" THE APEX "

Otago Witness, Issue 3227, 19 January 1916, Page 53

" THE APEX "

ONE V.C. AND THREE D.C.M.'s. The following interesting letter has been received from a Dunedin soldier, who heads his letter "The Apex," Gallipbli, Octobei 31". "Only returned to the Peninsula a fort» night ago after having had a fine week'l holiday on tho Island of Lenmos. All the New Zealand infantry and most of tho Australians are spelling over there. Only 12 of our company could be relieved at a time, so that I—having been on the Peninsula since tho first day—was amongst tho first to go. Now we are back, and another 12 have gone. Lenmos is a Greek island five hours sail from Gallipoli. It is used by the French and ourselves as a military, naval, and hospital base. Tho harbour of Mudros is crammed full of shipijing of all descriptions, from huge warships and Atlantic liners to coal hulks and mine sweepers. The place is sparsely populated and is a very barren and desolate sort of hole to spend a holiday in. The only redeeming feature of Lemiios is the hot sjirings at Therma. There we had our first hot bath since we left Egypt, over seven months' ago. Yon can guess how we enjoyed it. I cannot notice any difference in Gallipoli since coming back. The old peninsula is just as we left it, and our positions arepractically the 6ame as when we dug in after our big advance in August—same old cackle of rifies and same old whizzing of shells. I can't realise that I have been away. The Turks bombarded us fairly heavily three days ago, but did not domuch damage. Only four men killed and about half a dozen wounded. I am stationed at the " Apex," which is just below the Chunuk Bair range, and a particularly important position. Here the New Zealandors had some desperate fights on August 6-11. The 7th Australian Brigade now garrisons this place, and I am attached to them. Tho "Apex" ii tho highest point of tho Rhododendron Ridge. The Turks are also on this ridge, and their trenches and ours are very close, so that bombing is carried on continuously. At this point our artillery bombard them every day, and they bombard us. Quite by mutual agreement! The front trench firing line is only 100 yards from where I am writing this letter.

One of our company -Corporal Bassett—has been awarded the V.O. He is the firsfi New Zealander to win it. We are very proud of him and of the honour which ho has won not only for himself but also for his company. Besides Corporal Bassett's V.C. three of our boys have won the Distinguished Conduct Medal—Corporal Steedman, Sapper Langdon, and Sapper Hopkins. The two latter are dead. Langdon died from enterio and Hopkins was shot dead. All of these men were rattling "ood fellows and as game as possible.^ Our company has something of a. record — one V.C. and throe D.C.M.'s. Unfortunately there aro not many of our Main Body men left. Only about 12 of us remain out of those who landed on the morning of April 25. The weather is beginning to get colder now, so we can expect the rain any time. We aro making our " dug out" as snug and comfortable as possible, but it will not be very pleasant living in them when the rain, snow, and blizzards come along. We are quite resigned to a winter campaign as there seems no prospect of an early move. Wo have not been issued with winter clothes yet. but expect to be soon. I would be awfully pleased if you would send me a little Three Castle tobacco. Cigarettes and cigarette tobacco are terriblyhard to get here. We get &n issue, but it is only the worst brands of cigarettes which we get. Stuff that we would never smoko if wo were in a civilised place.