Australian War Memorial
The attack on German Officers Trench succeeded in getting the trench, and smashing things up, but it is not certain that a machine gun in a sort of fort (small) is out of action.
June 5th 1915
The firing still raging, on part of Turks, who are wasting ammunition at a great rate. We are pursuing the even tenor of our way, trying to get some sleep. Got a cable, dated 22.5.15 from Mater in London announcing safe arrival, all well. It had been to Alexandria and then posted on here. So glad to know she escaped the German submarines tho’ I really didn’t think there was great risk. I hope she got all my letters and that I shall soon get a letter from her. I sent her a note, while on the Gascon. A cold night, but very hot this afternoon. Just received copy of secret intelligence report “A recent arrival from Turkey states that the fame of the Australian and New Zealand troops has gone far and wide. Even the Germans admit their splendid fighting qualities and the Turks think them marvels. They talk of them as ‘being more terrible than the Bulgars’!”
The flies are becoming an awful nuisance. The area is full of them – blow flies – and the small house fly. So many unburied bodies about. So many unsanitary latrines, and general dirtiness. This [is] not a clean army in its ways and even actual washing is very difficult. We are on 1/2 a gallon[2.27 litres] of water a day again. And corned beef and salt bacon makes one very thirsty, quite apart from the heat. Still no doubt the best is being done.
Col Braithwaite WG [William Garnett] visited the post. I gave him some tea and he gave me an ORANGE!
Major Cunningham who is running my Bn is doing very well. Keen, untiring and attentive to everything. I am glad he has had the chance to act. Hart has had to have his leg opened up again to get out some lead, and expects to be away another 14 days. I give him more. Jardine is nearly fit. McLernon7 still bad. Furby sent to England for special operation. No news of Saunders or the others. Young Cargo8 who had recently been promoted to Lt was killed in the trenches the night before last. A splendid young fellow – soldier-officer. Very sad really. Still no better death.
June 6th 1915
A quiet night, at 3am all sections except ours made a demonstration fire. This morning, casualties on my Post 1 man killed, 2 wounded by snipers. Saw Col Chauvel, as to requirements for post – sandbags, phones. Fine day. Bush King9 holding Divine Service on terrace just alongside. Shrapnel bullet just came into my shelter – not into me.
Busy fixing terraces for men who are having a hard time, 48 hours in trenches, on end with practically no sleep. Certainly no comfort, no shade. I hope to get overhead cover for terraces which will thus be both safe and comfortable.
Hear we are not to go into Reserve – at end of 8 days – but into Quinns Post, which I gather ought to be abandoned. The Australians, who won’t work and first got the position instead of sapping out and making forward trenches, just sat tight on the edge of the cliff and allowed the Turks to sap and trench right up to them, only some 10 feet away now. The Turks are sapping and no doubt intend to blow the Post up and into the gully. Nice place to have to take over! The Courtney’s Post has taken a lot of straightening up, and it will be a bit tough if after we have got it fixed up, we go out and tackle a new messed up post. All the more honour, but it is very wearing and not altogether fair or reasonable.
June 7th 1915
Details taking over Quinns Post settled. We start on 9th. Some 250 reinforcements10 have arrived for my Bn, and will thus make it up to full strength. A bit of a job in incorporating them at this juncture. Genl Godley called to see me and had a chat. Sent Cunningham up to see Quinn’s Post. He reports it as in a filthy unsanitary condition. I went saw [Robert] Young the O/C and gave him notice that I will not take over unless it is thoroughly cleaned up. They are making a sortie tonight, and we help by fire. I think when we get settled down in the Post, we will be able to get the Turks under. At present they seem to boss the situation. Here in Courtneys Post my men have got an absolute fire superiority over the enemy, so that they hardly dare fire at all, in day time.
June 8th 1915
Mail arrived, but only a cable of congratulations to me and men from Stratford Patriotic Committee, dated 24th ulto – posted to me from Alexandria. I suppose some announcement has been made in NZ.
Last night’s sortie from Quinn’s by Canterbury Bn men, was a failure. 3 killed and 24 wounded. I think another “touch wood” bit of business, not worth the casualties. I suppose I shall be poked up and ordered to continue the game, but I shall take some forcing until I am satisfied of chances of success or necessity of operation. Isolated local attacks at the most salient point of our position are not in my opinion sound. There has been gross, I think, neglect in the early stages, when such movements would have succeeded and kept the Turks back. The Australians seemingly just sat down and waited and waited and did nothing. That seems to be their character, dash forward like mad things and then instead of working and making good, sit down and loaf, and then get “scary”. That is not only my opinion but that of Australians themselves. We have succeeded what they call their worst, and a bad Brigade (Monash’s). Bad luck for us. Still it is all in the days march, and please God, we will see it thro’ and may be able to straighten things up a bit. I fear trouble however with my HQ, who I am inclined to think do not properly appreciate the situation.
Getting very hot, and the flies increase every hour, drat them! I am looking forward to Maters 1st letter from England. It is now 17 days since she landed and I am sure she would write very soon after landing. I do so hope, she has quite recovered and is not worrying.
Jackie Hughes11 has been given the Canterbury Bn vice Brown12 wounded.
View of Quinn’s Post located in an indentation in the top of a spur accessible from Monash Valley that led from Anzac Cove to high ground beyond the beach. This photograph was taken before the construction of the terracing and other improvements carried out at Malone’s direction.
Australian War Memorial
[MSX 2552]
8.6.15
Dear Kirkwood,
I have just written a formal letter of thanks to the Chairman Stratford Patriotic Committee, for a cable of congratulations to me and men. I don’t know who such Chairman is, but have 1/2 a notion that it is yourself. In any case I would like to add a few lines to the formal letter. I don’t know whether the congratulations is special or general. My Bn has been in a couple of very special jobs, and done very well, and is now on another, in which it is making its mark. Any way the cable was welcome, and I am communicating it to the men and especially the Stratford men: than whom none have done better. We have had and are having a strenuous time, but it suits us.
We have had, as you can probably picture from our casualty list, a somewhat rocky time, but are very fit and well, that is the rest of us. Weather A.1. (but hot and too many flies!) Food, army ration, all right. Work, plenty, night and day.
Give my kind regards to all your people, and all other friends.
Yours sincerely
W.G. Malone
[MSX 2546]
June 9th 1915
Took over Quinn’s Post at 9am with 2 of my coys. Had a good look round. On the whole I like the change, but there is an awful lot of work to do. Such a dirty dilapidated, unorganised post. Still I like work and will revel in straightening things up. Quite a length of the trench unoccupiable, owing to bomb throwing superiority of Turks. No places for men to fall in. The local reserve is posted too far away and yet there is at present no ground prepared on which they could be comfortably put. I selected a new HQ shelter for myself, and gave orders that every rifle shot and bomb from the Turks was to be promptly returned at least twofold. We can and will beat them at their own game.
Lieutenant Terence McSharry, the Australian adjutant of Quinn’s Post who had played a leading part in its defence, initially stayed on to assist Malone. His first impression was not favourable. McSharry wrote in his diary that Malone was ‘an old woman ... I am fed up
you don’t expect too much red tape in the presence of the enemy. One good fight will perhaps tune [?] him up.’ He did not appreciate Malone’s tongue-in-cheek remarks about planting a garden at Quinn’s, and on 14 June wrote: ‘I hope the Turks don’t attack while he is here.’ [Terence McSharry diary, 9 and 14 Jun 1915, 3DRL 3250, Australian War Memorial, Canberra; Peter Stanley, Quinn’s Post, Anzac, Gallipoli (Crows Nest, 2005), pp.107-9.]
An aerial view showing part of the maze of trenches that made up the ANZAC and Turkish front lines, June 1915.
Australian War Memorial
June 9th to 24th July 1915
Been very busy right thro’, too busy to write this up. We soon got the upper hand of the Turk riflemen and bomb throwers, and have completely changed the position. The Auckland and Canterbury Bns which we relieved, went off as if they were leaving a death trap. They were cowed, and dreaded being in the position. We have terraced the ground so that the troops in reserve are together instead of being dotted about in all sorts of holes, like conies13 and somewhere in the Bible it speaks about “the conies in the hills being feeble folk”. We have made roads to the top of the hill at the back so that we can counter attack. Fire positions have been fixed for the supporting troops and in less than a minute we can sheet the hillcrest with lead from 200 rifles, the men being side by side in lines under their NCO’s and officers. I got 2 machine guns mounted to sweep 1/2 of our front which before had to depend on some 50 rifles to stop the Turks who had only some 15 yards to cross to get from their trench to ours. Above all the men are inspired with the conviction that they have superiority over the Turks and are getting a fair run for their lives. We have so wrecked and racked the Turks trenches, that they now have the ‘dread’ and have almost abandoned their front trenches opposite us. Improvements made every day, overhead cover erected over terraces, making them sun and shrapnel and bomb proof. Blankets nailed along West fronts keep out the glare and heat of the Westerly sun and can be rolled up at night, out of the way. The Post has become absolutely the best in the Defence and the safest. A Turk deserter told our HQ “That the Turks had found the mining and fighting so hazardous opposite Quinn’s Post (this one) that they had to call for volunteers to man the trenches opposite it, and that every such volunteer was promoted to corporal. That the shooting of the soldiers in Quinn’s Post was so deadly that they (the Turks) had closed up all their loopholes and men were forbidden to use them. They had lost such a number of men shot thro the loophole in the head and killed.”
Terraces and shelters on the hillside at Quinn’s Post, July 1915. The extent of the improvements carried out under Malone’s command can be clearly seen.
Australian War Memorial
July 1915. A view of the shelters at Quinn’s Post, looking towards Pope’s and Russell’s Top.
Australian War Memorial
Good on the Wellington Bn, my gallant men. They outshot and outbombed their opponents and in 8 days had obtained such superiority, that they had got all over the Turks. We recovered, regained the 50 yards of abandoned trench, and now one can walk from one end to the other of the front fire trench. The place has been scraped and cleaned and repaired, and put in order. We have been congratulated by Generals Birdwood, Godley and Lotbiniere14 and their anxiety is at an end. They were very nice to me. The life has been strenuous we have thrown on an average 200 bombs in the 24 hours, and rifle shooting goes on steadily thro’ the day but mostly at distant targets, for the Turks hardly ever fire out of their trenches in the day time. They do a bit at night. Our casualties have been small, 4 or 5 killed, say 20 wounded, including 3 officers: Jardine (2nd time) Wells and Carrington.15
I got the skin knocked off my right cheek by the casing of a bullet, that came just passed my head having struck an iron loop hole and on another occasion I was straightening up some wire entanglement and a bullet or bomb struck it and splashed my hands and face with small bits of the casing. I can now say I have actually shed blood! A few drops. Nothing like that spent from a razor cut! I am a lucky one all the same. The garrison is 900 men, and stays in 8 days and then goes out for 8 days rest. I stop [stay?] on all the time. The Canterbury Bn alternate with the Wellington Bn and sometimes some Auckland or Otago men come in to make up numbers. After 5 continuous weeks work by me, the Brigadier said he would like me to take a rest. I said if I could go to Imbros all right, but that it would be no rest to go into a rest gully, and that I would sooner stop and work in the Post. He soon got Genl Birdwood’s and Genl Godley’s warm approval and away I went with Short my staff officer to Imbros. Went over by SS El Kaheri staying on board all night, landing at Pyrgos16 near Cape Kephalos, at about 9am next morning, a Tuesday [6 July].
A photograph of Quinn’s Post taken by C.E.W. Bean during his visit on 17 July 1915.
Australian War Memorial
By noon, Short and I went off for a walking tour round the Island. Our itinerary was Pyrgos to the Capital Panaghia, then to Kastro, back to Panaghia past Gliki, then to San Theodoros, back to Panaghia then to Skimude, to Pyrgos on South Coast. Then by South Coast to starting point which we reached at 5pm on the Saturday. Met Genl Godley, with Admiral de Robeck17 (who commands the Fleet here). Genl Godley was very genial and told me to take 2 or 3 days more and have a rest. I and Short had made up our mind to go back that night. We were glad to stop, as our trip had not been physically restful. Admiral de Robeck on my being introduced said “Oh, you are the man that turned the Turks down at Quinn’s Post. You deserve a rest.” Imbros, our Mulberry Island as I think of it, owing to that being the only fruit in season. Huge trees, by the wayside, smothered with luscious fruit-common property. It will not “carry”, and is not picked except by the children and probably a few jam makers. The Island is very hilly, but there are considerable areas of flat valley land, well cultivated – Grapes, figs, walnuts, pears, plums etc. The people, blue eyed Greeks, lead the simple life, self contained, growing everything almost that they want. Old time cultivation tools and methods. We enjoyed the trip immensely. Back to Quinn’s Post on Tuesday [13 July] morning. On the whole glad to be back. Found a welcome letter from Mater awaiting me. Visited by [17 July], Capt Bean, Australian war correspondent, Mr Nivenson,18 [sic, Nevinson] English provincial do/do [ditto] Mr Ross, NZ do/do. I liked Nevinson, especially Bean, seemed Australian or 1/2 so. Ross, nondescript. On another day Ashmead Bartlett the, English W/Cpdent came with the others, and actually kinematographed part of the Post, at back, taking in the terraces, and the men at work etc. Then I took him into the fire trench and he took some more pictures. He seemed a bit swollen-headed, and full of his own importance. I gave him a couple of thrills, by taking him to places open to Turk fire at about 300 yds range, and then pointing out to him the Turks trenches. I had asked him if he wanted to see them. But generally they are looked at thro’ a periscope.
A chute used to remove spoil from one of the many mine shafts dug at Quinn’s Post.
Hampton Album, Alexander Turnbull Library
Mater seems [to be] settling down at home, but is evidently fretting over the war and our separation. She writes often, as do I. I get spare time every day. We the last 3 nights have been expecting a massed attack by the Turks. They have received 100,000 reinforcements, and are expected by their Govt to drive us into the sea. Yesterday was their Constitution Day,19 and we all expected them to mark it by a big attack. But so far it has not come off. We do so wish they would come on. We do so wish that they would. It has been slow waiting waiting, shooting and bombing at small things.
I had a trip on the Destroyer Colne to have a look at the country N of our army position, with view to an attack on [Hill] 971 from that side. I like on the whole, the look of the country. It looks as tho’ the plan I outlined weeks ago, will be – or something like carried out.
Today [24 July] at midday, the Turks discharged a mine opposite our No.4 sub post, close to their own trenches. We think they got scared and let off prematurely. They have in 2 months fired 3 mines, we – 28! Brilliant weathe
r all thro’. Hot, but except at about 3 to 7pm, a nice northerly breeze. Many of the men go about with only shorts, boots and socks and hats – not forgetting identity disc.
Edmond was wounded 3 or 4 days ago [on 20 July]. A bomb exploded near him on Walkers Ridge position and drove a bullet thro’ his leg above the knee. He will be all right.
I must try and keep the diary going now day by day.
Second Lieutenant Charles Saunders DCM, a capable and strong-willed New Zealand engineer officer, was responsible for much of the construction work undertaken at Quinn’s Post when Malone was in command. Entries in his diary about the construction of bomb-proof shelters give a good insight into Malone’s command style and conditions at the post:
June 27th 1915: I discussed with Colonel M [Malone] how I should do the job; he was [sic] an amateur Architect and had great ideas of a bottom plate let in the ground, uprights dovetailed in it and then a top plate ... Now timber was scarce and I saw I could save the bottom plate by sharpening the uprights and driving them in with an mawl and just nail the top plate across the tops of the uprights. He wouldn’t have it, so I said no more but decided I must do it that way as I hadn’t enough timber for his way.
June 29th 1915: Got quite a lot done on terraces. Making a good job of them; no need for levelling; we just drive the uprights in a little more where necessary; quite a quick job. Colonel M looked it over then called me into his dugout. He told me that this way was far better than his, in that it was quicker and quite strong enough, although his way was a stronger job; he wanted to know why I had done it this way after our talk yesterday [sic]. I told him I had measured up, found I hadn’t enough timber [for] his way and couldn’t get any more. He was quite satisfied.
No Better Death Page 25