. our battalion marched off. We did our part; took three trenches, captured several prisoners (I got one), and moved on for our next objective. Owing to something causing a delay we got there at daylight. This cost us a few men. It was here that Sergeant Napier . . . died from wounds. We dug all that morning, and then shifted our position. ‘No rest for the wicked,’ and we had to mov up to the top of a lull to support Auckland and others in a charge. Fortunately, wo did not have to go out, but lay in readiness all night. Tho following morning more New Zealanders and some Home troops went out, as well as tho Ghurkas and our Maoris. The performance of the Maoris was magnificent, and they are well termed the New Zealand Ghurkas. All that clay wo were digging ourselves in, and at night wo went out to relievo Wellington. During the next 24 hours I learned more of tho ‘hollishness’ and awfulness of Avar than during the previous 15 weeks on Gallipoli. Suffice is to say that we hung on. Wo were relieved by English troops about midnight after a Sunday, which I shall never forgot. Just as the Almighty closed the mouths of the lions to save Daniel, so it seemed to mo it was His will to preserve ray life. We had a few hours’ sleep in the early hours of Monday morning - , but vyere at the back of the hill by 7 a.m. That afternoon we dug" in in a sheltered valley, got our first night’s sleep, and on the Wednesday night we moved up to the trenches again. It was getting too solid, and the strain was telling on our fellows. Gradually the few old hands who were remaining were being sent away. Thursday finished me, and. tired out, tlrrec of us saw the doctor and were sent off for a spell. “Done! I don’t think there was a single part of my anatomy that didn’t ache, and it took mo all the time to carry the lioo on my back, let alone rifle and equipment, Thcro is nothing- wrong in tho way of illness, bar an attack of diarrhoea duo to the hard tack of tho Peninsula. But like old Diver, I’m clone, and need to be turned out on tho grass for a while. All I want to do is to sleep, wander about tho beach, eat, and then sleep again. Poor New Zealand will have a true insight into the Avar by now.” Writing to his father, the same soldier says : “At present I’m in tho Third Australian General Hospital, recuperating after four months’ solid Avork and lighting. Of the original band who landed with us feAA r are left. I don’t think you could muster more than half a dozen in our company Avho liaAe come right through the campaign so far without a spell. , . . Life hero does not promise to be a - cry interesting, nor does it seem likely, Avith the tucker Ave got, that a chap Avill get his strength back quickly. Could they pump plenty porridge, vegetables, fresh meat, and good bread, butter, and jam into a man, ho would soon bo fit once more. But our tucker is onN a slight improA'cmont on the hard tack avc have been getting, and avo have to make tho best of a bad job. Another disadvantage is that avo hare no money, and the luxuries of the canteens are beyond us. Tho arrangements Avith regard to tiro paying of sick and wounded soldiers are rotten. But enough growling. Wo have all plenty to complain about, but let us look on the bright side of things. “We are away from the continuous roar of tho guns and hard graft; and tired nature, is getting a spell. I think every

bo 3 in my body is tired, even to tha marrow. . . . Lemnos is almost as badly infected with flies as Gallipoli. You need to experience these flies to understand them. Yawn, and before you can get your mouth closed these flies ara half-way down your throat. _ Put jam on a piece of bread, and Hies will even get under your knife while you arc so doing. “Lemnos has become a great military and naval base now. Hospitals crown the hilltops on all eiii-and military bustle is always in tho tor. ground. Away back in the native villages and fields grapes, tomatoes, figs, melons,, etc., grow in plenty, and when I get some strength up I'll investigate those places.” After a reference to the awkwardness for letters to reach the. hospitals, the writer continues: —“Of Ryburn and Childs I have no news [the last-named is dead], Aly own pals aro gone from me, and my present maces are men whom tho fight has brought together. I don t think there's an old Varsity man on the island. . . .” A day or two later he writes to his mother: —“A peaceful spot is difficult to find, i on m Lemnos. I've got a quiet corner, however, in amongst some bully beef boxes. Ive not yet been able to get any money, and so a cablegram to you is still impossible. I know that just at present it would bo worth its weight in gold. It'3 a shame, alter so long a time away from luxuries, not to be able to buy them now owing to lack of arrangements. Adjacent to each hospital or camp [at Mudros] is a Greek canteen, where one can buy cigarettes, chocolate, grapes, tomatoes, etc. Prices, however, are high. You should see the boys (those lucky enough to have carefully spending their pennies. There is about £2O waiting for mo to draw, but 1 can t get any of it. Reading matter is scarce hero, and it would be a Godsend to dump a shipload of old magazines and novels and the New Zealand public libraries into these hospitals. . . Tho writer proceeds to give a reassuring account of his progress, and looks forward to being “back among the boys, or, at least, their successors.” (Some day ho might tell about the last week’s fighting, “but it is too vivid yet.” “After coming through the past four months one is forced to the conclusion that, either one has been exceptionally lucky, or the hand of God has shielded one. The latter alternative I prefer, and am led to believe that God is keeping ma for something later. ...”