The following is a transcript of a communication which it is assumed was made available to the troops on the
Arawa which Leslie sent home to his family on 11 November 1914:
Exit the Emden
09/11/14
06.31am
10/777 Pte W.P.Falconer, 6th Wellington Infantry Regiment on wireless duty on H.M.N.Z.T.ARAWA picked
up from Cocos Island "S.O.S." and "Strange Warship at entrance" sent repeatedly. He woke Wireless
Operator Rew. In a few minutes the Emden tried to block message by continuous interruption. Rew tuned his
receiver differently and managed to keep reading Cocos' message through Emden's block. He immediately
reported to the Naval Transport Officer and tried to get the Melbourne also the Maunganui, but other stations
working blocked the message.
06.45am
Waimana said, Maunganui. "Signals quite good", but could not get The Maunganui
06.50am
Signalled successfully to the Maunganui by semaphore.
07.04am
Maunganui got message through to the Melbourne.
07.10am
H.M.S. Sydney left for Cocos Island,
09.32am
H.M.S Sydney sending code messages, Emden trying to block by sending at the same time
09.47am
Everybody ordered to stop signalling
11.07am
H.M.S. Sydney to H.M.S. Melbourne "Emden beached to save herself from sinking."
11.27am
H.M.S. Sydney to H.M.S. Melbourne "Pursuing merchant collier."
11.29am
H.M.S. Minoteur first spoke asking for movements of enemy
11.41am
H.M.S. Sydney to All Stations "Emden beached and done for."
Noon
British casualties 2 killed and 13 wounded.
10/11/14
06.15am
H.M.S. Melbourne reports to "Ibuki."
No further apprehension re "Emden" ashore on North Cocos Foremast and 3 funnels down and she has
surrendered, while Sydney is intact and proceeding to Direction Island. Do not know when she will rejoin
convoy. She is remaining to take off all guns and will probably land wounded prisoners on Direction Island.
She is also to report on condition of cable.
The "ARAWA" was the only ship out of 38 Transports and 4 to pick up the message.
10/11/14 -
Posted in Indian Ocean 10/11/14.
Warships
Pay day tomorrow
We only get 1/- day and remainder in England perhaps.
12/1/15 Zeitoun Camp, Cairo Egypt. Dated at back of letter 18/2/15
Dear Litty
Thanks so much for your nice letter I received it today just a few minutes ago after tea and was so glad to see
the writing. At first glance I wondered what young lady it could be from of course I could easily pick that it was
a “young lady’s" handwriting.
I do so hope that you pass your Xaminashun (examination) nicely and with plenty to spare just to be a bit
better than brudder [brother] Les, the only thing he could pass is a 'telegraph post' eh?
Well kiddie I'll just start right in to tell you what we do during the day but you must promise to hand it round the
fambli [family](you don't know that word). But before I start I must tell you that a young man was asking me if
you were still as naughty as you used to be, you didn't tell me about this sweetheart of yours, you must have
a lot, this one was "Alf East" and he asked after everyone. I met him one night at a place in Heliopolis called
"Luna Park", which is just like Wonderland only about twice as much to see and do. Well we had a great time
together that night, you ought to write to him dear he'd like a letter from you I'm sure he would, his address is
C/- N.Z. Medical Corps.
Now to business: At 5.30am Reveille, Stabbs [Stables] at 6 that's grooming and feeding etc and it lasts until 7,
then breakfast about 7.30, then Boot and Saddle at 8, that means a half hour to parade and to get horses
saddled up and harness cleaned up and yourself all ready for parade. Then parade at 8.30 then we go out
into the desert about a mile or so and manoeuvre, that is, come into and go out of action in various positions
then we come in again at 11 for Stables again which last till 12 then dinner about 12.30 parade again 2pm.
This time we are timed for harnessing up 20 horses (3-6 horses and 2 hacks), hooking up (horses together)
and hooking in to vehicles numbering of the subsection and all numbers mounted. Fastest time is so far for
us is 4 minutes 27 seconds. English Regular Army record is 4 minutes 7 seconds so its not so bad for us
“Cox’s' Army" is it?
Well in the afternoon we do practically the same as morning Stables at 4-5 then tea 5.30 then we've finished
for the day and unless you are on duties you may go into Cairo or anywhere else. I Piastre = 2½ pence
second class [train travel], ½ Piastre third class single, so we generally go there but we have to be in again by
10 o'clock. On Saturdays sometimes we get a half-holiday and Sundays the same 'cos really we can't go out
until 12.30 'cos church parade 9.30, Stables 11-12 then dinner so you can see though its a holiday,
according to the orders its really only a change.
Oh I must tell you about this, on Tuesday a week ago today we went out into the desert at 1.30 taking with us
only what we would were we on Active Service. That is 1 blanket and 1 pair drawers (unless wearing them)
folded up in the oil sheet and strapped on the vehicle you sit on. Mess tin, water bottle full of tea, must be tea
or coffee. Haversack containing shaving gear (no soap), knife, fork, spoon, toothbrush comb (no brush) all in
‘hold-all’’, 1 towel, 1 piece soap (for washing & shaving) and whatever rations you like. 1 and 1/4lb meat, 1lb
bread, 4½oz butter or equivalent in jam (seen no butter for 4 weeks). Then our overcoats with 1 pair sox in
pocket, muffler or sea cap in other pocket & jersey rolled up, whole rolled up & strapped on behind where we
sit that is all that is taken besides what is worn.
Well we left at 1.30 co-operating with the Wellington Infantry Regiment action then went out further and
bivouacked the night leaving at 8 next morning and more manoeuvrers and return home 3.30pm. I am
attaching a plan of a bivouac for your curiosity is aroused I know.
Insert PLAN
That is the plan you see. The men sleep under the vehicles. There is absolutely no news except that I shall
most likely be cabling home for some money, if so please see that it comes out of my own money. Everything
is going on very smoothly and a fair chance of promotion is been hinted at several times but that’s all. Bestest
Love to all hope Dad & Art had good time over at Sounds.
Yours Lovingly
Leslie Gower.
The following is a footnote attached to Leslies letter. It is assumed to be written by his father ?
“Leslie's number is 458 not 459. We received a cable from him on Sunday for a "fiver" [Five Pounds] he is
well. He asked me to send on to you any of his letters, which are at all descriptive as they get little, time to
write long letters. Please return”.
Note on rear of last page “Got the Christmas Cable thanks muchly “
Saturday 23 Jan 1915
Dear Mum & Dad,
Thanks for the letters, I get them pretty regularly now about every Wednesday a mail arrives, one week it’s an
English mail and the next it’s a NZ one. The reason is that on account of no business there are two
companies who run a boat each once a month thereby giving us a mail every fortnight.
I got a letter from George and one from Elsie last week and although its very nice to receive letters its
awkward when you remember that they are to be answered but I've sent PC's [Postcards] and letters to them
before so the will be missed this time.
If I can save up enough for a weekend cable I'll send for some money for a present for Cis & Rosie (and other
things) that's a nice way of putting it isn't it. Money goes very quickly here, things are reckoned to be cheap
here but I don't see it. The biggest hurdle to get over is the "Piastre" you see a thing labelled 1 Piastre and
think that its very cheap for 1 penny but at the end of the week you find out that you've been reckoning
Piastres as pennies instead of 2 & ½ pence all the time.
We had some live shell practice yesterday 10 rounds per gun. I had the post of honour on our gun Head?
Layer" and nearly got the "tar shaken out of me” as the saying is. I noticed "Tom Ray" in the N.Z. contingent
from home, he used to sail in the "Ruihi" when Jamieson's had her.
I'm sorry I was not home for Cis's wedding ‘cos well for dozens of reasons but never mind I'll be right there for
Tisserine's eh? Its hard luck Cis getting married isn't it ‘cos now I'll have to write a separate letter to her
whereas before I just had to write to "Dear all". You see I'm still as big a dodger as ever, this "sodgering”
[soldiering] doesn't break you of a habit like that it tends to bring out all the astuteness.
Last Saturday night we gave a small concert at the Egyptian State Railways. Institute (Rangiora Institute) at
which I sang a couple of songs which were encored (of course). In camp at the mess room concerts they call
out for the boy with the baby voice that me. I never knew before that I had such a gentle voice, in fact at home
I'd often been told just the reverse.
Just fancy little Litty being in the fifth standard, I can hardly believe it she must be quite a young lady now. If
so, I doubt very much whether I'll be back in time to see her married ‘cos she grows up so fast. Has she put
her hair up yet?
Cigarettes are about the cheapest things here. Melachrino 25 for 3Pt (7d) Abdullah 25 for 4Pt & Flag made by
W.D. & H.O. Wills 1Pt for 10. There are few or none "Three Castles” here and in Colombo it was the same.
"Scissors" were the brand in there made by Wills also, they'd need to be cheap ‘cos everyone here smokes
them to excess.
The latest craze here is vaccination, everyone has to be done. So far beyond a slight itchiness it has had no
effect upon me although there are dozens whom are in hosp. with it and as soon as we are over this lot
they're going to inoculate us for diphtheria I believe. So what with the dose we got on the boat and these lots
I think that if it is what it is reported to be I'll be O.K. eh? The only thing that they can't or won't cure here is
sore throat and cold which one has continuously here, ‘cos you come home wet through no time to change
even if you had the clothes then by the time that it is very cold like a Southerly morning in Wellington and just
as cold in the mornings until 9 o’clock so its very easy to catch a chill then for Stables 6-7 and 4-5 we are not
allowed to wear our tunics so unless you have a large tunic that will fit over jersey ? You don’t get time to put
one on.
We are having a half holiday today so Stabbs at 11-12 and I have dodged away to write this (mail closes at
1.30 Monday) and they’ve just finished feed for the horses and ours comes on next on sent so I must go now.
Best love to all specially that young rascal Litty From Leslie
Saturday 30th Jan. Egypt
Dear Mum,
Note at rear of letter Rec March 23
23-3-15
It seems rotten not to be able to tell you any news but that is unfortunately the case. We are not allowed to tell
anything of interest so of course our letters must be very dry. I got a letter from J Andrews last week inviting
me there, I will enclose it. I answered him tonight.
We did some more shooting the other day and after eight shots the four targets were invisible and the
trenches were filled with bullets, so it was fairly effective wasn't it eh?
Well there's nothing to say cept that the reinforcements have arrived an old chum from Newtown school
whom I've not seen since then and Jack Robinson are in there.
Love to all & Cis from Your loving Son Leslie
Friday 25th Febry ’15
Note at rear of letter Rec 6-4-15
Helmia Camp Egypt
Dear Everybody
Thank you very much for the paper of 15 Jan. It was quite a sight I can tell you to see a newspaper from NZ
especially the old “Post” that by the way was the only mail I received this time but I’ll get a bigger dose next
time I expect.
I cabled for 5 Pounds last week ‘cos I want to buy some few things and there is every prospect of our leaving
here soon in fact I expect that we’ll have shifted before you receive this so I’ll also want some money to start
with when we arrive at the second stage of our journey hence the cable.
So far we have had no replies to our first letters from Egypt or even those posted at Suez but they’ll all come
in good time I expect and I wouldn’t be a wee bit surprised if we were to move off before the next mail arrives.
We have a big Divisional day every Friday and today (I am on guard) the Battery has just moved off to
co-operate with the Australians against the forces just returning from the Canal. There were about 30 New
Zealanders who actually took part in the scrap down there and they were from Nelson way. Going by all
accounts there is a bonny hum (smell) down there and feet and hands sticking out of the sand and they say
it’s great and so it must be.
I'm sorry that I can't write more just now 'cos times so limited. If we don't get some sleep when we have our
watch, off we go to sleep when we're on and then what oh!
Aurevoir
Bestest love from Les.
Friday 12 Mar. Helmia Camp Egypt Note on rear of letter
Rec 20-4-15
Dearest Mum,
Thanks for your two letters one on 25th Jan and the other 1st Feb. There is not the slightest need for you to
worry yourself about me I'm O.K. (Orl Korrect) and weigh 12 stone 3 Ibs. I'll soon be up to up to you eh?
How's little "Mrs Lard" eh? I suppose the envelope that was not my writing was the Censors so that’s all right.
I didn't send you the wrong letter did I. Was it a very loving one.
Oh thanks for the money very much it came through the Defence people the best way in fact the only way
‘cos we might have shifted and then finish as the niggers say.
I'm afraid that word from me will be few and far between in future 'cos we're leaving here for a scrap next
week so the General has informed us.
Have just come in from a 15 mile trek walked from 7.15 am till 1.30 pm then from 2 till 3.30 then came home
and arrived here at 6 o'clock so am dead tired but fit allzesamey. [all the same?]
Bestest love to everybody from Lesilie.
Monday 14th Mar. Helmia Camp Eygpt Notes on rear 14-3-15
27-4 15 rec p.c 18.5.15
Dear Arthur
Thanks so much for your nice letter of 11th February, it was so characteristic of you. I'm so glad you've
started work, what do you think about it, do you like it, of course you won't just to start with but after awhile
when you've got the hang of the work you've got to do you'll enjoy it I'm sure. I'm so sorry that I can't write a
very long letter this time 'cos we're all busy getting ready to move away from here. One day last week we had
Reveille at 2.30am and started out at 3 o'clock. We went about 15 miles and then the battle started. We took
up five positions and then came home, started about 3 o’clock and arrived home about 6 o'clock so you see
we had a big day that day.
I got a letter from Cis today. I don't know what has happened this week we got a mail on Wednesday and one
on Sunday too so I'm blowed if I know what things are comin' to now-a-days.
Just fancy Harry's being engaged, you didn't tell me who the young lady is. In case I forget tell Cis that Don
Morris is here and wishes to be remembered to her. I was out last night with some boys to a musical evening
at an Egyptian doctor's place and met him there. There are a lot of people here called Coptic's, they are
Egyptians who are Christians and they nearly all speak English. It was very funny there. I had some
cigarettes, and on one side of the packet was Arabic writing and on the other English. So I was looking very
hard at the Arabic and one girl asked me if I could speak Arabic (Irita arif Araby) so I said (Anna arif Araby
musquits) I speak Arabic not well). So she asked me to read what was on the packet then I turned over the
packet and saw the English and so read the Arabic then of course they were quite surprised that I could read
as well as speak it. Good Gag eh? Bestest love to everybody
from Leslie
Great joke about May or Maj eh ?
Sunday 27th Mar. Helmia Camp, Eygpt. Notes on back 27-3-15
rec 27-4-15
Dear All
I write at you hoping you are well as it leaves me at present except for a plastered head the result of a kick. I
was going through the horse lines and one hard-case of a horse bumped me into another. The horse
resented this method of approaching her so she let fly with both her hinds, one got me in the ribs and the
other on the side of the ‘ed and sent me flying about three yards just like a comet. I believe it was very funny,
It's lucky how I escaped so lightly but as soon as I felt that she was going to kick I ran into her or rather fell
towards her 'cos I couldn’t possibly have got clear enough to miss it. Well the doctor reckoned that it saved
me - well never mind I had 3 days off on that account so I'm quite satisfied.
The Maoris arrived here at 9 o'clock on Friday night and the remainder of the troops have been coming in
dribs and drabs until today when the last arrived bringing 80 horses for our Brigade and a lot of roughies they
are too. About half of them have colds, some very bad, some more got strangles and the majority lampas? I
think that’s the way to spell it, they get lumps under the jaw and can't eat hard food very much like mumps.
We’ve be going away tomorrow for the last fortnight but have been prevented by a large French force arriving
at Alex and blocking things up generally at least so rumour has it. The latest rumour is that we're going to
Roumania (remain here) but we can't do that 'cos we'd all be dead with the heat you see we've not been
issued with drill khaki uniform and those units who have been detailed to stay have been.
We've got a hard case chaplain here. Bush King, one night he was running a concert here and in apologising
for the non-appearance of someone he started off "Ladies & Gentleman" which caused a roar but he put it off
by saying that there was at least one Lady here "Madam Rumour". Very good eh or as the niggers say, "Iuies
keteer". I'm sorry that I can't write any more at present but many happy returns to Arthur on his birthday and
to anyone else who is having or has had one this year.
Your loving son and brother
Leslie.
Undated note
Would you please send a pair of sox thick ones every month cos we can't buy thick woollen ones here
everything is either cotton or silk. Les.
25/1/15
The Infantry are (is) is leaving at 9 tomorrow for the canal in full war kit on account of a Camel Corps being
slathered up and a number being finished and so we expect our orders tonight. Anyhow you'll hear before this
reaches you. Love Les.
6/7/15
Dear All,
As you'll see I'm still alive very much so but of course you'll not be surprised at that 'cos you've heard that the
Turks can't shoot for nuts & although a few of us got hit it is only by the shell that came our way 'cos they don't
know where else to go if they're aimed at us well it’s exceptional bad shooting cos I don't suppose 5% of them
burst close enough to us to make it dangerous in fact by the way they send them over and shout they either
haven't seen us and are searching or else they've seen the flashes of the guns and it is a recognised thing
that its almost an impossibility to range a battery by that mans. We are the only Colonial troops here the
others of Brigade in fact everyone but out little battery are up at Anzac Cove a wee bit north of Gaba Tepe. I'm
sending a "Peninsular Press" our daily paper but I don't know whether the Censor will pass it or not it might be
valuable later on.
I have just had a few envelopes sent over. So am using them all up at once otherwise someone else will.
We are still getting pretty good tucker but its always the same old menu, now and again we start at the bottom
& go up for a change but it’s not the success it might be. I won't turn my nose up at bread pudding any more
and any other fads of mine have been lost, its either take what you are given or else. All the same its good
stuff here and the only complaint is - no green stuff or no change.
Best love to all
From your loving son
Leslie.
Dear All
How are you all keeping out in dear old N.Z. One wouldn't believe how dear a few dirty old streets & buildings
become to anyone until he is away from them. Things are very quiet here now (we haven't fired for five days,
this is the sixth). The canteen at the base has been closed & another: person is, I think, opening, the sooner
the better ‘cos I'm out of shaving soap & toothpaste and its too long to wait 2 or 3 days before shaving, well
just a wee bitty.
Would Mother please send some of my money to England to be kept for me by some of my relations, she will
know best which is the most suitable, nearest to (unknown location). If she would it is much nearer to me than
New Zealand. Egypt is only a fortnight away by post and that is where we'll go to I think unless France, so if
she would send it pretty soon & let me know in 3 consecutive letters who the addressee is there would be
more chance of letters reaching me. They sometimes go astray and it’s no wonder either. I've not much idea
of the value of money in England but it would be for amusements and small trips mainly I should judge of
course if the war should finish would get clothing etc to bring home but it would be no use to me now. I
suppose about £10 would do, you'd have a better notion than me so don't let that suggestion carry much
weight.
There is a chance of your having done something in this line already but dad will understand and know
exactly what it is I'd like. We've been getting just praise for our shooting and its only necessary to speak to the
infantry and you soon think you're a real marvel the way they open out. But of course that’s "non to do wid
me" its our O.C. We've just to do as we're told its all mechanical at our end. There's a good bit of dysentery
and diarrhoea going round the whole forces in fact its uncommon you are if you don't suffer the latter. I think
its all on account of the flies cos they're round you in myriads, you 'can't keep them off your food. A slice of
jam and bread is green with them in well before you've put it down and they'll often fly into your mouth after a
piece the Lord only knows where they've been previously. Then just below us on the beach there are 12 dead
horses within 3/4 mile to be buried. They're well blown up, look something like as if Litty’s been at them with
a bike pump and you can guess what the stink is like, worse than when you get Palliser to share a cask of
C.L.O. They have a party on to remove these horses but its not large enough, they have been there for 10
days at least. Apart from petty grievances of this sort, things are going very well & contentedly. One bit of fun,
an officer just arrived has gone through a list of first aid so he "taps" those who have "dia" & um's & ah's and
says "take that" (Brandy) everyone's sick.
13/7/15
Have just received Mum's 3 letters 11-27/5 & 4/6/15 and Arthur's 17/5 also Auckland Weekly also two
parcels, sox and Mo-Jo and “by gum its good, quite the bestest I've even tasted”. I was just going to write and
ask you to send some along occasionally just for a change. We had a big scrap here a couple of days ago
and the infantry did well all along the line we had some pretty close shaves too "high xplozif" and the scrub
about 100 yards in front of us was set afire what oh! We were firing at intervals of 20 seconds then the fire
became so bad that the left section had to stop so that meant twice as much for us to fire. However we kept
on until it got too ‘ot and then we had to take what scrub was still left off the vehicles and put the fire out. In the
end ours was the only gun that was really affected, one wagon being burnt pretty badly (had to be replaced
that night and a good quantity of stores lost. It’s great fun trying to put the fire out and shrapnel and "xplosif"
still comin’ over strong, its something worth doing, you get so engrossed that you don't think of the risk.
Anyhow the gun was in action very shortly afterwards and is still going strong. The only gun in the Battery by
the way that hasn't been overhauled at the base absolutely OK sweet as a nut. I was just having a boscar
feed of steak and onions fried by myself, we get fresh meat for that use about once a week, well it was just
cooked when the mail came - result cold feed - but it was good all the same. I forgot to say that I'd received 2
Posts and a Dominion. Is the I.H. Anderson in the casualty lists the one who used to cake- walk behind the
counter, ask Cis?
Bestest love to all specially that hard case Litty
Leslie.
Post Card from Leslie from Gallipoli dated 9-5-1915
Dear Mum
Ashore 5 days before Arts’ birthday late at night shrapnel bursting all round us now but very few near enough
to hit. No casualties in Battery yet. No rain sun all the time good tucker – bacon, bully, biscuits and jam. Had
swim today in sea? Don’t be alarmed at no letters OK. Getting good at gymnastics ducking into trenches
when we hear a specially wicked whizz. Aeroplane flights ten times daily for the special benefit of troops,
good fun here after the first day or two. Best love to all. Tell George and Sis also. Ask George for stuff to put
in water bottle to make water fit for drinking. Water very suspicious? Dysentery likely.
Your loving son Leslie
Post Card from Leslie from Gallipoli dated 29-5-1915
Dear All
Living well here, bacon once a week, 2-oz rum, 1/8 pt [pint] twice a week, still plenty of food & good stuff
Very hot here all the time
Best love to all
Leslie
Post Card from Leslie from Gallipoli dated 26-5-1915
Dear Mum
Everything OK. Got my safe position: good food & plenty only wet twice bit xciting at times
Love to all
Loving son
Leslie
Post Card from Leslie from Gallipoli dated 4-6-1915
Dear All
Still having a fair time had to go way up forward with a telephone wire last night rotten job coming back is the
worst in the dark the Turks were expecting something I think. Anyhow we’d run for about a hundred yards and
then they started so we had to duck for about half an hour it was rotten while it lasted but now it seems like
good fun. Food still very good and good weather. I swim in the sea every day.
Best love to all, Cis and George
From Les
Post Card from Leslie from Gallipoli dated 11-6-1915
Dear All
Thanks for the mail, sox and? Paper. Still having a fair time here the only trouble is jam, one tin for four days
and it generally goes in one or two meals, get bread every day now about 6 or 8 oz a day good stuff too. Sorry
you’ve got rheumatics so badly I had it in left shoulder one night and it gave me a fit but it is OK now.
Best love to all
From Les
Post Card from Leslie from Gallipoli dated 23-6-1915
Dear All
Thanks for yours of 5/5 received last night also paper of 5th containing supplementary casualties list would
like you to send all NZ casualty lists across because we only hear of casualties that occur in our own Battery.
Heard that George was anticipating a move to Westport or that locality, from a Westport girl but have had no
word from him for quite a while. Got a letter from Harry last night and one from Elsie two mails ago but no
word of it then. Still getting good rations bread, biscuits, jam and bacon (one slice per man per day) but it’s
good. Nothing much just at present, trench bombarded two days ago for about 10 hours it was a great sight.
I went forward for three days not long ago and the first night the Turks sent in a lot of Jack Johnsons. It seems
that each Army goes mad for a while at times and kicks up a roar of smoke and dust sometimes with success
sometimes otherwise but when it’s only an unlucky shot that gets one and so we’ve been lucky in the extreme
here. Witnessed an aerial scrap.
Les.
Post Card from Leslie from Gallipoli dated 2-Jul-1915
Dear George
All OK here, good weather and food and plenty of it. Good time here except at nights when the bullets come
over in hundreds at times
Best love to all
Les
The following news item is an extract from the Peninsula Press of May 19 1915 which Leslie sent home to his
parents. He added his own little note to this extract, which pointed out, was referring to Anzac Cove, North of
Gaba Tepe.
PENINSULA PRESS.
No. 7.
19, 1915
Wednesday, May
Official News.
Turkish Attack on the Australians.
Last night and this morning two determined attacks were made on the Australian position. The first attack
began at midnight and was easily repulsed; The second started at three in the in the morning and continued
until 10 am, and was strongly pressed with heavy rifle and machine gun fire, supported by guns of every
calibre from 9.2 downwards,
General Liman von Sanders, the German leader personally directed tile operations for which two fresh
divisions, numbering from 15,000 to 20,0000 men had been brought from Constantinople. These troops are
dressed in light uniforms, which seems to suggest that the supply of khaki is exhausted.
Both attacks failed, though the Turks displayed great bravery and determination advancing in masses to be
mowed down by our fire. After the last assault had failed the enemy kept up an incessant musketry fire all day
but did no damage.
Daylight showed the Turkish dead lying in heaps in front of our trenches. In one spot eight acres were
covered with them and the dead alone can safely be put down as no fewer than 2000. Including wounded the
enemy’s losses must exceed 7,000. Our men are very pleased with the nights work and only hope the Turks
may come on again and that General Liman von Sanders may direct their attack.