24th May 1915

Australian burial parties burying Australian and Turkish dead during the armistice

on the 24th May. More than 3000 Turks and approximately 160 Australians were

killed during the Turkish counter attack on 19 May 1915. Approximately one million

rounds of ammunition were fired during the one day attack. The stench from the dead

was so unbearable that the Turks initiated a nine hour armistice so that both sides

could recover and bury the dead.

[Courtesy of Australian War Memorial - H03920]

May 24 ANZAC 

A cessation of hostilities was arranged from 7-30am to 4-30pm for parties from both sides to collect their dead.  We estimated the Turkish dead from the attacks delivered on the 19^th + 20^th to be about 3000.  About 7 hrs a gun from 224 X9 shelled our lines near Mountain Battery.

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

View from the 11th Battalion's front during the armistice, not far from the

7th Battery's firing position on Bolton's Ridge, showing Australian burial

parties burying Australian and Turkish dead.

[Courtesy of Australian War Memorial - A04348]

Monday 24th May

A beautiful day with smooth sea. Adjutant getting all units adjusted. Not an easy job with so many units represented. Careful lookout all day for submarines or Torpedo boats. Armed guard of 250 standing by with 750 men available at a minute’s notice. Expect to arrive at Mudros about 6 PM tomorrow. What a strange ‘Empire Day". No celebrations required this year to prove the solidity of the Empire. The world’s battle fields are sufficient indication.

 

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