9th June 1915

The Ras-el-tin Presidential Palace at Alexandria, Egypt, in 1908 - the expansive site

would be requisitioned for use as the 2nd Convalescent Depot during the Gallipoli

Campaign, within which both Bombadier William Percival Sparkes (below) & friend

Corporal Edward Longden Coleman recuperated from wounds received when their

7th Battery gun was hit by a Turkish shell on the 12th May 1915.

Wednesday 9th June 

Following on my other letters which ended with a description of my conveyance to the Egyptian capital alexandria when wounded. After becoming an inmate there I was moved out to [Ras el-tin] Convalescent Hospital which was on the [illegible] beach, its only redeeming feature. [illegible] bathes etc which healed wounds quickly & I was very soon anxious to get back to my Battery.

Day same as before. Swim in surf etc.

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

9^th

(Captain William Charles Waite, temporary O/C 7th Battery) 

6.58pm I engaged a small party of Turks, Square 212 B5 Range 1350 fuze 4.  Only one round was fired, but owing to the shell bursting on Graze the maximum effect was not obtained.

Lieut Urquhart sent to Alexandria on Sick leave. Sgt A.C.R. Waite placed in charge of N^o 1 Gun.

[Courtesy of Australian War Memorial - Official unit war diary, 3rd F.A.B. Ammunition Column]

Australian artillerymen at their 4.5" Howitzer position near Anzac Cove - possibly

one of the guns involved in the artillery duel mentioned by Col. Rosenthal below.

[Courtesy of Australian War Memorial - H15383]

Wednesday 9th June

Lt Evans yesterday posted to 9th battery, vice Crisp, promoted and transferred to 7th Battery. Lt Pybus attached to 3rd B.A.C. Approval given for Lt Urquhart and Morgan to proceed to Alexandria, to relieve Capt Gee and Lt Hodgens who will report here for experience.

Lts Morgan and Urquhart leave tonight. Several men reported here this morning from Alexandria for the Brigade. Work continued on new observing station. Should be completed tomorrow. Col Hobbs called at my Headquarters this morning re Benson’s substantive promotion. I think satisfactory arrangements can be made.

Artillery road for No 1 Section now about half completed. Still no sign of our big mail. Monitor fired a number of heavy rounds today. Received news of one of our submarines in Sea of Marmora, sinking a Turkish gunboat, Transports and 3 boats carrying ammunition – in all 11 ships. A fairly smart Artillery duel this afternoon. Our 4.5" Hows and some 18 prs loosed off at targets we could not see, and for a time the enemy replied fairly fiercely. He gave in at last.

The following is a complete list of 3rd FA Brigade Casualties to June 10th 1915.

Headquarters

Lt Col C. Rosenthal wounded 5.5.15

No 2087 Corporal A.C. Croud Killed 10.5.15

Total 1 wounded, 1 Killed 2

7th Battery

No 1616 Gr H.P. Eagle wounded 26.4.15

1615 Sergt T.F. Braithwaite " 27.4.15

1617 Copl L.R. Bliss " 27.4.15

1643 Gr A.F. Steiglitz " 30.4.15

1659 Gr R. Anderson " 5.5.15

1636 Br L.R. Bumpus " 6.5.15

1652 Gr L.R. Hughes " 6.5.15

Capt W.A. Leslie Killed 6.5.15

1630 Gr C. Shields wounded 6.5.15

1635 Gr S. Mitchell " 8.5.15

1620 Sergt W. Pinder " 10.5.15

1654 Br W.P. Sparkes " 12.5.15

1613 Cpl E.L. Coleman " 12.5.15

2256 Gr J.A. Hale " 15.5.15

1647 Gr H. Foll " 19.5.15

1658 Gr N. Unwin " 19.5.15

Total 1 Killed; 15 wounded. 16

9th Battery

Major W.H.L. Burgess wounded 5.5.15

No 1959 a/Br F.H. Brown " 4.5.15

No 2631 B.S.M. C. Light " 8.5.15

2027 Gr A.W. Parry Killed 11.5.15

1975 Br C.G. Davies wounded 14.5.15

1961 Br A.R. Brown " 17.5.15

Total 1 Killed, 5 wounded 6

3Rd Brigade Ammunition Column

No 2262 Fitter W. Sergent. wounded 25.4.15 (Died at Malta 8.5.15)

3716 Gr H. Coleman " 26.4.15

3753 Dr W.D. Hawthorn missing 3.5.15

3371 Gr C.J. Waller wounded 20.5.15

2141 Dr W. Broadwith " 27.5.15

2708 Gr J.E. Le Masurier Killed 29.5.15

3718 Gr M. McDonnell " 29.5.15

2190 Dr C. Kithen wounded 10.6.15

Total 3 Killed, 5 wounded 8

8th Battery

No1854 Gr W.C. Morgan wounded 26.4.15

1787 Sergt G.Day " 30.4.15

Lieut N.Clowes " 4.5.15

1868 Gr M.H. Piesse " 4.5.15

1809 Gr W.C. Fincher " 4.5.15

1766 Gr F.W.C. Bowler " 4.5.15

Gr A.C. Goddard " 6.5.15

1863 Gr D.L. Lovell " 6.5.15

1862 Gr F.A.W. Smith " 6.5.15

1773 Sergt T.R. Braidwood " 6.5.15

3046 Gr A.E. Benson Killed 7.5.15

1794 Bdr S.J. Cameron wounded 7.5.15

1890 Gr C.J. Paterson " 7.5.15

1870 Gr A.G. Paterson " 7.5.15

1832 Lpl J.P. Hammer " 7.5.15

1774Gr V.G. Benson " 8.5.15

1828 Gr H.S. Hope " 8.5.15

1853 Gr E.L. Menagh " 8.5.15

1841 Gr J.A. Kierath " 8.5.15

1864 Cpl W. Pusey " 9.5.15

1896 Gr F.A. Watson " 9.5.15

1822 Gr W.N. Hamilton " 18.5.15

1893 Whaler R. Williamson " 19.5.15

1797 Gr E.J. Day " 31.5.15

1765 Gr R.A. Beesley " 1.6.15

Total 1 Killed, 24 wounded 25

Total Brigade Casualties out of 350 men ashore - 7 killed, 50 wounded - Total 57

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