The Dardanelles

Southland Times, Issue 17486, 29 July 1915, Page 5

The Dardanelles

SICKNESS AMONG TKB TBOOPS A GUARDED STATEMENT (By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright) LONDON, July 27, Received July 28, 8.15 p.ra. The Rt. Hon. H. J. Tennant, Under Secretary for War, announced that there was a certain amount of enteric and dysentery at the Dardanelles. ASPHYXIATING SHELLS A TURKISH STORY AMSTERDAM, July 27. A Turkish communique accuses the Allies of using asphyxiating shells. This possibly foreshadows the Turks’ employments of similar shells. THE SCOTS’ CHARGE LONDON, July 27. Reuter's correspondent at the Dardanelles, describing the fighting, states that the intense heat is accentuated by the sandstorms raised by the Levanter, whicli sweeps across the Peninsula. The Turks are using high explosives, but their growing inferiority suggests that they have great difficulty in maintaining supplies. The Central News’ correspondent states that the Scottish Territorials, triumphantly cheering, charged a labyrinth of Turkish trendies and carried three lines. They were ready to storm Achi Baba itself. When asked why they went on, one lad replied; “We thought we might as well finish the whole business at once.” AH ACTIVE SUBMARINE LONDON, July 27. , Reuter’s Sofia correspondent states that a. British submarine destroyed a large vessel laden with charcoal off Maltapeh, on the Asiatic shore of the Sea of Marmora. Part of the railway line near Diliicleozi was destroyed by gunfire. “ANZAC BAY” HOW IT WAS NAMED SYDNEY, July 28. Received July 28, 9.40 p.m. A soldier writing from the Dardanelles states that at Headquarters they named the bay at which the Australians and New Zealanders landed “Anzac” Bay, from the words:—“ Australian and New Zealand Army Corps.” It was the first British name given in Turkey. ASIA MINOR'S SHORES TURKS ERECTING DEFENCES LONDON, July 2S. Received July 29, 1 a.m. The Chronicle’s Athens correspondent says that arrivals from the Dardanelles report that the Turks apparently believe that the Allies will choose the Asia Minor coast for a new attack, and are feverisnly fortifying the shore between Kum Kale and Baba Kalessi. The whole length is ploughed, with trenches in the construction of which thousands of Greek Christians were forced to assist. Strong fortifications have been made at Asia, a.nd a number of howitzers from Smyrna have been placed behind the liil'is rising from Mendere. The level plain of Troy has been heavily retrenched.

HOSPITALS AT MALTA. MALTA, July 28. The Governor states that perfect accommodation for 6000 wounded men has now been provided, and will be increased to nearly 10,000 in the next fortnight. AUSTRALIAN CASUALTIES. SYDNEY, July 2S. Received July 29, 12.r> a.m. The lifty-seventh casualty list is as follows; Killed in Action.—One officer and eighty-ainc men. including P. Harvey and B. Gray (New Zealanders). ■Died of Wounds. —Three officers and twenty-nine men, including G. A, Vivian (a New Zealander). Wounded. —Six officers and I 26 men. 111. —Pour officers and 149 men. Missing.—Three men. G. J. Vause (a New Zealander) has been sent to the Ghczireh Hospital, and G. A. Braithwale to Manchester. ANOTHER D.C.M. POR NEW ZEALAND (Special to the Times). CHRISTCHURCH, July 28. News has been received in Christchurch that Sergeant W. Rodger, of the now famous “'A” Company of the Ist Canterbury Battalion, which performed such gallant deeds at the first landing on Gallipoli, has been awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for gallantry in action. The news was conveyed to Sorgt. Rodger’s parents hy the following letter from the Hon. .1. Allen (Minister of Defence) ;—"I have very much pleasure In informing you that I have received a cable from General Godley advising that his Majesty the King has graciously conferred the Distinguished Conduct Medal upon Kergt. W. Rodger. Sergt. Rodger cnlistcr for service on the first night of the call for men, and was assigned to “A” Company, under Lieut.Colonel Macßean Stewart. He had been a keen volunteer for twelve years and was in the Highland Rifles up to the time of the introduction of the territorial system. As a “sport” Sergt. Rodger was very prominent and well known. THE LATE SERGEANT H. W. SMITH. DEATH OP A HERO. Several letters received from men at the Dardanelles hy Mrs L. Smith, of Wellington, indicate that her son. Sergeant IT. W. Smith, of the Wellington Mounted Rillcs, who was killed in action on May 20, was extremely popular. A fellow soldier writes: —“Sergeant Smith was injured hy a hand grenade, and lived for some hours. Even when lying wounded, unable to take any active part in the defence of the trench, he continued to encourage his comrades. .Eventually he passed away in a peaceful sleep, and we lost a true soldier.” Chaplain Major Grant writes: —“Sergeant Smith was one of a little band of heroes who fought against tremendous odds for a long night and day. But for the cowardice of the enemy not one would have come out alive, and your son was one of those who fell like a good soldier with his face to the foe, greatly mourned by officers and men.” A responsible official, who was in the trenches when Sergeant Smith died, writes;—“l know that among ail the great fighters we had there were, none better titan Tas. Smith. We till feel more than we can tell for you in the loss of such a grand son.” DEATH OP PRIVATE ATTLING. TRIBUTE BT A COMRADE. “BERT.” STEAD'S EULOGY. In acquainting Mrs Ayling of the death of Iter son Prank, who lost his life during the fighting on Gallipoli Peninsula, Private R. M. Stead, writing from a Birmingham hospital, lias the following to say : I am writing on behalf of ’Prank's comrades in the Sth Southland Company to express our sincere sympathy for you all jit your sad loss, and to tell you how sorry we were at his death. He had faced deatii every moment unflinchingly with the rest of us from the moment of disembarkation on April 25th, amidst bursting shrapnel and in the thick of rifle and machine-gun fire, had done cheerfully his share of hard work digging trenches, and made one of fifteen of us specially detailed for digging a new trench in advance of the firing line and in an exposed position. This latter job was commenced at midnight under cover of darkness, and so quietly and quickly did we work that we were down two feet before discovered and subjected to a hot fire from the enemy. We then worked lying down and were successfully withdrawn without loss of a man about 4 a.m. Prank got through all this and had won for himself the respect and regard of officers and men. It was while in the comparative safety of our own trench, on Thursday afternoon, April 29th, that Frank wished to go from one part of the trench to another, and to avoid inconveniencing the other men left the cover of the trench and jumped in again at 1 the desired spot;- -While

coming back to his own. position, and when within a few yards of it he was shot in the head and died immediately. We felt his death very keenly, more so than had he fallen in the heat of a bayonet charge or whilst advancing with us under a heavy fire. We burled him that night, and over his grave placed a wooden cross bearing his name. My thoughts went out to you all, and that God will bless and comfort you in your sorrow is Included in my prayers. Prank died a splendid, death, and died as he had lived, an upright God-fearing roan, beloved by all with whom he had come in contact. Way God bless and comfort you all.

ROLL OF HONOUR THE CASUALTIES WELLINGTON, July 28. The 132 nd casualty list, issued to-day, reported one man killed in action, four died of wounds and one wounded. The list is given as under : KILLED IN ACTION CANTERBURY MOUNTED RIFLES. (14th July). LEAMAN, Lewis Maurice, 7/339, Trooper (Mrs Maria Jane Leaman, 335 Colombo street, Sydenham; mother). DIED OF WOUNDS OTAGO BATTALION. (12th July). MARSHALL, Edward Daniel, S/1796, Private (Mrs Mary Smith, Alexandra South, Central Otago; mother). WELLINGTON MOUNTED REGIMENT. (Iltli July). DREARER, Reginald Charles, 11/757, Trooper (Mrs Lewis Dreaper, Hoylage, Chesshire, England; mother). N.Z. FIELD ENGINEERS. 10th July). NEVILLE, John Albert, 4/807, Sapper (Airs John Forr Neville, 523 Blckershaw Lane, near Wigan, England: mother). CANTERBURY REGIMENT. (13th July). RUTHERFORD, William, 7/115, Sergt. (Wm. Rutherford, senr., Hobb street, Timaru). WOUNDED CANTERBURY BATTALION. WATERSON, Harry, 6/1750, Private (George Waterson, Waitara); slightly wounded in the leg. REPORTED WOUNDED NEW ZEALAND FIELD ARTILLERY. LANCE, James, 2/746, Driver; hand and foot, July 3 (W. J. Stevenson, Raratonga, Cook Islands). LOUGHNAN, John Lewis, 2/326, Act.bombardier; foot, July 3 (F. O. B. Loughnan, S.M., Blenheim). MAORI CONTINGENT. REWA, George Rangitikei, 16/113, Private (Hori Rewa, Motiti, Tauranga); foot. KENETI, Hikiera Kupara, 16/13, Private (Maria T. Keneti, Tokomaru Bay, mother) : thigh. TEWHARE, Taiawhiao, 10/121, Private (Miriama, Tewhare, Taupo): thigh. MXHAIRE, Teko. 16/21, Private (Ketiana Whakahewa Mihaire, Wairoa, Hawke’s Bay, mother); knee and forearm. Died of Wounds in Leg, July 14. MORTON, Alexander Lees. 2/630, driver (Alex. Morton, Bournemouth, England, father). Died of Wounds in Head, July 13. CANTERBURY MOUNTED RIFLES. PRIMROSE, John Thomas, 7/262, Trooper (John Primrose, Ham 11 ton, Waikato, fattier). Killed in Action, July 11. OTAGO BATTALION. LAWRIH, Prances Alex., 8/1333, Private (J. G. S. Lawrie, Albany street, Dunedin, father). Died of Colitis, July 9. REAY, Ernest George, S/1522, Private John Reay, Tatua, Morrinsville, father). Killed in Action, July 1. OTAGO MOUNTED RIFLES. BRADEY, George Francis, !) 794, Trooper (J. W. Bradey, Te Horo, Manawatu line, father). (July 16.) BRADSHAW, Robt. George. 9/993, Trooper (Mrs J. Bradshaw, Warragull, Victoria, mother). WE LLTNGTOX BATTALION. ( July 1 7. 1 FOLEY, John Cyril Terence, 10'1813, Lance-Corporal (Michael Foley. Stratford, father). Died of Dysentery, Egyptian Army Hospital, July 24. CANTERBURV BATTALION. BROWN, Andrew, 6/2077, Private (Mrs E. Brown, Anthenbegg, Lesmahagow, Lanarkshire, Scotland, mother). PROGRESS REPORT. Wounded, now Recovered and Sent to the Pront. OTAGO BATTALION—Sergeant J. Lennane, Corporal W. Kirk, Privates D. S. Farquliarwon, R. Wilton, 1.. G. Naylor, E. A. Ferguson, I’. Phelan, M. McCarthy. L. Lee.

WEDDING TON BA TTALlON.—Sergeant D. R. Wilson, Corporal E. B. Ellerm, Privates W. I. Branston, .1. E. Pfoderson, .1. T. Troughear, A. E. Pearson, W. R. Beresford, J. E. Sewell, T. C. Hopkins, li. W. Bennett, B. T. Bennell, H. W. Allison, .1. Swarbriclc, (1. Stock. AUCKDAXD BATTALION Sergeant J. 1). Boys, Dance-Corporal A. E. Adams, Privates G. Buswell, X. S. 7 oung, K. Costieftl, R. Adams, G. 11. Riley, C. E. Hall, G. A. Tuck, A. B. Delacey, S. C. Wells, A. Taylor, G. .T. Adams. CAXTEHBURV B.4TTAD! OX —Tdent. R. A. R. Dawry, Sergeant 11. W. White, Dance-Corporal P. Monigatti, Privates E. O'Reilly, T. S. West, W. C. Cronin, V. Carmine, A. Mclvor, J. 11. Mancekivell, F. ID McL. Flavell, 1)'. McDagan, M McK. McGregor. Sick, now Discharged as Convalescent. ARMY SERVICE CORPS. —Privates J. Shellex, I’. Shellock. WELLINGTON MOUNTED RIFLES— Saddler-Sergeant J. W. McKain, Trooper S. T. Dibble. SXCK, DISCHARGED CONVALESCENT, WELLINGTON B ATT AD I OX. Private S. R. H. Burgess, Private S. G, Clement, Private E>G. Skilling, Private J. F. Robson, Private K. McGuire. CANTERBURY MOUNTED Trooper A. J. Stewart, Trooper A. X. McLeod. OTAGO MOUNTED. Trooper W. G. Sinclair, Trooper .1. W. Neilson, Trooper C. ID Mack, Trooper W. V. Metcalf, Trooper 11. Hindmarsh, Trooper T. McGillivray, Trooper E. Williamson, Trooper D. Donnelly. VETERINARY CORPS. Trooper R. G. Murphy. AUCKLAND BATTALION. Private J. F. Goulding, Private D. W. Hawson, Private F. J. Ewart, Private .T. Wolstenholme, Private E. J. Hall, Private L. H. Browne. CANTERBURY BATTALION. Private S. R. Mclsuac, Private A. W. Dowell. OTAGO BATTALION. Private W. U. Swan, Private K. Quinan, AUCKLAND MOUNTED. Trooper S. F. H. Britton, Trooper R. F. Bigwither. WOUNDED: DISCHARGED CONVALESCENT. AUCKLAND BATTALION. Corporal T. R. Brooks. CANTERBURY BATTALION. Lance-Corporal D. C. Scott, Sergeant G. J. Hammond, Private R. Brown. WELLINGTON BATTALION. Major E. H. Saunders, Corporal T. L. Morgan, Private S. E Mason, Private J. Murfitt, Private P. H. Glee, Private W. Brough, Private W. J. S. Butler. AUCKLAND MOUNTED Trooper R. J. Miller. OTAGO MOUNTED. Trooper H. E. Lammoml.