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’IIbySoldiers Letters.GUNNER J. A. DYAMOND.Writing to his neice, Miss Marjorie Schasche, Gunner J. A. Dyamond, son of Mrs Dyamond, of Dawson Street, Bairnsdale, writes a* follows—I hare received many interesting and informative letters from you—epistles that have kept me in close touch with affairs in dear old Australia, and more especially in that particular little patch kuown as Bairnsdale. Of course one couldn’t always write, even when the desire was felt, on Gallipoli Bcniusula. Anyhow, I will endeavour to atone for my sins of omission as best I can. No doubt your grandma has heard from me by the time you get this, so you would know I was still on this plauct of ours. As I told her, 1 was ordered .o pack up bag and baggage and get off the Peninsula, but this order was not altogether uuWelcome to me. Had been suffering from tonbilitis and pharuygitis, and as it did not got belter Dr Whit ford, my brigade medical officer, thought it was time I had a holiday, aftei having elicited the information frotn me tli.it I hud been oil the Peninsula for five months— frrrn the start of the fnu. When I got down to the clearing station on the beach fifteen men were brought in in the space of about five minutes, suffering from shrapnel wounds inflicted not many yards front where I was sitting at the time. That lot included Tommies. Kangaroos, a naval captain and an Imliau (killed). So you see • Beacliv Bill ” exacts his toll pretty well every day. Yet I have gone through it all without a scratch,although at it for five months, and notwithstanding uiy thinking I would not go off without honorable wounds, I find myself sitting back at lost. The only thing that resembled a scratch was au expended shrap-.el bullet th it bounced on to my back one day aud only left a wee bruise. It seems that I am not to he wounded, however, as I have seen mates fall close to me and alongside me on many occasions, some beyond recall.As you have not heard where our battery was located, I think it ought to lie quit safe to enlighten you on that score. Well, at the start vvc were at Gaba Tcpe ready lor emergencies, and although we nntdc one or two landings, and some other batteries actually went ashore, it was not our luck (good or brut) to go ar-bore there ; but, as J hinted before, we had a magnificent view of operations from our transtxirt ou those fateful days. After that we did a crui?e, with war.ships and other transports, up to the head of the Gulf of Saros. and made several bluff landings u» various places, with the object (successful, I believe) of diverting Turkish troopj thither. Then, at the beginning of May, we found ourselves down the other end at Cape Helies, where we landed (this some day3 after the f.imnns River Clyde incident and the cutting up of the Mun-tcrsaud Dublius, who were knocked into one battalion and called the “ Dubsters ” Well, we occupied in all four positions down there in about three aud a half months and did some slashing work with a vengeance, the brigade commander often congratulating us on our work. In our second position (as in third aud fourth, too) we had some very not engagements, and our battery was theoretically blown out five times altogether—twice ou one day. On this day a regular English battery was knocked out, having their guns put out and ammunition wagons blown up and a number of mcu killed. We, although only about 200 yards away, fired far more shots and kept at it, and yet bobbed up smilingly at the end of it. The artillery colonel (Imperial) was amazed at us and delighted and marvelled exceedingly when he found we had not a gjn put out and not even a casualty. According to all rules of precedent arid laws of avcrngas we should have beenknocked out twice. The - appealedfor assistance, nud four of our men were sent over to assist in pulling live ammunition out of the burning wagons (pleas-and occupation), help the wounded and recover the dead. The upshot was thatseveral of the got D.C.M.’s, whileour chaps got nothing, although our major was invited and expected to make recommendations, which he wouldn’t do. Ou that day we must have hid anything between 1000 and 2000 shells hurled at our battery, including those dreadful 11-inch shells from “Asiatic Annie,1' which to use the expression of one of our men “ put the fear of God into us.” There was a large green patch at the rear of our battery previously, but after this nflnir it resembled nothing less than a newly ploughed up field, so many were the shells thst came over. It was nothing but n scries of miracles that we ev c.iped like we did. This was only one of many similar engagements, but it is the one that comes back to our memories most vividly. We were not always so fortunate, as on other occasions we lost our commander, Major Mills (first death) Captain Crocker and others. Captain Crocker was a Melbourne solicitor In civil life, and was beloved by one and all. lie gQt a direct hit from a shell on tbc right shoulder, which tore the arm away. He remained quite conscious while being carried to the hospital and was cool enough to hold the artery to stop the bleeding, but succumbed after reaching the building,Now you will know that we were on the same end as the French, but on a different flank to them, we being on the left and they on the right; and that wetrenches, which kept n« always on the jog np hill and down dale, without seeing much for it.Anyhow, I am rusticating here in Malta now, and taking things pretty ea»y. Had a nice trip from Anzac, stayed a night at Lem not and was actually travelling four days. Malta it a great possession, and must be very handy at present. Valletta, the capital, ia a solidly built place, and looks as though it will stand for centuries and centuries. It has two great harbors-the Grand Harbor and Marsa Muscetto Harbor, the one we came in, besides smaller ones. When we landed we were all given a glass of milk and cigarettes by a young lady, and then were whisked off in a motor wagon to this place, four or five .miles from the city. Saw a submarine in dock at Malta, but had little opportunity of seeing much else. The roads are very fine, being hard and solid and chalky white in appearance. The wards here are large marquees, which comfortably hold sixteen beds, and conditions are pleasant. Plenty of nurses and an orderly to each ward. Forgot to mention that the Governor of Malta, Field-Marshnll Lord Methuen, called on our hospital ship. He ia billed to open a new recreation tent at St. Davia’s tonight, and of course I will be there— that is, if 1 haven’t gone away. There seems to be a feeling in the air thRt we may go to-day. Most of them from here are sent to England by hospital ship, but I am marked for transport, which I am told will take me to the same place. I am not building too many hopes on that score, but still would be more than pleased if I could spend a few weeks in dear old England. What a time I would have, eh ? Australians are treated like lords there, by all accounts.Perhaps yon have mentally noted that I am extravagant with piper for once, that is by comparison with the past, when I could not get it for love or money. Well, I received some from you in last letter, and since then the Red Cros ladies have kept us well supplied. We all ge t a little parcel from them with writing paper and envelopes, pencil, handkerchief, tobacco, cigarettes aud matches. In occasional parcels an extra in the shape of a pack of cards or a mouth organ is appreciated, as is also the card—'• Malta 1915 From the British Red Cross and St. John’s Ambularce So cieties. With best wishes for a speedy recovery.”Jack wrote me a glowing account of the wonderful change wrought in Arthur since he volunteered and mentioned that he had been recommended foi two stripes. I am exceepingly pleased to hear that, and hope the etrijws will be forthcoming. It is far easier to get stripes in the infantry than in the artillery. I recognised that at the start, when I tried to get into the iufantry, without succcess. Of course, that was right at the beginning, when the authorities thought they couldget all the men they wanted from those who had had previous training, and I didn’t fulfil that requirement. A week after I could have got into the infantry a dozen times over, however, but I wav so intent ou joining aud impatient of delay thatrin the Interval I had got into the ammunition column You see, the original men in the batteries are mostly men with years of previous training on the guns ; certainly the non-commissioned officers are, and it wonld not be right to promote new men ov«*r the old ones, even if they were fairly good.Tried to see Clyde Larabouruc before I left, but although I faw portions of his battalion I never could hit on his com pany, bad luck.Suppose Arthur is on his way to Egypt now, and Bob Stone is in camp. Dare-siy Clcve will be making a big try before raanv months are pa9t.Thauks for the list of Bairnsdale volunteers. Quite a lot, and yet I notice many omissions.Fancy Olive being engaged in drilling recruits. Talking about flowers, thanks for those yon sent. Reminds me that an Australian nurse showed me some golden wattle blossom the other day. She was asking after Australia. 1 exclaimed, Would it be lovely in Australia now,” ond she said ” Oh. don’t, you make me homesick.” NurseB here (mostly English) arc very attentive and .ook after our wants well. Isn’t it a pity you can’t be a nurse, Marjorie ?IuLA2SH|1iWlt;STiOP1hiOP131abe:2iBEl2iFLj 51 FL,5/MU|ST11/1GUIo:BO’NJfee .Sect ceptf o'clr cntrl two thatl be1lateiAlt;fee,wittlBootStallRefiwere engaged in the fighting before Achi Bab* aud Kritliia, and the Gully Ravine battles, of which no doubtjyou have read. I hope that will clear up a lot of mvs-tery.Well, things were coming to a bit of a standstill there, and on J7tli August wc embarked again at Cape Helies aud went rouud to Anzac, where the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps is located and from which the name is derived. Of course I met plenty of old pals once again We took np a position on Plugger’s Plateau, or at least portion of the battery ia there, and have been there since. Un-fortunate v, we were unlucky enough to be a mobile battery, and In consequence’S* * i1? mo?ton three days.From plateau to wagon line, or to another gnu in artillery road, and then to a HotchkUa gun In the ItSanSJRoeedalo Sports. lt;♦---Competitors are reminded that entries close on December 13th f.r the Rosedale Sports Carnival which is to be held on Boxing Day iu aid of the Australian Sick aud Wounded Soldiers, a special train stopping at all stations will leave Bail us dale at 7.45 a.m., Sale 10.5 a.m. on day of sports. Progiara of events will be found in another colqmn of to day’s issue.Balrnadalo Rtd Cross 8oolety.The hon. secretary, Mrs Currey, acknowledges the following amounts—Donations—Mrs R. Y James 6/, Mrs H. Banbrin 6/. Mrs R. P- Brownlow, / I per Mr T. Currey. Mr R. II. Foard 5/, Mr J. Dwyer 5/, per Mrs Alsop. Bulurn-waal Patriots, first monthly instalment, per Mr R. Clements, /2 1/.Collections— Employees Salter and Sons drapery establishment, 7th monthly instalment, per Miss Murray, 16/3. Miss Mathieson, Service Street, 14/ ; Mrs Sand/ord, Main Street, £1 4/6.Goods—Mrs R, Y. James, magazines;Mrs Wm. Hamilton, 4 pairs socks; Miss Mary G. Duncan, 4 pairs socks; Mrs J. N. Sutherland, 1 pair socks ; Mrs P. Willis, 1 pair socks; Mrs Kasllake, 2 pairs socks and face washers; Master J. Holly, Frauds Street, rabbit skins.For sandbags—Mrs Bonwick 5/, Miss M. Thomson per Miss Thomson 3/.Sandbags—Mrs Pluea.The 22nd case has been despatched to headqnurtera, containing—22 pyjama suits, 48 flannel shirts, 82 pair socka. 1 dox. towels, 77 pillow cases, 63 handkerchiefs, 21 bandage*. 13 face washers, 12 pairs knee pads, 8 eye „zzcushions, 2 flannel vests, 2 cholera belts, 2 pairs mittens, 1 pair slippers. 1 Bala-lava helmet, 1 pillow, % dox. lick's malted milk, magazines, old linen.FaiToMEIMAI13V'NeiAdviR|B’UarrjMesfHeproiPeiCaaiBal9 a.PhoPA]Cx\
Newspaper Details
Bairnsdale Every Week
Bairnsdale, Victoria, AU
Thu, Dec 09, 1915
Page 6
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
AU 24 Jun 2023
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