Aussie digger, Sergeant John A Graham (known as Jack), aged 23, landed at 'ANZAC Cove' Gallipoli, on 20 May 1915. Sgt Graham kept a diary of his wartime observations and experiences in Gallipoli, Gaza, Palestine and Egypt, between August 1914 and October 1918.
Sgt Graham's entry on 5 April 1916 explains why he kept a diary:
Sgt Graham's entry on 5 April 1916 explains why he kept a diary:
- " This diary has been written for your benefit, Dads, Lil, Claud, Gus, Clyde and Vera's and as each days events has been entered my thoughts have always been with you all. That is why I have kept this diary going. Letters that I have received from you all have been most encouraging and I feel proud to belong to such a spartan family. I feel proud to know that you take a pride in having Reg and I over here fighting instead of staying at home and you can rest assured that Reg and I will do everything that is honourable and shun all that is not. "
- " These notes are really only for the purpose of recalling memories in detail. I intend to describe to you fully by word of mouth as one does not get the opportunity to write a detailed account of everyday happenings..." (16th August, 1916).
- Entered (Suez) Canal. Amid tense excitement and in hope of having a scrap, but were disappointed," (Jan 28, 1915)
- "The town is beautifully situated on the Nile. On one side is the Libyon desert and the Mocattarn Range where Napoleon built his forts (which still remain intact) and on the other is the famous Nile Valley and river where numerous native boats with huge lateen sails are going to and fro. In the background we can see large palm forests and behind that again the desert with the Pyramids of Giza and Memphis plainly visible... Then again are domes and minarets (reaching far in the sky)..." (Feb 2nd 1915)
- " It seemed as if Hell suddenly broke loose and we were rushed off into the trenches. The noise of the rifle and gun-fire together with the singing and whistling bullets and the bursting of shrapnel and high explosives was deafening but it was an awe inspiring sight. The night was s bright as day caused by the flashes of bursting shells, rockets and searchlights." (May 15th, 1915).
- "... we took refuge under a gun (a stupid thing to do) Got buried twice through falling earth caused by shells." (May 31st, 1915).
- "... it did not take long to cover the distance but quite long enough for (the sniper) to have 7 shots at me, all going close, too close, one of them cutting a button off my trousers." (Thursday, 13th July, 1915).
- " Same as yesterday." (Wednesday 8th September 1915).
- " In this desolate hole there is nothing to write about..." (4th July 1916)
- " Duty 2400 to 0300 and 0900 to 1200 and 1800 to 2100. Nothing unusual happening." (Sunday, 25th July, 1915)
Graham provides a lot of minutia about daily life...
- " My favourite dish is Welsh rare-bite. Other dishes are porridge made from crushed biscuits, fried bacon, fried bread, Anzac rolls (fried meat, biscuits, potatoes and onions) rice, etc. Glorious weather." (Thursday 8th July 1915).
- "9th Corps hold line from sea at 1350 to 1352, hence towards Lola Baba to Moston Tape Ismail Olgu. Tape not in line. Anzac Div. have occupied Chanki Bair 1661 Sq 80K and are consolidating position." (Sunday 8th August, 1915).
- " During the past week the smell of the dead was awful but tonight was worse. Had to wear our respirators to keep it out." (Tuesday 17 August, 1915).
- " It was bitterly cold and we only had a miserable little blanket each. The fleas and lice were in millions and made sleep impossible." (Friday 10th September 1915 to 22 September, 1915).
- " Thousands have left the peninsula in the most pitiful conditions. Some with legs, arms and face frost-bitten." (30th November to December, 1915).
- " Five of my mates killed today while observing." (Saturday, 10th July, 1915)
- " My old friend Blackwall was riddled with bullets. I shot three Turks while taking a spell in a shell hole." (Monday 12th July, 1915).
- " Went to see my old friend Harry Burnett and was just getting into the gun pit to shake hands when a shell carried his head clean off his shoulders. Poor devil, he was one of the best and was in the Bank with me at Enmore." (Wednesday 21 July, 1915). which in turn was followed a few weeks later by this sad aside: "My old friend Dick Burnett (brother of Harry) was killed. Much the same as yesterday." (Thursday 12th August, 1915)
- "The always happy, energetic, determined and all enduring old Division is at last down and out. After four years of misery it is now a mere shell, run down haggard, war worn, sick and lacking energy. Seven months of Summer in the Jordan Valley the inferno and hub of the great fever belt was the cause of the general break down.
General Allenly in his speech told us that we had put up with more hardships than any other Division in the whole war.
He referred to us as freaks of nature and was very, very, sorry to see we were having such a bad time, but someone had to be sacrificed in order that the war could be successfully carried on to a victorious end - and we were the only Division who were best able, by our wonderful powers of endurance and determination to see it through until such time as the situation changed. Well we saw it thru alright, but at what a price."
Cover image source: Anzac Cove: http://www.anzacsite.gov.au/2visiting/walk_03anzaccove.html
Other page images: Australian War Memorial Photograph C00425 :http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C00425/ (Public domain)
Other page images: Australian War Memorial Photograph C00425 :http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C00425/ (Public domain)
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