17th December 1915

17th December 1915 - To prevent the Turks noticing the emptiness of the roads, fatigues

were put on at various points visible to the enemy with instructions to lounge about & smoke.

The Turks observed these fatigues & shelled them.  At rear of the fatigue in the distance, a

hole made by "Beach Bill" can be seen.

[Courtesy of Australian War Memorial - G01288]

Friday 17th December

Our Steamer went up close to the Headquarters Steamer & received instructions & soon two Barges were alongside – one to take the men from other units off & the other for our Baggage & Party. It did not take very long to get the lot of stuff on her & off we went to the shore & were dumped onto a wharf. There were other Units besides those over which I had charge (the 3rd F.A. Brigade Headquarters 8th – 9th Batteries & Am Column). Every ones baggage got mixed up horribly every time we moved from one place to another and then it was a case of sorting out & seeing what was missing. Once on shore I interviewed the M.L.O. (Military Landing Officer) & we were shifted by means of transport to another wharf & he told me we were likely to leave for Egypt in a few days & the Baggage would not go into the Sarpie Camp – the place where our Units were joining up after coming away in small batches. We made ourselves as comfortable as we could near the South Pier (wharf) as it was called & waited instructions. I sent word to Sarpie Camp & got a few extra men down to guard the Baggage etc. They came down & walked over there & slept for the night. Saw Walter East & Hodgens & ohs.

[Courtesy of State Library of New South Wales - William Sparkes diary]

17
(Captain Alan Percy Crisp, temporary O/C 7^th Battery)

Buried all 18pr. Q.F. Ammunition at Battery + dummy guns erected in vacated Gun Pits.  The remaining one gun under command of Lt. Moody with 14 men each carrying 48 hours rations + 50 rounds S.A.A. embarked.  Capt Crisp + one man detailed for police duty on Beach until evacuation completed.

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

17 Dec 1915
(Captain Richard Stewart Gee, O/C 9^th Battery)

TARGETS ENGAGED OBSERVING STNS.  GABA TEPE

GUN FIRING No. 1

RANGE 2650

ROUNDS FIRED H.E. 2 SHRAP 23

1015 Unlocated gun was firing on beach.  It ceased + Obseving Stns were engaged.

There was the usual enemy artillery activity to-day, but no guns in our zone were observed to fire.  Big broomstick bombs were last night + today falling near this Stn. VICTORIA GULLY + BROWNS DIP.  Hostile machine guns still continue to play all along this ridge near this Station at night + during foggy weather.

[Courtesy of Australian War Memorial - Official unit war diary, 9th Battery]

During the last days of the evacuation, Anzac Beach was utterly deserted, but fortunately

Turkish airmen, flew too high to notice this - taken 17th December, 1915.

[Courtesy of Australian War Memorial - G01287]