Five Months at Anzac | Page 7

seemed damnable that it should be in the power of
one man, even if be he the German Emperor, to decree that all these
men should be mutilated or killed. The great majority were just coming
into manhood with all their life before them. The stoicism and fortitude
with which they bore their pain was truly remarkable. Every one of
them was cheery and optimistic; there was not a murmur; the only
requests were for a cigarette or a drink of water. One felt very proud of
these Australians, each waiting his turn to be dressed without
complaining. It really quite unnerved me for a time. However, it was no
time to allow the sentimental side of one's nature to come uppermost.

I watched the pinnaces towing the barges in. Each pinnace belonged to
a warship and was in charge of a midshipman--dubbed by his
shipmates a "snotty." This name originates from the days of Trafalgar.
The little chaps appear to have suffered from chronic colds in the head,
with the usual accompaniment of a copious flow from the nasal organs.
Before addressing an officer the boys would clean their faces by
drawing the sleeve of their jacket across the nose; and, I understand that
this practice so incensed Lord Nelson that he ordered three brass
buttons to be sewn on the wristbands of the boys' jackets. However, this
is by the way. These boys, of all ages from 14 to 16, were steering their
pinnaces with supreme indifference to the shrapnel falling about,
disdaining any cover and as cool as if there was no such thing as war. I
spoke to one, remarking that they were having a great time. He was a
bright, chubby, sunny-faced little chap, and with a smile said: "Isn't it
beautiful, sir? When we started, there were sixteen of us, and now there
are only six!" This is the class of man they make officers out of in
Britain's navy, and while this is so there need be no fear of the result of
any encounter with the Germans.
Another boy, bringing a barge full of men ashore, directed them to lie
down and take all the cover they could, he meanwhile steering the
pinnace and standing quite unconcernedly with one foot on the boat's
rail.

AT WORK ON THE PENINSULA
Casualties began to come in pretty freely, so that our tent was soon
filled. We now commenced making dug-outs in the side of the gully
and placing the men in these. Meantime stores of all kinds were being
accumulated on the beach--stacks of biscuits, cheese and preserved
beef, all of the best. One particular kind of biscuit, known as the
"forty-niners," had forty-nine holes in it, was believed to take
forty-nine years to bake, and needed forty-nine chews to a bite. But
there were also beautiful hams and preserved vegetables, and with these
and a tube of Oxo a very palatable soup could be prepared. A
well-known firm in England puts up a tin which they term an Army

Ration, consisting of meat and vegetables, nicely seasoned and very
palatable. For a time this ration was eagerly looked for and appreciated,
but later on, when the men began to get stale, it did not agree with them
so well; it appeared to be too rich for many of us. We had plenty of jam,
of a kind--one kind. Oh! how we used to revile the maker of "Damson
and Apple'!" The damson coloured it, and whatever they used for apple
gave it body.
One thing was good all the time, and that was the tea. The brand never
wavered, and the flavour was always full. Maynard could always make
a good cup of it. It has been already mentioned that water was not at
first available on shore. This was soon overcome, thanks to the Navy.
They convoyed water barges from somewhere, which they placed along
shore; the water was then pumped into our water carts, and the men
filled their water-bottles from them. The water, however, never
appeared to quench our thirst. It was always better made up into tea, or
taken with lime juice when we could get it.
Tobacco, cigarettes and matches were on issue, but the tobacco was of
too light a brand for me, so that Walkley used to trade off my share of
the pernicious weed for matches. The latter became a precious
commodity. I have seen three men light their pipes from one match.
Captain Welch was very independent; he had a burning glass, and
obtained his light from the sun. After a few days the R.M.L.I. were
ordered away, and we were directed to take up their position on the
beach. A place for operating was prepared by putting sandbags at either
end, the roof being