4 July 1915: Leaders of men?

The demonstration was right enough if it had been handled properly but it wasn’t.  Some of the officers flunked and others got muddled.  They are supposed to be leaders of men but half the time the men were leading them.  Only for some of the Sergeants.  Sergeant Waite (now Lieutenant) in particular there would certainly have been more casualties and it was only his promptness that prevented it. 
The idea of the demonstration was to keep the enemy busy on the right flank, so as to prevent reinforcements going to Cape Hellas, where the British and French were attacking strongly.  Our duty was not to take trenches, but to stand off the enemy and keep him going.  One troop would advance and then retire and another troop would do the same and so on. 
Once again, on night patrol, Lt Rutherford (a mere boy) and a party of men went out to reconnoiter.  On getting near the enemy’s line, fear overtook him and he bolted back to our lines for dear life, leaving the men to do what they liked. (from 5 April 1916)
J. A. Graham