No Better Death

by John Crawford

  We have just got word that a NZ mail bag arrived. Hurrah! I shall enjoy a letter from Mater. My HOME is nice and dry and straight now and it will be a luxury. I am thinking of taking off my clothes tonight. Ever since we disembarked I have slept in my clothes – 18 days!

  14th May 1915

  I took off my clothes last night and slept in my shirt and a cardigan jacket I picked up on the battlefield (I have had it washed), but it was not a success. Too cold. Today is a lovely sunny one. The Bn was allowed to go down to the beach after breakfast and to return by 10am. I went for a ride. Col. Richardson very kindly lent me his horse and Whitmore my bodyguard! got Colonel Ives [Ives’s horse]. We went through the French line to Sedd El Bahr village and fort. A mass of ruins. Stone houses, narrow streets, full of horses, mules and French troops. The old fort is an [sic] Hospital. I went in and had a look round. It dates I believe from the crusades. Our big shells had smashed it in many parts too [sic] pieces. I went up on the rampart and took a photo of the River Clyde s-/s/[steamship] and the beach. The R. Clyde had been used as a landing stage,? a death trap. Run ashore and then some 8 sally ports discharged our 29th Divn troops, to be badly shot up. I had a yarn with le Pere Bertin Liebaux des Augustins de L’Assomption,20 late of the College Francais Gallipoli now a French Army chaplain. He has been a long time in Turkey. He says that if the troops had landed at the same time as the naval bombardment, the Turks would have given up. The whole thing has been badly mismanaged. No sound appreciation of the situation, and now a plunging policy. I got and sent Mater a French army Postcard, as a curiosity. The mail was not a regular one and there were only a letter from old Major Sandford21 at NP and Fred Westerton respectively. Nothing from Mater. I was very disappointed and am wild because I feel that the mail is somewhere about, probably at Gaba Tepe and negligently delayed. Our last mail was delivered at Port Mudros about 23rd Ulto. Still I feel absolutely sure that Mater has written. She and the family will soon be in England now and I hope they have had a good voyage and are well. I then rode on and had a photo taken of “Naran Sammey” and myself alongside his “Mimi”. He is of the Supply and Transport Corps, 29th Indian Infantry Bde, a Madrassee Hindoo. He is “mine host” of the other night. I will send him a copy of the photo, if it comes out all right. I wonder when the film will be developed. I then went on to the Fld Hospital to see any of my men there. I only found one, sick dysentery. He had been blown out of the trench by a shell.

  A view from the old fort at Sedd el Bahr, with the River Clyde on the left, taken by Malone on 14 May 1915.

  Malone Family Collection Wellington (now in ATL))

  Strange bedfellows: Malone and Naran Sammey, 14 May 1915.

  Malone Family Collection London

  [MS PAPERS 4130 Second Book]

  14th May 1915 ( Contd) and got naturally a severe shock. I bucked him and several other sick men of diff [different] units (British) up. He was very grateful to me for calling in. All the wounded were on board transports, used as Hospital Ships, and which as they are filled go to Alexandria or Malta and discharge the men to shore hospitals. The casualty list is great. My Bn up to yesterday has lost – 80 killed, 306 wounded, 42 missing, total 428. The missing I am afraid are nearly all killed. A great price to pay.[13 lines deleted by WGM of which four were torn off the bottom of the diary page. The first words of the deletion ‘for so little’ are, however, legible.]

  I find that things on Saturday last were worse than I knew. On the second advance at 5.30pm, my W [Wellington] West Coast Coy, was actually stopped by our own shells. Bursting right in front of them instead of on the Turks trenches. The Artillery cooperation is often a cooperation with the Turks. No proper observation. No telephones for us.

  I suppose everybody is well meaning but there seems no firm able hand anywhere. Actually we got messages to observe the artillery fire and send word by a messenger, who would have to go back say 1200 yds under heavy fire. Fancy waiting for such observation! It is too dreadful. I am going to try and get a 4 Coy outfit of tphones [telephones] from our Regt Fund. It will save many a life. I lost 3 orderlies out of 8 the other day carrying messages to the firing line – all for the want of the phone.

  I got back to Bivouac at 12.10pm in time for lunch at 12.30. I had to go with other O/C Bns to the Brigadier.[8-9 lines deleted.] A blundering plunging into action will gain nothing.

  The Army HQ have now sent round a circular memo, practically saying that there is to be no more plunging. Semi siege warfare is the order of the day and the future: sap and sap, and mine and dig and night attack, and make good against c/[counter] attack.

  The Flanders war. That is a slow game. If I were G.O.C. I should make good a defensive line on the ground, we have gained, make it impregnable then garrison it with the weakest troops, except a few take all the best troops north by night to Gaba Tepe, or Anzac Bay as I believe is the right name of our landing place N of here. Then prepare a plan of attack on Hill 97122 from NIBRUNESI PT [Point].23 Get every available man of war to come up and at night take position at sea commanding [Hill] 971 and line thence to 224 D.5.24 Which is the crest of the ridge, a frontage of about 2800 yards. Then all our FA Batteries and Howitzers to take up position about Nibrunesi Pt. and about knolls Sq 250 R.N.J. and in advance of same. Ranges (1st) 7000 to 4500 [possibly 11,500] yards then march say 3 Divns, say 45000 men to take up position to attack. 1 Dvn: with its right on the Beach ( Frontal) and L [Left?] on line parallel say 1500 yds N.E. and the other 2 Dvns left on line sq 250.F and R [Right?] in line 1st Dvn ( Flank).

  Everything and everybody in position by night and attack commenced at dawn, the forward line could be right wheeled along road W° [due West?] to BIYUK ANAFARTA25 and thence right moved to foot hills and make some progress up them before dawn. At dawn the troops now at Anzac Bay to make a feint and so engage Turks now facing them. Aerial reconnaissance, would I believe show that the Turks have not really fortified the NW slopes of the position to be attacked. The crest gained, dig in, bring up guns etc and prepare for further advance either immediate or next day to MAL TEPE26 and thence to KILIA TEPE.27 This would cut the Turks communication. Position gained to be fortified, and held awaiting any T. [Turkish] attack from S. and N. until whole show reorganized etc. Put a line of trenches on right across ANZAC BAY [Anzac Cove] to sea at KILIA TEPE.

  At present it is stalemate, and attacks direct on ACHI BABA28 or 971, must be slow and costly, sap and sap. Manoeuvre is the antidote to entrenchment. I hope to be able to get G. HQ. to consider such a plan, if one is not already under weigh [sic]. I saw Colonel Richardson today of General Paris’ staff, and he seemed impressed with the idea as a sound one.

  [15th May 1915]

  Today I had lunch with Col R. [Richardson] and Genl P. [Paris] and his staff. The men are, as to 500 of them, at work on the beaches and roads. Fine sunny day. I spent some time darning my only pair [of trousers], and strengthening the seat, which was almost thread bare. One of my Subs29 wanted to photo me, sitting on edge of my bivvy with my only pair off and on my knees, and I darning and stitching!!!! But I didn’t want any companion picture to the famous one. I went and called on Col Evelegh Comdg Nelson Coy [sic, Bn] R.N.D. he relieved us at Gaba Tepe heights,30 and has just come back here, being relieved by the Auckland and Wellington M.R. so I suppose, Edmond and Terry are getting a look in at last. I hear we go back to the trenches tomorrow night, but we have to find 600 men for beach work tomorrow Sunday. I wrote a long letter to H. Penn re the doings of my men. Our aero planes [sic] very busy today also our guns. We were shelled pretty often thro the day, but we pay no attention.

  I found some new, to me, wild flowers today, and some honeysuckle just about to bloom. The fields and track sides are lovely – dog roses, poppies big white daisies and many yellow purple lilac blues and white flowers also some tawny reds.

  16th May 1915, Sunday

  A lovely morning. Mass at 6.30am, in the open bivouac an occasional shell bursting over head or close to. Distant rifle fire. The “shrii
ing” [sic] of our own shells passing over, all taken as a matter of course. There is to be a 2nd Mass at 10.30am – 600 of men gone to beaches to work at unloading stores and material. We have no word yet of going back to the trenches. The Brigadier sent for me for my advice as to his appointing a C.O. to Auckland Bn vice Plugge31 wounded. He fancies Major Young of my Hawkes Bay Coy. I at once recommended Young. He has come on wonderful[ly] in action, Enjoys it. I asked whether the Auckland officers would loyally back Young up, because if not it would be a difficult job to straighten the Bn up. Their peace training was slack and I attribute their losses to want of discipline and good leadership. They were a sacrifice to their own inefficiency. It is pitiable. Young is to get the Command with tpy [temporary] rank of Lt Col. When Hart gets back he is to get the Canterbury Bn – so very soon the Wellington Bn will officer the Brigade!

  17th May 1915, Monday

  Fine day. Things as usual. Went with Col Richardson, (NZ but on General Paris’s staff) to beach to go off to Franconia for some things he wanted, a little holiday for me. We walked down but Franconia was taking the Australian Brigade back to ANZAC Cove (GABA TEPE). So we had a look round the supply and ordnance depot. I got a ball of string, 2 candles, 2 bamboo rods and some stationery. Met a Gen Elliott who was very nice an engineer, he is making a road round the beach. He was very nice and chatty but rather worried about his son, who is in front observing for the artillery. I discovered he had no periscope which is madness so I impressed on the Genl to get one or make one, and gave him a design. The beaches and land along side is literally covered with men, horses, carts, mules, stores and supplies. We have come to stay right enough....

  At night I presided over an Anglo-French concert, Taranaki Coy and French gunners under a huge walnut tree. We wound up with the Marseillaise and God Save the King.

  [MSX 2552]

  17 May 1915

  Dear Major Sandford

  Many thanks for your letter of 14.3.15 which came to my hand 2 days ago. Glad to hear your news. I cannot give you much back of importance owing to censor rules, tho probably you and the world at large pretty well know all that has been doing. I cannot say where I write this, but I think I can say that the Bn which I have the great honour to Command (and which you know) has been fighting from 27th April to 5th May inclusive at one place, and then went to another and was fighting from 7th May to 13th May, hard and continuously – night and day. We are now having a spell, but are still under shell fire and long distance rifle fire the latter not aimed at us, but at our troops in front. Still an odd man gets hit but we look upon the fire as quite harmless – as most shell fire is. I can give you a recent instance. About 1/2 an hour ago I was crossing a field, which by the way is a lovely blaze of scarlet poppies, white big daisies, and great quantities of wild flowers, strangers to me – but most beautiful, all colours and shades. Well a bit to my right a Lyddite32 shell landed apparently right on to a mounted orderly. Up went a big column of smoke and dust, the mtd man was enveloped, and one could think blown to bits. No fear, presently he rode out somewhat shocked and very angry, but not hurt. His language was free!!

  I had been down to the beach to Ordnance Stores, about periscopes and telephones for my companies, and was on my way back. Don’t think I was an heroic figure, I wasn’t. I had 4 fresh baked buns in a flour sack and 2 long bamboo rods on my shoulder. I had just left a General Elliott who had shown me a new road he was having made, in return for a design of a rough periscope I had given him. I had run across a Field Bakery and as I and my HQ mess (Capt McDonnell, Capt (Surgeon) Home, Capt Chaplain McMenamin, and Capt Cox (of Hawera) acting as my staff officer in lieu of Major Hart (wounded) had had no baked bread since 25 April last. I made love to the chief baker, and got 4 loaves. I asked for a loaf and then said it was a pity to separate one, and he gave me 2. I then got a flour sack and told the baker that the 2 were lonely by themselves, and it was a pity to separate such close companions. (They are baked in lots of 4 together), and would he make everybody happy. He did. I told him I might remember him in my will.

  The bamboo rods are to help in fixing up my bivouac shelter. We landed with what we stood up [in] and what we could carry, officers and men alike in our packs and no blankets. So we are up to all sorts of patents to protect us from weather and cold. And it is cold at nights, tho’ the days except 1 have been lovely. Our rations are all right, Biscuits (great jaw muscle developers) Bully beef, jam, cheese, bacon, tea and sugar. These with good appetite for sauce, go down cheerfully.33 We are all very well and fit, never better in our lives. There was a great shortage of sleep up to 13th but we are making up the arrears fast. Except for the separation from my wife and family, I am enjoying life as I never enjoyed it before. The fighting part is full of horrors and dreadful things – but to us, there is no horror or dread. We don’t altogether understand it. You know our casualties (I am not allowed to mention their number) and you can imagine what the fighting has been like, and what we must see. Yet very few even wince. I reason it out that there is “an absolute acceptance of fact” on our part. War is war. There is one thing we don’t like, but it does not worry us, that is the impossibility in many cases to bury the dead. At my last HQ during the action out of which we came on the 13th, there were over 100 dead Turks, in the same paddock, within a stones throw and among them an odd New Zealander or Britisher. The Turks had been killed about 15 days before, they were all on a patch about 1 acre. The others had been killed within 6 days. I crossed the place 2 or 3 times while reconnoitring but to send out men to dig and bury meant heavy casualties. The field was slashed with shrapnel and rifle fire whenever any number of men went over it and at times, apparently on spec. I had the New Zealanders and Britishers – 4 in number [–] buried at night by a man going to each and digging lying down alongside. Thus we did the job without loss. The Turks were too big a proposition, tho’ we did bury a good many of them, in the least exposed places. At the place where we were fighting before we came here, we dug in on the ground gained, and in time dug communication trenches, and in the end enclosed a good piece of ground. Well in our midst, numbers of Turks, Australians and our own mates lay dead, but it was impossible to bury them. If you put a finger up, you would very soon get it shot off. We had started to sap to the bodies to bury them, but came away before we had done so. All this I am afraid is rather Ghoulish and I don’t know why I have written so much about it, except, that it is the one outstanding thing that I don’t like. Kill your man but don’t leave him unburied. [Added later by WGM] An armistice to bury dead, I suppose is the thing, but now-a-day it is out of the question. As to my men, they are splendid and Brave as they make ‘em patient, enduring, clever, cheerful, nothing upsets them. Heroes all. I am so proud of them. Sandford I love them. Strings of wounded men go by me “Well Colonel, I’ve got it. I hope you are satisfied with us” always with a smile, often with a little laugh or an attempt at one. No cries or groans, not a whimper or complaint. The only cry I heard was from one poor chap who was shot up most ghastily, and his wasn’t a cry, it was a repeated “Oh Daddy” “Oh Daddy”. Intense suffering in his voice, which was soft and affectionate. He was I suppose somewhat delirious. New Zealand can be justly proud of her sons. They are gallant gentlemen.

  My men have earned the sobriquet, from the British Regulars who saw them advance over 1200 yards of shell, machine gun and rifle fire swept open ground – of “The White Gurkhas”. I never saw or read of anything finer. They got out of a rear line of trenches, 3 companies in one line, each sending its 4 Platoons one behind the other, interval about 5 paces, the rear Platoon carrying picks and shovels. They advanced as though on a show ground, steadily walking forward. No lying down, no firing. They went over 3 lines of trenches filled with British Regulars, who were except as to the front line, spectators. These trenches were havens of safety, but my men got into them and got out again or else jumped them. As they went shrapnel slashed them – then machine gun and rifle fire – men began to fall, but the rest bored steadily
on and on, at last they reached the front line of British trenches some 500 to 700 yards [originally 480 to 600] in front of the 1st Turkish trenches – passed over them, went 200 to 300 yards further and were struck by enfilade machine gun and rifle fire from both flanks, as well as shrapnel. At last down they had to go only now did they begin to fire. Then dig and dig. It was impossible to go further. [WGM later inserted the following sentence in the margin: “These Britishers at first had orders not Alexander Turnbull Library to advance, but later at 5.30pm they got orders to do so.”] The troops on our left had been ordered not to attack, so that when our left had got some distance past them, it was against all reason to go further. The troops on our right had had their advance stopped, and thus we were unsupported on our right. We had got within 200 to 300 yards [originally WGM wrote 400 yards, but then amended the figure] of the Turkish trenches and had gained some 200 to 300 yards of fresh ground. The position is something like this.