The Project Gutenberg eBook of The 28th: A Record of War Service in the Australian Imperial Force, 1915-19, Vol. I
Title: The 28th: A Record of War Service in the Australian Imperial Force, 1915-19, Vol. I
Author: Herbert Brayley Collett
Release date: May 5, 2008 [eBook #25341]
Language: English
Credits: E-text prepared by Elaine Walker, Barbara Kosker, and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team (https://www.pgdp.net)
E-text prepared by Elaine Walker, Barbara Kosker,
and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team
(http://www.pgdp.net)
Transcriber's Note:
Inconsistent hyphenation in the original document has been preserved.
Obvious typographical errors have been corrected. For a complete list, please see the end of this document.
ON THE SQUARE WITHIN THE WALLS OF SALADIN'S CITADEL. 30th August, 1915.
The Moqattam Hills and Napoleon's Fort in the distant background.ToList
The 28th
A RECORD OF WAR SERVICE WITH THE
AUSTRALIAN IMPERIAL FORCE,
1915-1919
Volume I.
EGYPT, GALLIPOLI, LEMNOS ISLAND,
SINAI PENINSULA
By COLONEL H. B. COLLETT, C.M.G., D.S.O., V.D.
FIRST C.O. of the Battalion
WITH FOREWORD by THE ARCHBISHOP OF PERTH,
CHAPLAIN-GENERAL TO THE FORCES
PUBLISHED BY THE TRUSTEES OF
THE PUBLIC LIBRARY, MUSEUM, AND ART GALLERY OF
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
PERTH
1922
[Copyright]
By authority:
Fred. Wm. Simpson, Government Printer, Perth.
Blocks Supplied by
Read & McKinley, Art Engravers, Perth.
CONTENTS
| Foreword: | By The Most Rev. C. O. L. Riley, O.B.E., D.D., LL.D., V.D., Archbishop of Perth, Chaplain-General to the Forces. | ix. |
| Preface | xi. | |
| Chronology | xiii. | |
| CHAPTER I. | ||
| The Genesis. | ||
| W.A. in the South African War—The outbreak in 1914—Karrakatta and Blackboy Hill—The first units to embark—Scheme for raising new brigades—The 28th Battalion authorised—Enrolment of personnel—Selection and appointment of Officers and N.C.Os.—Specialists wanted—Equipping—Hard training—An accident—Hours off duty—Visit from H.E. the Governor—Medical precautions—The March through Perth—Final preparations for departure for the Front. | Page 1. | |
| CHAPTER II. | ||
| En Route. | ||
| Embarkation 9th June, 1915—The crowds along the route and at Fremantle—Farewell to Australia—The "Ascanius"—Quarters and messing—Other troops on board—Statistics—Training at Sea— Lectures—Stowaways—Competitions in tidiness—Entering the Tropics—Amusements—The Canteen—The Master—The East African Coast—The Red Sea—Strange rumours—Arrival at Suez—First contact with the Egyptians. | Page 15. | |
| CHAPTER III. | ||
| First Stay in Egypt. | ||
| Disembarkation and train journey to Abbasia—The Land of Goshen —Description of the Camp—Early difficulties—Institutes—The newsvendors—Tidings from Gallipoli—Unrest in Egypt—The local command and garrison—Inspection by Sir John Maxwell— Mobilisation of the 7th Brigade—Training in the Desert—Night marches—The Zeitun School—Formation of the 2nd Australian Division—Difficulties in feeding the troops—Clothing for the Tropics—In quarantine—Sickness —Pay and currency—Mails and the Censor—Amusements—Riots—The military Police—Chaplains. | Page 28. | |
| CHAPTER IV. | ||
| First Stay in Egypt (continued). | ||
| Distractions—A march through Cairo—Leave—In the bazaars—Gharri and donkey rides—Esbekieh Gardens—The Kursaal and the Casino—Shepheard's Hotel—Guides—Sightseeing—The Pyramids and Sphinx—Memphis—Sakkara— The Tombs of the Sacred Bulls—The Cairo Museum—The Citadel and other Saracenic remains—Some beautiful mosques—Old Cairo—The Nile—The Egyptian aristocracy—Garrisoning Saladin's Citadel—A nephew of the Senussi—The trials of a soldier—Souvenir hunting—Visitors from Home —News of the August advance—Warned to proceed overseas—Entraining. | Page 45. | |
| CHAPTER V. | ||
| Gallipoli. | ||
| Some account of the Gallipoli Peninsula—The naval and military operations—Anzac Day—Arrival at Alexandria—Embarking on the "Ivernia"—Prejudices—Through the Grecian Archipelago—The "Southland"—In Mudros Bay—Closing the mail—In touch with the "Aragon"—Transhipping to the "Sarnia"—The last stage—The first glimpse of battle—Impressions—Landing in the "beetles"— Waterfall Gully—The first casualty—Contact with the 4th Brigade—Move to the Apex—Description of the position—Holding the salient—Condition of the trenches—Artillery support— Telephones—Dugouts—The New Zealanders —Attitude of the enemy—Sniping with field guns—Bombs, mortars, and catapults—Broomstick bombs. | Page 58. | |
| CHAPTER VI. | ||
| Gallipoli (continued). | ||
| First night in the trenches—Cleaning up—Shell fire—Generals Birdwood and Godley—No Man's Land—View from the Apex—Casualties—Pick and shovel—Sleep—Turkish demonstration—Divine service—Visit of Sir Ian Hamilton—Private Owen's escape—Company reliefs—Mining and tunnelling —Salvage—Patrols—Our guns—Propaganda—Espionage. | Page 77. | |
| CHAPTER VII. | ||
| Gallipoli (continued). | ||
| Poison gas—Targets for the guns—A general—A false alarm—"The one shall be taken—"—Relieved by the 25th Battalion—The fly pest— Sickness—Bully beef and biscuits—Rum—Scarcity of water— Cooking— Gathering fuel—Supply and transport—"Dunks." | Page 90. | |
| CHAPTER VIII. | ||
| Gallipoli (continued). | ||
| Lower Cheshire Ridge—Description of new position—A break in the weather—Trenches—Tunnels—Timber and iron—Sniping—Ruses —The Mohammedan festival—Arrival of reinforcements—Promotion from the ranks—Formation of bombing section—Change in command of Brigade —Canteen stores—Pay—A miss—Aeroplanes— Relieved by the 4th Brigade—Taylor's Hollow—Beach fatigues —Soldiers as sailors—News —Mails from Australia—Diversions— The naturalist—The beauties of land, sea, and sky. | Page 102. | |
| CHAPTER IX. | ||
| Gallipoli (continued). | ||
| Move to Happy Valley—Visit of Lord Kitchener—Unsettled weather —Humanity—A proposed stunt—The "close season for Turkey"—The blizzard and its dire consequences—Increased enemy gun fire—The arrival of the German heavies—Russell's Top—Three tiers of tunnels —Death of the three majors—News of the evacuation—The main body leaves the Peninsula—The Die-hards—Work of the Machine Gun Section —The last man. | Page 120. | |
| CHAPTER X. | ||
| Lemnos Island. | ||
| Landing in the Bay—A sick battalion—Sarpi camp—The arrival of the beer—Resting, recuperating, and refitting—Z Valley camp— Members selected for distinction—Touring Lemnos—General description of the island—The inhabitants—Kastro—Primitive agriculture—Mt. Therma— Crowded shipping—The arrival of the billies—Christmas Day—A conspiracy—The concert—The New Year—Leaving for Egypt. | Page 137. | |
| CHAPTER XI. | ||
| Back to Egypt. | ||
| Alexandria—Arrival at Tel-el-Kebir—The transport rejoins—A deal in tents—Kitchen trouble—A camp for two divisions—The battle of 1882—Short rations—Inspection by Sir Archibald Murray—Leave to Cairo—The postal service—Training for savage warfare— Reinforcements —General Paton—Transfers to the Camel Corps —Rumours of a Turkish advance—Move to the Sinai Peninsula—The desert—Road and pipe line —Camels—Ferry Post—The defences of the Suez Canal—Passing shipping —Lumping and navvying—Secret service agents—Dangers to shipping in the Canal—Ismailia— Gambling—Cerebro-spinal meningitis—A visit from the High Commissioner in Egypt. | Page 148. | |
| CHAPTER XII. | ||
| Preparing for France. | ||
| Three new divisions—Another 60,000 Australians—Transfers to new units—Changes in establishments—Promotions—Talk of the Western Front—Undesirables—Unfits—The khamsin—Assembling at Moascar— Final preparations—Train to Alexandria—The "Themistocles"—The menace of submarines—Through the Mediterranean—Malta—Approaching Marseilles—Entering the harbour—The end of the first phase. | Page 162. | |
APPENDICES
| Page | ||
| A. | List of Units raised and recruited by Western Australia | 171 |
| B. | Roll of Honour | 172 |
| C. | Casualties whilst with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force | 174 |
| D. | Roll of Original Officers of the Battalion | 175 |
| E. | Roll of Officers promoted from the Ranks between the 9th June, 1915, and 21st March, 1916 | 177 |
| F. | Roll of Reinforcement Officers who joined the Battalion between 9th June, 1915, and 21st March, 1916 | 178 |
| G. | Civil Occupations of Original Members of the Battalion who embarked as Officers or were subsequently promoted to Commissioned Rank | 178 |
| H. | Nominal Roll of Original Members of the Battalion who embarked at Fremantle on H.M.A.T. "A11" ("Ascanius"), 9th June, 1915, and on "Boonah," 12th July, 1915 | 180 |
| I. | Nominal Roll of Members of Reinforcements who joined the Battalion in the Field prior to the 21st March, 1916 | 201 |
| J. | Honours conferred on Original Members of the Battalion | 218 |
LIST OF MAPS AND PLANS.
| Cairo and Environs | Facing page 52 |
| Page | |
| The Great Pyramid | 48 |
| Portion of Gallipoli Peninsula, showing Allied Lines | 59 |
| The Trenches at "The Apex" | 69 |
| The Front Line on Cheshire Ridge | 103 |
| Lemnos, Imbros, Tenedos, and Samothrace | 117 |
| The Trenches on Russell's Top | 127 |
| The Country adjacent to Tel-el-Kebir | Facing page 148 |
| The Australian Position in Defence of the Suez Canal, 1916 | 155 |
| The Australian Lines on Gallipoli | Facing page170 |
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
| On the Square within the Walls of Saladin's Citadel | frontispiece. |
| Page | |
| Blackboy Hill Camp | 3 |
| Some of the Original Officers | 5 |
| The Regimental Signallers | 9 |
| The Machine Gun Section | 9 |
| The March through Perth | 11 |
| The March through Perth: the Crowd in St. George's Terrace | 12 |
| The Farewell at Fremantle | 17 |
| H.M's. Australian Transport "A11" | 21 |
| Two very young Soldiers | 25 |
| Abbasia Camp | 31 |
| The Adjutant and "Tim" | 31 |
| Brigadier-General J. Burston, V.D. | 35 |
| Lieut.-Colonel C. R. Davies, O.B.E. | 35 |
| Major J. Kenny, A.A.M.C. | 39 |
| Captain J. J. S. Scouler | 39 |
| The Wall of the Citadel | 47 |
| View of Cairo from the Citadel Walls | 51 |
| The Moqattam Hills | 51 |
| The Citadel | 55 |
| Chunuk Bair | 63 |
| Williams' Pier, where the 28th landed | 66 |
| The Apex | 71 |
| At the Apex: using the periscope rifle | 74 |
| "The Farm" | 74 |
| In the Front Line at the Apex | 78 |
| Excavating a "Bivvy" in the support trenches | 79 |
| View from Baby 700 | 83 |
| Major J. A. Campbell Wilson | 91 |
| Captain J. Gettingby: The Quartermaster | 92 |
| Sergeant C. R. Field | 96 |
| Regimental Quartermaster-Sergeant R. G. Sexty | 97 |
| The Chailak Dere | 106 |
| View of the Aghyl Dere | 107 |
| "A" Company getting ready to move from the Reserve Position at Cheshire Ridge | 111 |
| The Q.M.'s Store of "A" Company at Cheshire Ridge | 112 |
| The Sari Bair Ridge | 121 |
| Headquarters of "C" Company, Happy Valley | 125 |
| The Great Traffic Trench | 125 |
| A Conference on Walker's Ridge, December, 1915 | 129 |
| The view from Russell's Top looking into Malone Gully | 131 |
| Captain G. D. Shaw, M.C. | 135 |
| Captain T. O. Nicholls, M.C. | 135 |
| The Camp at Sarpi, Lemnos Island | 141 |
| The Shipping in Mudros Bay, 1915 | 141 |
| On the Battlefield of Tel-el-Kebir, January, 1916 | 151 |
| Ferry Post, showing the Suez Canal | 158 |
| Ferry Post: the landing place on the East bank | 158 |
| The Camp of the 28th at Ferry Post | 160 |
| The Suez Canal: a liner in the fairway | 160 |
| Private H. A. Franco, M.M. | 164 |
| The Pioneer-Sergeant at work | 165 |
| The 2nd Division crossing the Canal en route to Europe | 169 |
| The "Themistocles" at Alexandria | 169 |
FOREWORD.
By The Most Rev. C. O. L. Riley, O.B.E., D.D., LL.D., V.D.,
Archbishop of Perth, Chaplain-General to the Forces.
I have been asked to write a short Foreword to the History of the 28th Battalion. I do so with very great pleasure, for two reasons—Firstly, because I have known Colonel Collett for many years, and, secondly, because I approve of the History.
The present volume is the first of several that will attempt to record the doings of those bodies of magnificent volunteers who went from Western Australia and of whose achievements the country is so justly proud. The Trustees of the Public Library, Museum, and Art Gallery of Western Australia, as the custodians of the archives of the State, have thought that those archives would be greatly lacking were a history of our part in the World War not included. With that object in view, the Commonwealth and State Governments have been approached and, largely through the assistance of the Premier, the Hon. Sir James Mitchell, K.C.M.G., and of the Minister for Education, the Hon. H. P. Colebatch, M.L.C., a practical commencement is now made with the narrative which concerns the 28th Battalion.
In the following pages we are not treated to long dissertations on military tactics, nor to clear proofs of how the writer could have concluded the war in half the time it really did take, if only the High Command had carried out suggestions made by one who knew all about it. You will find nothing like that in this book. Colonel Collett evidently asked himself: "What do the friends of the men of the Battalion want to know?" They want to know what the men did and what the Battalion did. What was the daily life of the man in the training camp; on the transports; in the war areas, and in the trenches. Of those who fell, they want to know, if possible, how and when they fell and where they were buried. Of those who were wounded, they want to know what they were doing when they "stopped a bullet," and how they were afterwards treated in hospital or in "Blighty." The public want a brief outline of the great doings of the Battalion, and all these things are plainly and proudly told by the writer.
I have often been in camp with Colonel Collett and know how thoroughly he did his work there. I am sure that all the men of the Battalion, their friends, and the public generally, will thank him for the loving care and labour he has devoted to a task which must have been to him a glorious record, and yet, at times, one full of sadness as he recalled to mind the "passing out" of friend after friend.
C. O. L., PERTH,
Chaplain-General A.I.F.,
C. of E.
PREFACE.
In the pages which follow an attempt has been made to give some account of how a Western Australian battalion was raised, organised, trained, and lived. How and where it travelled, some of the things it did and saw, and the nature of its environment. That is a large area to cover, and I am only too conscious that the result achieved is far from perfect.
This volume is confined to the period which terminated with the arrival of the 28th Battalion at Marseilles. That first phase of the unit's history was not so unimportant as might be thought. Although the following years were marked by a series of great events, in which the Battalion took a glorious part, yet there was a sameness in the surroundings and a monotony of routine which was conspicuously absent amongst the changing scenes and varied incidents of the earlier months of service. In those beginnings was moulded the high character for which the unit was ever afterwards esteemed. The trial by battle, hardship, and disease had not found its members lacking, and a fine spirit of comradeship had rapidly developed. With a high morale it arrived on the historic battlefields of Europe.
The few opinions offered in the course of the narrative are my own. They have not been formed lightly. Any individual charged with the care and direction of a body of his fellows must, of necessity—if he be worth his salt—study causes and effects.
Certain names have been mentioned in the text. Doubtless there are others equally worthy, but with the material I have had at my disposal it has been impossible to do due justice to all. There does exist a wealth of incident and anecdote which should be exploited but which, for obvious reasons, has not been available to me, and although I have made a general appeal to all ex-members to contribute to this record, a perfectly natural diffidence has held the hands of the great majority. For sins of omission and commission I beg the forgiveness of those with whom I had the great honour of serving and for whom, as comrades, men, and soldiers, I have the greatest respect and admiration.
The sources of information upon which I have had to mainly depend have been:—A very imperfect Official War Diary; my own letters; my memory; and a few contributions from former comrades. These last have been received from Major E. G. Glyde, Captains A. M. P. Montgomery, A. S. Isaac, N. W. Sundercombe, G. D. Shaw, T. O. Nicholls, and C. C. Flower. But more particularly am I indebted to Lieut. J. T. Blair, who placed at my disposal a considerable quantity of material which he had been at great pains to collect whilst in London.
As regards photographs and maps: Valuable prints and drafts have been supplied by the Trustees of the Australian War Museum. Mr. C. E. W. Bean, the Australian War Correspondent and Official Historian, has very kindly lent me photographs from his private collection. Mr. E. L. Mitchell and Mr. W. Owen, both of Perth, have generously given unrestricted permission to reproduce from their negatives, and certain members, and relatives of members, have also contributed interesting specimens. For the map of the Australian Corps' Front on Gallipoli, and the plans and diagrams referring to Cairo, Tel-el-Kebir, and the Pyramid, I have especially to thank Captain E. A. E. Andrewartha of the Australian Staff Corps.
The publication of the Nominal Rolls of Members of the Battalion has been made possible largely through the assistance of Major J. M. Lean, M.B.E., the Officer in Charge of Base Records, Melbourne.
For historical data, descriptive matter, and a few other essentials, I have also consulted the following works:—Barrett and Deane ("The A.A.M.C. in Egypt"); Callwell ("The Dardanelles Campaign and its Lessons"); Ellis ("Story of the 5th Division"); Hamilton ("Gallipoli Diary"); Masefield ("Gallipoli"); "Military History of the Campaign of 1882 in Egypt" (official); Nevinson ("The Dardanelles Campaign"); Schuler ("Australia in Arms"); Sladen ("Oriental Cairo"); Woods ("Washed by Four Seas"), and several others the names of which I cannot now recall. I am also under a great obligation to J. S. Battye, Litt.D., B.A., LL.B., the General Secretary of the Public Library, whose invaluable advice has guided me through a pleasing but arduous task.
HERBT. B. COLLETT.
Public Library,
Perth, W.A.,
June, 1922.