31st May 1915

The Turkish attack on Quinn's Post referred to by Major Hughes below, had actually

occurred 2 days earlier on the 29th May - "The Turks exploded a mine beneath Quinn's

Post, and all the Australians in this part of the line were killed or wounded.  The Turks

followed up with an assault but, after savage fighting, the Australians beat back the

attack.  Thirteen Australians were killed and 81 wounded, the Turkish casualties were

estimated to be more than 300" [Beneath Hill 60 - Will Davies]. The photo above show

a view of Quinn's Post during the attack, with Australian supports waiting to counter-

attack at left of frame.

[Courtesy of Australian War Memorial - G01006]

May 31 

Enemy blew up a trench on our left at QUINN’S POST which they had mined.  They were driven out + some prisoners taken.

[Courtesy of Australian War Memorial - Official unit war diary, 7th Battery]  

Monday 31st May

Another very quiet day. Information has come in to the effect that the night before last Phillips guns got into the enemy’s reserves, the casualties totalling 2000. Accompanied Colonel Hobbs around the position during morning. Instructed Burgess to select and prepare new emplacement for casemate gun. Had lunch with Major Browne. Was informed Major Mills had died of wounds received at Cape Helles. Made inspection of rear of 1st Section and made sketch of road to run round & facilitate movements of guns and bodies of troops. General approved same. Quiet day and quiet night.

[Courtesy of State Library of New South Wales - Sir Charles Rosenthal diary]

30th May 1915

One of the field guns of Phillips Battery (4th Battery, 2nd Field Artillery Brigade),

in its emplacement at Gallipoli - this may have been one of the guns which

weathered the Turkish artillery onslaught detailed by Col. Rosenthal below.

[Courtesy of Australian War Memorial - G01984]

May 30  Sunday 

Quiet until about 2pm when enemy delivered attack on our left supported by fire of guns of all calibres up to 8 or 9 inch.

[Courtesy of Australian War Memorial - Official unit war diary, 7th Battery] 

Sunday 30th May

Today we celebrate the termination of our fifth week in Gallipoli. We had a quiet morning, but after lunch the enemy again bombarded us with all sorts of Artillery, large and small, but I think without doing much damage. I was fascinated watching two guns of Phillips’ Battery. For half an hour the enemy placed heavy common shell all around him, but still his guns answered back defiance, and finally silenced the larger guns. The detachments must have nerves of iron to stand up and serve their guns during such a bombardment.

Went round position at junction of 1st and 2nd Sections this morning with Col Hobbs. Capt Waite took up duty as understudy to Major Hughes. Very quiet night.

  

[Courtesy of State Library of New South Wales - Sir Charles Rosenthal diary]

 

29th May 1915

Looking towards the Knife Ridge (Edge) and Gun Ridge, from one of the 3rd Field

Artillery Brigade's gun pits, which took fire fro Turkish artillery (Major Hughes,

below) - one of a series of photographs taken on the Gallipoli Peninsula under the

direction of Captain C. E. W. Bean, during the months of February and March 1919

as part of the Australian Historical Mission, showing rotting sand bags in the

foreground and bricks piled in the central trench.

[Courtesy of Australian War Memorial - G01984]

May 29  Saturday

At 3-30am the enemy opened a violent bombardment on our position from all directions + continued for 1½ hours.  Burgess engaged a Battery firing from Olive Grove.  Our 6 in howitzer engaged their howitzer + our N^o 2 Gun engaged a Battery firing from Gun Ridge on our front.  Our casualties slight.

Enemy’s rifle fire during day + night was slight.  Their Olive Grove guns reopened at 10am + again at 11am but shut up when fired on by Burgess.  In the afternoon one of our aeroplanes dropped a bomb on Turkish Camp South of Olive Grove.

[Courtesy of Australian War Memorial - Official unit war diary, 7th Battery] 

Saturday 29th May

The enemy at 3.30 AM opened a heavy Artillery cannonade from all directions and must have fired over 1000 shell up to 5 AM, when we had managed to locate their batteries and silence them. Very little damage generally was done and very few casualties, but unfortunately two were Artillery officers, Lt Siddall of 4th Battery, and Major Bruce of Mountain Battery, both killed.

Last night a destroyer shelled the approaches from our Right Flank to Gaba Tepe. One Infantry patrol went out and got some useful information, besides bayonetting six Turks and capturing one. Party returned safely.

This afternoon another Battery opened fire, but Major Burgess silenced it. Today I selected new position for Head Quarters and new Brigade observing stations in vicinity of 10th and 11th Battalion observation posts. B.A.C. detachment commenced work on "dug outs".

Visited Head quarters at night, discussed question of N.S.W. Howitzers. Col Hobbs agreed to proposals and forwarded same officially. Very quiet night.

[Courtesy of State Library of New South Wales - Sir Charles Rosenthal diary]