8th October 1915

The firing line on Bolton's Ridge (along which the 7th Battery's guns were

entrenched),  from the Turkish trenches on Silt Spur, after the line had been

advanced across the Gully - October 1915.

[Courtesy of Australian War Memorial - G01062]

Friday 8th Oct 

It threatened rain all day & towards evening the wind rose & lightening lashed in the S. Western portion of the heavens. I had secured our supply and conveyed all the goods to the store by the mules and had just returned when the rain commenced to pour down accompanied by strong gusty wind. I was anxious about the roof of my dug out store standing as it was only Water P sheets & blankets. Fortunately it stood the test but I was up most of the evening catching the drops of water as it leaked through in various places. To catch the water I had large Dixies we make tea in & I emptied several of these during the night. It eased off towards the morning & I fell asleep very tired but satisfied I had protected the bread & other perishable stores. 

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

Oct. 8 
(Lieutenant Sydney Francis Hodgens, temporary O/C 7th Battery)

0915 Small working party engaged on trench on GUN RIDGE, 68-V-6.

12.30 Vehicles observed moving to and from direction of Maidos, along Maidos Road 48-D + F.

17.45 No. 3 gun fired 2 rds. P.S. at sandbag emplacements on SNIPERS RIDGE, Sq. 68-B-6-8 (Range 775^x) in retaliation for enemy guns firing on LONESOME PINE.  Portion of parapet was knocked down.  A Turkish gun engaged No. 3 gun from behind GUN RIDGE with 5 rds. but did no damage.

19.10 Alternative gun pit commanding same zone as No. 3 gun sited just below crest on N. slope of BOLTON HILL (about 30^x W. of No. 3)

Work on pit was commenced but had to be abandoned at 20.30 for the night owing to a violent rain storm.  The pit is being built to allow the fire of an additional gun being brought to bear on SNIPERS RIDGE, slope + crest of PLATEAU 400, if necessary, and had to be sited in the dark by compass bearing as position was exposed to view of enemy’s trenches on crest + slope of PLATEAU 400.

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

8.10.15

(Major Francis Augustus Hughes, temporary O/C 3rd Field Artillery Brigade)

1145 Party of horsemen entering OLIVE GROVE.

1155 9th.Battery engaged this target.

1745 Gun from the direction of SCRUBBY KNOLL firing on trenches left of front of F.C.O.

[Courtesy of Australian War Memorial - Official unit war diary, 3rd Field Artillery Brigade]

7th October 1915

Six members of the 1st Divisional Signal Company wearing their gas helmets - a gas

scare surrounded the 7th Battery gun pits on the 7th October 1915 (below).

[Courtesy of Australian War Memorial - A02782]

Thursday 7^th 

To-night there was a demonstration by our forces against the enemy’s trenches but nothing of a decisive nature. A very bombardment took place on the Southern end of the Peninsular and the booming of the heavy guns was very pronounced.

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

Oct. 7

(Lieutenant Sydney Francis Hodgens, temporary O/C 7th Battery)

1500 Gun observed firing from GUN RIDGE at our aeroplane.  Reported to 3^rd F.A. Bge, but had ceased fire before report through (Sq. 68-S-5).

15.15 Gun observed firing from Olive Grove Sq. 55-Z-6-9.

15.20 Movement of enemy troops.  Party of about 40 men (unarmed) moving towards “Hill 600” along road in Sqs. 56 S + X Reported through to 3^rd F.A. Bge to Heavy Battery.

16.30 Gun observed firing from OLIVE GROVE Sq. 56-W-1.  Engaged by 9^th Bty

18.30 Demonstration by 2^nd L.H. Brigade, 3^rd Inf. Bge. + Torpedo Destroyers.  Battery did not fire.  Considerable Turkish rifle fire was drawn in this zone.

19.30 Reported by Np. 4 gun that the presence of small quantities of gas had been noticed in the air.  Infantry + Light Horse forward trenches did not confirm report.  3^rd F.A. Bge was informed + no action was accordingly taken beyond warning men to have respirators or gas helmets at hand + warning other units of report.  Officer in charge of No. 4 gun stated men’s eyes had been made to smart + smell noticed was disagreeable but was not sufficient to overcome anyone. 

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

7.10.15

(Major Francis Augustus Hughes, temporary O/C 3rd Field Artillery Brigade)

1145 Enemy aircraft going North.

1430 Convoy of Camels on road going towards RUINS

1435 Convoy of horses on road behind GUN RIDGE going South.

1520 Camel and horse Transport moving North on road at foot of KILID BAHR.

1615 Number of men on foot travelling along road at foot of KILID BAHR going North.

Comparatively quiet throughout the day.

[Courtesy of Australian War Memorial - Official unit war diary, 3rd Field Artillery Brigade]

6th October 1915

General William Riddell Birdwood, General Officer Commanding, Australian and

New Zealand Army Corps, near Hill 60 on his rounds during the 6th October 1915.

[Courtesy of Australian War Memorial - G01222]

Wednesday 6th Oct 

Several small skirmishes took place but nothing of any importance. Late last evening I awoke by hearing voices outside my dugout store quarters & found our boys who were away resting had come back from Lemnos. It had been rumoured that another batch of men were to go & any one over 3 months of continuous service on the Peninsular was entitled to the holiday. I declined to be included as I was fairly busy with various indents and issues & I decided to wait till the next batch went.

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

Oct. 6

(Lieutenant Sydney Francis Hodgens, temporary O/C 7th Battery)

1000 Small parties of horsemen observed moving at Sq. 48-N-6.

17.15 Movement observed at “Redoubt” – 47-M-3.

There was little firing from enemy guns on right flank during the day.

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

6.10.15

(Major Francis Augustus Hughes, temporary O/C 3rd Field Artillery Brigade)

1355 Party of horsemen, cattle and camels moving on road at foot of KILID BAHR going south.

1410 A considerable of dust arising from Gully in rear of RUINS apparently cattle concentrated there.

1430 D.A. advise Heavy Battery engaged this target.

Extremely quiet on RIGHT FLANK To-day.

[Courtesy of Australian War Memorial - Official unit war diary, 3rd Field Artillery Brigade]

5th October 1915

Major Hughes spotting from his Observation Post overlooking Achi Baba.

[Courtesy of Australian War Memorial - H00350]

Tuesday 5th Oct 1915 

A little sultry. Went along the beach & saw Olly G. Passed a young chap & at first glance I could tell I knew him. I stopped him & said “are you not a friend of John Bulgins". Yes he replied. I did not know his name but on him informing me I remember playing Tennis with him on one occasion. His name was Joyner & lived at Samson Vale. I am good at remembering faces but names ----

There are things & there are faces which when felt or seen for the first time stamp themselves upon the mind like a Sun image on a sensitised plate & there remain unalterably fixed.

Take the instance of a face or most faces one might say – the same smile or a frown – the same look.

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

Oct. 5

(Lieutenant Sydney Francis Hodgens, temporary O/C 7th Battery)

0915 No. 3 gun fired 6 rds. P.S. (at range of 760^x) at SNIPERS RIDGE parapets, Sq.68-B-8, in retaliation for guns firing on LONESOME PINE.  A portion of parapet was demolished.

Considerable movement of small parties of horsemen on road Sq. 48-N-6.  Parties generally moving northwards.

10.15 Small party of Turks observed digging on crest of PLATEAU 400 Sq. 68-C-7.

Party working on crest of GUN RIDGE – Sq. 68-J-1.  At 1705 same work was being continued.

Small working party observed leaving communication trench Sq. 68-N-5.

1600 Gun observed firing from GUN RIDGE at aeroplane, 68-S-5.  Reported to 3^rd F.A.B. + engaged by 9^th Battery. 

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

5.10.15 
(Major Francis Augustus Hughes, temporary O/C 3rd Field Artillery Brigade)

1230 Party of horsemen on road at foot of KILID BAHR going North.

1532 Camel Transport on road at foot of KILIP BAHR going South.

1540 Observed for 9th. Battery firing on Aeroplane Gun on WINEGLASS RIDGE.

Except for aeroplane guns enemies guns quiet to-day.

[Courtesy of Australian War Memorial - Official unit war diary, 3rd Field Artillery Brigade]