The 28th: A Record of War Service in the Australian Imperial Force Part 12

At 8 o'clock on the night of the 9th December an explosion occurred in one of the enemy's deep-level tunnels. No damage was done to our garrison or works. The Turk followed this up with such a concentrated rifle and machine-gun fire across the Nek as had never before been experienced by the Battalion. An hour later all was normal again, and the indications seemed to point to the subterranean eruption having been accidental and attributed by the Turk to our side as the precursor of an attack.

The 28th did not submit tamely to the frequent bombardments. Our artillery, from both land and sea, replied in a spirited manner. Hand bombs were also thrown, and the small trench mortars, catapults, and j.a.panese trench mortar, were brought constantly into play. One of the bombs of this last-named weapon was observed to penetrate into a trench, and the explosion which followed threw into the air various articles of personal apparel. Shortly afterwards a Turk was seen to emerge barefooted from the trench, walk deliberately into No-Man's Land, and remove a pair of boots from the feet of a dead body lying there. He returned to his shelter without having been observed by the snipers.

The 11th December brought a surprise for the Battalion. It was informed that in accordance with the policy of reducing the garrisons during the winter months, the 7th Brigade would embark on the following day. The Divisional Commander's plan included the relief of the garrison of Russell's Top by the 20th Battalion. That afternoon a party of the New South Wales unit, consisting of the C.O., three majors, and the Adjutant, came along Broadway with the intention of making preliminary arrangements for the next day's move. Unfortunately they were caught by a burst of shrapnel and the three majors were killed.

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE VIEW FROM RUSSELL'S TOP, LOOKING INTO MALONE GULLY.

_Official Photo. No. G. 1879. Copyright by Australian War Museum._]

By noon of the 12th December the 20th Battalion had taken over the line, and the Western Australians moved down to Happy Valley. Here preparations were commenced for the impending move. These included, apart from the a.s.sembly and packing of baggage, the collection and destruction of all sc.r.a.ps of letters, doc.u.ments, or newspapers. Whilst engaged in this task shrapnel "overs" slightly wounded Captain J. Kenny, the Regimental Medical Officer, and Lieut. E. G. Glyde.

During the afternoon the real object of the move was explained to the C.O. by the Divisional Commander. He stated that the evacuation of the Peninsula had commenced, and that Colonel J. Paton had been selected to command the rear guard.

For the previous two months rumours of pending advances and retirements had been rife. All ranks had gleaned from the newspapers that the wisdom of further prosecuting the campaign had been openly debated in the British Parliament. That it seemed impossible to expect any further substantial support from England or her Allies, and that the defection of Bulgaria in October had opened the way for German aid to the Turks, who had been in a critical situation up to that time. Further, the heavy losses sustained during the August fighting, and the alarming inroads of disease, had so weakened the force as to raise the question of whether it would be able to hold on should the enemy take the offensive. On top of all came the prospect of the long winter with its rains and blizzards, against which there was such little protection available, and which would turn the ravines and hollows into veritable death traps.

On the other hand, the departure of Sir Ian Hamilton in October, the publication of his farewell order, the appointment of his distinguished successor--who also had a reputation for doing things--the visit of Lord Kitchener, the increased naval force and gun activity noticeable after the three days' silence of November, and the removal of troops to rest stations, all pointed to a renewal of the policy of action as soon as circ.u.mstances permitted. Nor was this theory discounted by the obvious departure of troops from Suvla, and guns and wagons from Anzac, "to reinforce Salonika"--the allied force at that time being hard pressed.

The first suspicion that all was not going well was caused the day before the 28th Battalion left Russell's Top, by the spectacle of men hurling boxes of rifle ammunition into deep pits and the receipt of the order that rations must be drawn from the reserve located on the position.

Now when the truth was known, all ranks were exercised by feelings partly of relief and partly of disappointment. Relief at the thought that the apparently useless sacrifice of life was to cease, and disappointment that in spite of the streams of blood that had been shed, and notwithstanding the performance of feats of arms not previously equalled in history, Australia had failed to achieve complete success in her first undertaking as a nation.

In this state of mind the Battalion quietly completed its arrangements for embarkation. It had been ordered that an officer and 17 other ranks of the Machine Gun Section were to be left to man the guns on Russell's Top. Lieut. Shaw, on calling for volunteers for a "stunt," received responses from the whole of his men and had difficulty in choosing the right number from so much excellent material.

After dark the Battalion, which had a.s.sembled in the main saps, moved down to Williams' Pier. Through over-anxiety on the part of the Divisional Staff to avoid delay, the arrival of the unit was premature.

The 27th Battalion, having been ordered to embark earlier, was only just commencing the operation. About 1,200 to 1,500 men were now crowded at a point that the Turk constantly sh.e.l.led. By one of those coincidences which had been witnessed when Lord Kitchener landed at the same spot, and was frequently noticeable when General Birdwood visited the front line trenches, not a shot was fired by the enemy.

By 10 p.m. the last man had been taken off by the "beetles" and transferred to the Khedivial Mail Steamer "Osmanieh." This vessel was of some 4,000 tons and was now packed with the 27th, 28th, and some of the 26th Battalions. The baggage had been left behind on the beach under guard, and was to follow the unit. Ultimately it was placed on another transport and never seen again by its owners. Some valuable regimental records and very interesting personal souvenirs were thus lost.

The policy in regard to the evacuation, as a tactical operation, was the gradual withdrawal of the troops over a period of several days. Each day the garrisons of posts would become weaker, and each day would make a corresponding extra demand upon those remaining to keep up a display of strength and activity. On the last day would be left a mere screen of men and guns, known as the "C Party," who themselves were again subdivided into three divisions. The men of the "C3" party were to be the last to leave--were to be all volunteers--and were known as the "Die-hards." To Lieut. G. D. Shaw and his men fell the task of defending with their machine guns one of the last posts to be vacated in the Anzac sector.

The guns were four in number and four men const.i.tuted the crew of each gun. Each man did two hours on duty and two off. In this latter period he had to cook his food and get what rest was possible. In contrast with the previous three months the men were fed well and given many kinds of articles extra to the rations. They received socks which were worn over the boots so as to deaden the sounds of movement.

Commencing on the 15th December, each gun fired 10,000 rounds nightly.

This expenditure of ammunition was broken by irregular periods of silence during which n.o.body showed lights, fired, or talked, and so gave the place an air of having been deserted. The Turk was at first puzzled and then became apprehensive. He was seen to be putting out fresh wire and strengthening the already existing defences. To the fire he replied in a spirited manner, but did little damage the first day.

On the following day the garrison observed ten men-of-war heavily bombard the hostile lines near h.e.l.las. Our aeroplanes were also busy and kept unwelcome observers away. At 5 p.m. a heavy bombardment killed Private E. Morrow and wounded Sergt. G. Moore. Private N. A. Munro was killed and Private H. W. Greenwood slightly wounded by a bullet which entered through a loophole. Five hours later a fire broke out on the beach amongst the surplus stores. This burned all night. Flames shot up 60 feet and the valleys became filled with smoke.

Dawn of the 17th witnessed the fire still burning. That night the enemy guns three times demolished one of Shaw's gunpits, and the gun was finally placed near the parapet so as to fire over the top if necessary.

The following day the final instructions were issued to the garrisons.

The activity continued, and that night the men in the Russell's Top position numbered 300 only. Lieut. Shaw's guns were reduced to three.

The 19th December. The last day. The sunny spring-like weather of the previous fortnight continued and the sea remained calm. At 6 p.m. all but 100 men came down to Williams' Pier and embarked. Sergt. Waddingham and Lance-Corpl. M. F. Newnes took their guns to the lower slopes of Walker Ridge to cover the retirement from the left flank. Lieut. Shaw, with the remaining gun team, then roved about from post to post in the front trench making as much display as possible with the solitary weapon and getting very hot replies. At midnight the "C1" party retired. About an hour later a report was received that the enemy was moving down Monash Gully. On investigation this proved to be a wiring party only. At 2 a.m. on the 20th December the "C2" party left, and now in the key position there remained only 37 officers and riflemen, four machine gunners, and two signallers.

The embarkation proceeded more rapidly than was expected, and at 3 a.m.

Lieut. Shaw, in moving around, met the remainder of the 20th Battalion in movement. He and his party had been forgotten. Five minutes later--being the last to leave the front line in this sector--he joined his other two guns lower down and came into action again. At 3.35 a.m.

he was ordered to retire to the boats. This he did and got his remaining men and material safely on board.

[Ill.u.s.tration: CAPTAIN G. D. SHAW, M.C.

Machine Gun Officer.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: CAPTAIN T. O. NICHOLLS, M.C.

Who commanded the 7th Machine Gun Company.]

Mines had been placed in the galleries that knew the men of the 28th at the Apex and Russell's Top. At 3.45 a.m. these were exploded with great effect. The Turk was silent for a moment or two, and then opened a tremendous but harmless fire all along the line. At 4.30 a.m. a fascinating display was afforded those now on the boats when smaller mines were discharged and fires broke out at different points on the beaches amongst the stores that it had been impossible to bring away.

The Machine Gun Section, as a parting gift to their friends the enemy, had laid a table and set thereon porridge and cocoa ready for the first who came into the evacuated trenches.

The names of the 28th men who took part in the final phase of the evacuation are as follows:--

Lieut. G. D. Shaw.

Sergt. G. Moore (wounded).

Private J. Adams.

Private C. G. Graham.

Sergt. F. H. Waddingham.

Lance-Corpl. M. F. Newnes.

Private M. M. Fitzpatrick.

Private H. W. Greenwood (wounded).

Private A. Harris (1st Rft.).

Private W. A. Johnstone.

Private E. Morrow (1st Rft., killed).

Private G. B. Neilson.

Private T. W. Spencer (1st Rft.).

Private H. K. de W. Harvey.

Private C. McKail.

Private N. A. Munro (killed).

Private E. S. Smart (1st Rft.).

CHAPTER X.

LEMNOS ISLAND.

The crowded "Osmanieh" left the anchorage opposite Anzac early in the morning of the 13th December. Removed, for the time being, from the everlasting noise and risk of battle, feeling also that the morrow would bring real rest and a life of comparative ease, the troops slept well in spite of their uncomfortable surroundings.

After daylight the transport entered Mudros Bay and before noon the disembarkation had been carried out at a pier near the northern end of Port Mudros.

The Battalion formed up and then moved off by a military road, made by Turkish prisoners of war, which ran through the lines of the 2nd Australian Stationary Hospital, the 3rd Australian General Hospital, and a Canadian General Hospital, all of which were accommodated in marquees.

The staffs, and some of the patients, of these establishments stood by the roadside as the new arrivals pa.s.sed. Many friends and acquaintances were recognised and the C.O. of the 2nd Stationary Hospital (Major G. W.

Barber) invited the officers of the Battalion staff to a dinner, to be held the following evening, to mark the first anniversary of the medical unit's departure from Australia.

Seen on the line of march for the first time for over three months, the Battalion presented a sorry spectacle as compared with that witnessed when it left Heliopolis on the 3rd September. Equipment fitted anyhow and clothes were torn and stained. Few hats remained, their place being taken by caps of various sorts and even woollen comforters. But the most pitiful feature was the appearance of the men themselves. Emaciated bodies, colourless faces, and lack-l.u.s.tre eyes, revealed the effects of the privations undergone, the continuous exposure to sh.e.l.l fire, and--most of all--the inroads of disease.

The route the Battalion now followed led around a shallow inlet of the sea to a camp near the little village of Sarpi. The distance was little more than three miles in all, but so weak were the majority of the men that they could not carry their packs and at the same time keep their positions in the ranks. The camp site was eventually approached in a kind of skirmis.h.i.+ng formation of many lines. Numbers of men had fallen out on the way--catching up again as best they could--whilst some, game to the end on the Peninsula, had at last to give in and were handed over to hospitals on pa.s.sing through.

It was understood that the halt at Sarpi would be only temporary. The area belonged to the 1st Division and was already occupied by the 3rd Brigade. Communication was very soon established with the members of the 11th Battalion--notwithstanding the fact that they were in quarantine on account of an outbreak of measles.