Evacuation of wounded from Gallipoli

 

This image held at the Australian War Memorial (A02740) shows a flat bottomed barge transporting wounded soldiers from Anzac Cove, 1915, to a hospital ship. We can see a large number of stretcher cases and many of the walking wounded.

After being injured on 25 April, Athol would have been transported to a ship (possibly a hospital ship) on a barge like this. The barges were towed out to the ships by naval launches and steam boats. Note how exposed the men were to the enemy's continual shelling and musketry and also the elements.

2015 Gallipoli visit

On Saturday 25 April 2015, the Dawn Service was held at ANZAC Cove to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the landings.

One of my  Parker cousins, Jocelyn Parker, attended that service as both her grandfathers served in the Great War. Jocelyn's maternal grandfather, Major Tom F.L. Rutledge , from 'Gidleigh', Bungendore, served with the 7th Light Horse Brigade. He took part in the Gallipoli campaign from May to October 1915 and was at the Battle of Lone Pine.

Jocelyn (accompanied by her son, Alex Lowe) was kind enough to carry a tiny home-made posy of gumnuts all the way from Australia. The posy was laid at the Lone Pine memorial above Anzac Cove on Saturday morning underneath the 5th Battalion inscriptions.

The Lone Pine Memorial commemorates the 3268 Australians and 456 New Zealanders who have no known grave and the 960 Australians and 252 New Zealanders who were buried at sea after evacuation through wounds or disease. It is the main Australian memorial on the Peninsular.

The Battle of Lone Pine took place from 6-9 August 1915. Much of the fighting was at close quarters with dozens of small-scale actions holding back Turkish counter attacks. During those four days seven ANZACs were awarded the Victoria Cross.

Athol took part in the Battle of Lone Pine. Many of his 5th Battalion mates will be listed on that memorial.

Handmade posy at Lone Pine memorial.

Tiny handmade posy just under the 5th Battalion names of the fallen.

Hand made gumnut posy.

With many thanks to Jocelyn for taking a rather awkward package across the globe and laying this tribute in the most appropriate location.

I would also like to acknowledge the book of letters of Tom Rutledge written during the Great War.
'Socks from Bungendore', ed. Martha Rutledge and William Rutledge, Echo Books, West Geelong, Victoria, 2015.

25 April 1915 - wounded - service record notes

Athol's service records were updated in early May but referred to 25 April 1915.

You can see the third item - Athol's injury is noted and the date 25 April 1915. However, it only records one injury and in fact he was injured twice on that day.

The promotion to 1st Lieut. is recorded on the line above.

National Archives of Australia service records for A.G. Adams p.11.

25 April 1915 - promoted in the field - ANZAC day

2nd Lieut A.G. Adams was promoted to Lieutenant on 25 April 1915. This was the date of the ANZAC landings on the Gallipoli peninsular.

AWM Service Records

Near the first tick one can see Athol's name in this notice of promotions. Athol is promoted from 2nd Lieutenant to Lieutenant, dated Anzac Day, 25 April 1915.

Photograph - 24 April 1915 - troops on way to Dardanelles

This image is part of the Australian War Memorial collection.
The notes indicate that it was taken 'probably' whilst the troops were on Lemnos Island, Greece, April 1915. The Australian soldiers are from the 5th and 6th Battalions. They were embarked on the Galeka and Novian.

Athol was on the Novian.

War Memorial collection image: A05749

Donor: A. Thomson.

Letter - 27 May 1915 - Athol describes landing on Anzac Cove 1915

This post is written 100 years after the landings on Gallipoli.

 At 12:40pm Sydney time we have already been to our dawn services but in Turkey the dawn service is just starting at Anzac Cove.

The letter below was written on 27 May to Athol's mother in Melbourne. I transcribe only the first few lines as that section describes how Athol took part in the landing and was shot twice shortly after arriving. More of the letter will appear in May as it refers to the events of 5-8 May and later.

On 24th April, Athol's unit was aboard the troopship 'Novian' in the Greek harbour of Mudros. The fleet moved off on 25th April just after midnight. At about 2am the troops prepared their kit (about 40kg including some food and water) and were given a hot meal - bully beef with a few potatoes made into a stew. They were mustered on deck. They were to receive no more rations for 3 days.

The 9th and 10th Battalions of the 3rd Brigade made up the first wave of troops to be towed ashore. This was at about 4:30am, pre-dawn.

With the sun rising, at about 5:30am, on 25 April 1915, the second wave of troops started towards the shore. Athol was in this second wave. He was part of 'D' company, 5th Battalion, 2nd Brigade. 'D' company left the ship at about 8am. They were clearly visible from the rocky cliffs above. It was a fine day - blue sky and a warm sun. Sniper fire, musketry, shells and shrapnel were hailing from above. Athol was probably injured at this early stage of the battle.

The towing craft had missed the beach at Gaba Tepe and instead the troops were put ashore a mile further north at Ari Burnu. The sea was glass smooth and the current not too strong so the mistake was probably poor navigation. For the troops going ashore the topography encountered did not match the plans which were distributed. They expected a sandy bank above the beach and then low hills. They found very steep inclines, deep ravines and thick low scrub. It was difficult to see ahead. They were disoriented from the start.

Those men of 'D' company who were not killed or wounded on the wooden boats or on the beach halted under the crest of the hill where the commanding officer had established Battalion Headquarters until the position became clear. The position did not become clear. The men pushed on often in small groups.

As the morning progressed enemy fire upon the ANZAC troops intensified.

One of the Battalion's most capable officers, Major Feathers, in charge of 'A' company was shot through the neck and died that morning. Soon, many of the 5th Battalion were mixed with other units, particularly the 6th Battalion. Major Bennet of the 6th steadied a group of these 5th Battalion men and repelled a group of Turks trying to break through.

Private S. Ricketson of 'D' company found himself with a group of men without a leader and took it upon himself to lead them over a plateau which was later to be called Lone Pine. Isolated groups of the 5th Battalion fought their way through the thick scrub and, in many cases, never returned.

Communication, and the transmission of orders to these isolated groups of men was impossible on that first day. Men lost contact with each other and the various units became separated, mixed and the situation confused.

Turkish resistance intensified during the day and continued through Sunday evening. The ANZAC troops consolidated a rough line along the rugged terrain and started to dig in around dusk.

No.17 General Hospital

Ramleh

Alexandria

27.5.15 

Dear Mater, 

Many thanks for your cable which I got on the 18th (May) about 9pm. I've been here since the 16th (May) and am quite all right. I'm going into a convalescent home tomorrow. That means boarding out at a private house. 

I got hit on April 25th (Sunday) the first day we landed, soon after getting ashore. I got one through the upper arm and about 1/2 an hour afterwards got another on the wrist watch which smashed the watch and put my left hand out of action temporarily. I then left the line and went down to the beach where I was sent aboard the 'Clan Macgillvray'. I came down here in her and reached here on Thursday night (29th April). Six of us then went on board the Lutzon and returned to Gallipoli leaving on Sunday evening (2 May).....

Postcard - 21 April 1015 - 'probably the last you'll get for some time'

The is the last message Athol sent home to mother before setting off for the Dardanelles. Athol talks about the pretty harbour at the Island of Lemnos (Mudros Harbour), the crowded conditions and sleeping on deck.

The writing is tiny and rather faded so there are some words which are difficult to make out.

Text as follows:

Dear Mater

Many thanks for Nos 2,3,4 which arrived all together. Also P.C. of Arawen (?) Caves.  Glad you had clear weather for your motor trip. What was wrong with the Minarra? (This is probably a ship in the family firm Huddart Parker). This is a pretty harbour and appears to have plenty of deep water... This is probably the last you'll get for some time. I've been sleeping on deck since we left Egypt and am in A1 trim. All the boys are well and, though a bit crowded, quite happy. Jack Newham got a commission the other day. He was in 'C' Company also. We have had a fair amount of boating since we arrived here. Remember me to all enquiring friends.

With love Athol. 

Postcard - 21 April 1915 - Everything A1 all well

A quick note home to Athol's step-father, Guy Sherwood, who was sending him issues of newspapers and magazines.
You will notice that there is no postage stamp. The hand-writing on the top-left reads 'On Active Service no stamp available'.

Text as follows:

Many thanks for papers etc. Everything A1 All well

AGA 

Letter - 13 April 2015 - from Mena Camp to Isle of Lemnos

Athol leaves the Mena Camp in Cairo and travels with the 5th Battalion to Alexandra by train. They board troopships which take them across choppy seas to Lemnos harbour in Greece. Conditions on board are cramped. On arrival they find a harbour busy with battleships, submarines, cruisers and troopships. Rumours circulate about where and when they will be sent to fight.

Dear Mater,

Many thanks for your letter of ... Also please thank Pater for 2 'Referees' and an 'Australiasian'. 

We left Mena on Sunday 4th and marched to Cairo about 6:30pm reaching the latter about 10am. We then waited in the station yard until about 1:30am when we left for Alexandria which we reached about 7:30am. We got out of the train at the dock and after a very little wait, in which tea was served out to be taken with a meal carried in the haversack, we came aboard this boat. She is a cargo boat of 6,338 tons gross, of the Leyland Line. There are 1,208 men and 319 horses so our accommodation isn't up to 'Orvieto' standard.
Only about 15 of our officers have cabins so the rest of us, about 16, either sleep on the little bridge deck or in a part of the hospital which is screened off from the rest which is rather stuffy. I sleep on deck. It was a bit choppy coming over and that and the close quarters and horsey smell caused a lot of sickness. 

We left Alexandria about 6pm on Tuesday. All Thursday we passed through the Grecian Islands, some of them quite close, and on Friday at daylight we came in here. There were several troopers and about a dozen war boats including the 'Queen Elizabeth', the 'Royal Ark' an aeroplane tender and both French and English battleships and cruisers, also a Russian cruiser, the same one that was in Colombo the 'Asvold', or something, besides a lot of torpedo destroyers, torpedo boats and some submarines. All these war boats go in and out everyday so that no days are the same. 

Yesterday the 'Queen Elizabeth' took our Brigadier and the Colonels of the different battalions to the Dardanelles. I don't know what they did or saw but I believe that all the likely landing places have barbed wire entanglements so it looks as if we're going to have a bit of a scrap to get ashore. There are about 30 troopers in now with English, Indian, French as well as Australian troops. I believe there are to be about 60. I also hear we have sealed orders on board to be opened on the 15th so I expect we will be moving then. This place is only 45 miles from the entrance to the Dardanelles. 

I left a suit case with a few clothes and things in value of 15 pounds at Thomas Cook & Son, Cairo, to be forwarded on demand.
Eldridge and ...... sergeants of old 'F' Company took Imperial Commissions the day before we left Mena. In the A.S.C. I believe. I wouldn't look at them as they were only for the duration of the war and you couldn't choose which branch you wanted. Also it will probably be months before they get near the fighting. Also if I get through this I'll probably be able to get a decent commission if I still feel that way. 

I'm getting this posted so as to avoid censorship so it will probably take some time in transit. 

Love to all enquiring friends. 

Yours lovingly,

Athol

Unit diary excerpt - 4 April 1915 - departing Egypt

"The Battalion left Mena Camp on 4th April.... ...proceeded to Alexandria and embarked on Transport A12 'Novian' at that port on 5th April 1915."

AWM, 5th Battalion Unit Diary 23/22/1

Letter - 29 March 1914 - training for attack and defence - Sir Ian Hamilton

A.G. Adams writes to his mother about the continuing training which seems to be relentless. The unit was inspected by Sir Ian Hamilton. He meets a family friend, Keith Officer, who was serving in the 3rd Light Horse Brigade. The desert climate means that it is cold at night and hot and dusty with flies in the day.

The transcript appears below.

Dear Mater,

I've got a small bundle of letters here. I don't know whether I've acknowledged them all or not. Dated Jan 17, 24, 31 and Feb 14.

I seem to lose count of the days here. We meander on as from one day to another with very little to remember as different.

Last week we were out all Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday nights on Divisional Training. Tuesday in defence and the other two nights in attack. On Thursday I was orderly officer so I had a pretty strenuous time.

This morning we were inspected by Sir Ian Hamilton and marched past him afterwards.

Please tell Pater I've got two or three 'Referees' and a couple of 'Bulletins' and thank him for me.

I had mess the other evening with Keith Officer. He has one star imp in the Brigade ... Res of the 3rd Light Horse Bde. They have been hereabout a month now.

I believe we have two night stints this week. We're absolutely fed up with them. It's beastly cold and when we try to get some sleep the flies, dust and heat of the day are not conclusive to slumber.

I really can't think of anything else so please excuse this scrawl. Please remember me to Pater and all enquiring friends.

Yours lovingly
Athol

Postcard - 28 March 1915 - Sand and Sphinx

Another postcard about the ancient wonders next to the Mena Camp.

Text as follows:

'The sand is higher than in the picture. It's up to the mark, about.'
AGA

The 'mark' refers to the little inked-in line above and to the right of the campers; at the base of the Sphinx.