THE DARDANELLES (excerpt)
Gunner J. G. Wilson, of the Main Body, with the Auckland Mounted Machine Gun Section, forwards the following interesting narrative of events following the landing at the Dardanelles and life in the trenches against the Turks.
TO THE FIRING LINE.
After many weary months of training, the A.M R. are now at the front, and in the thick of it. Owing to the rugged nature of the fighting area we had perforce to go dismounted, but far from being disappointed on that account. We were all eagerness to be in action. We landed safely from the transports, under cover of fire from the Australian trenches and warships, and only one man war wounded, and he slightly. It being too late to move far that night, it being practically dark when our last man was landed, we "dossed" on the shore as best we could. Bullets fell all round us, but in no way disturbed our bleep, and next day, after a stiff climb up hill along a narrow mule-track, recently formed, we took possession of a line of trenches vacated by the Marines. It was on the firing line. The lines held by the Colonial troops stretch in a semi-circle, and at the farthest part are perhaps 2000 yards from the shore.
CREDIT TO AUSTRALIANS.
The left is held by us. The centre and right by the Australian Infantry, and it embraces the piece of ground taken by them in that first great charge It is impossible to give them sufficient credit, or form any idea of the great feat which they performed, without first seeing the obstructions and difficulties which barred the way.
SOLDIERS' GRAVES
Dotted thickly alone the beach and over the hills are little mounds and wooden crosses with their pencilled inscriptions, which mark the spot where some of our infantry lie. Rough and crude as these crosses may be, they were erected by comrades, nearly always under a heavy fire, and many were added to the list of casualties while so engaged. Several places here have been very appropriately named (censored again here); a spot where the enemy were until recently lying in little heaps.
SHOOTING SNIPERS.
A rather shallow gully separates us from the enemy, and we are in places at point-blank range. For a few days we had a regular duel with the Turkish sharpshooters, who are well placed and good shots. The previous holders of our trenches, the Marines, were by no means good at sniping, and the Turks became very cheeky, making short sprints from trench to trench. However, these gentlemen are now dining with Allah, and their comrades are content to show a bare whisker to our marksmen. Our officers with their periscopes and glasses tell us that in many cases even this is shot away.
WORD OF THE 4THS.
Captain Black and Sergeant Major Marr, of the 4th, were the first of our men to fall, being shot while out taking observations. Sergeant Hinman of the A.M.G.. Section was wounded while similarly engaged. An attack had for some days been expected, and early on Tuesday morning word was passed along our lines that a large body of troops were marching on our left. An hour or so later when it became certain that they were attacking in strong force, a great cheer rose from our ranks, and was carried along until it died away far along the Australian lines. The A.M.R. were first to meet the assault and throughout bore (again censure at this stage), but with less vigour than on the left. For some time the Red Cross were kept busy, as many of our men west down in meeting such vastly superior numbers. -Waikato Times, 14/7/1915.
The officers and brethren of Lodge Ohineawai met in the Waimate cemetery recently to unveil a stone to the memory of Sergeant-Major Marr. The stone which has been erected on the grave of a little girl who died two years ago, is on a concrete foundation covering the whole space of the grave, and it bears the following inscription: Erected by his Masonic Brethren to the memory of Joseph Marr, who fell in action at Gallipoli, May 18th, 1915, aged 37: also to his daughter Margaret Marr, who died at Waimate North, May 14, 1914, aged 14 months. Besides the Masonic Brethren there were present many who had known Sergeant-Major Marr, the military being represented by Captain Kinaston and sergeant-Major McIntosh. -Northern Advocate, 15/8/1916.
Waimate North Cemetery.
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