A diary by a soldier

A diary by a solider 

 April 25 

 1915 We landed on the Turkish soil under the horrific fire from enemy trenches. The Battalions lost 17 Soldiers and 200 Soldiers were wounded. I lay in the open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. and I did not get a scratch. We dug all night long. The snipers were going all night. 

April 26

 1915 9 .a.m. The Soldiers ordered to attack and take a village held by a enemy snipers. Village taken about 11 a.m. -casualties on our side slight. 11.30 a.m: Same regiments ordered to take a strongly held  redoubt about 500 yards south of the village, which was completed about 3 .p.m. - the trenches being taken at the point of the bayonet. The Dubs were first to charge from about 200 yards from the trenches. The Turks did not wait, and when the Soldiers got to the trenches we found a German officer and six Turks who gave in. Sergeant Major Bennet was killed leading his Coy [company]. He was buried where he fell by a party of X Coy, and I put a rough cross on his grave with a small inscription.

April 28

 1915 General advance ordered, we were detailed for Supports. About 11am, word came back for us. Started to join firing line but Coy Officer, myself and five men got cut off from remainder of Coy. Met a Coy of Lancs Fus and joined them. Advanced over fire-swept ground, bullets hopping all around, my luck must have been in. Got within 600 yards of enemy trench, could not see any of them, but blazed away into their trenches. Hope I accounted for some of them. Dug in that night but were not attacked. Did not have a wash since 24/4/15 but managed to change my socks tonight.

May 1

About 5 .p.m. enemy started a heavy shrapnel fire on our trenches. Three of us were having some tea in rear of our trench when one of them burst overhead and a splinter struck the ground about a foot away from me. 9  .p.m. they started an attack: I am sure I will never forget that night as long as I live. They crept right up to our trenches (they were in thousands) and they made the night hideous with yells and shouting Allah, Allah. We could not help mowing them down. Some of them broke through in a part of our line but they never again got back as they were caught between the two lines of trenches. Some of the best men in the Regiment killed. When the Turks got to close quarters the devils used hand grenades and you could only recognise our dead by their identity discs.

Link to website I used