193
R.D. Doughty
2nd Battery AFA
1st Brigade
1st Division
From 22 Nov 1915
ANZAC
22nd November 1915
Rained heavily last night. Thanks to someone we didn't go down to the Beach for loading purposes. Bitterly cold today. Been muffled up like a Polar Bear. Today all NCOs went across to A69 5 inch Howitzer Battery for instruction. Find the guns very simple, much more than the Eighteens! Our Battery is taking over similar guns. Awaiting their arrival. 'Beachy' paid us his compliments again. Awfully interfering chap. Stormy night.
23rd November 1915
Along Howitzer Bty again today. 'Beachy' spotted us while coming back and started interfering, also a sniper had his little say. Got a couple of mules but didn't get us of course. Bitterly cold again. Short rationed in everything. Haven't had a wash for 4 days. Played 500 at night. A bit of hate landed at 8 pm but died down about an hour later.
24th November 1915
Party went down to complete loading operations at beach late last night. Forgot to call me. Didn't reprimand them of course. Had another visit to that A69 both this morning and afternoon. Beachy waits for our party now seemingly. We had to take cover twice going round by the beach. Capt Callaghan DCO (our old Captain) at the Bty today. Won't be long before we get our guns now.
25th November 1915
Bitterly cold again. Working party out again last night. Got back some unearthly hour this morning but saw nothing of our Howitzers. Beachy still busy on the beach. Last night 5 Turks managed to get through our lines, but were met in Monash Gully by some of the lads. The Turks, not the 'lads', went west.
Written on the back of the photo -
"The first fall of snow at "Anzac" Sat. evening and. Sunday Nov 27th 1915. This is one of the eighteen pounder guns with which our Australian Artillery is equipped. The temp was 12 deg below freezing point. Note the wire netting with brushes on top to hide the gun from enemy aircraft. Sid"
26th November 1915
Slightly warmer today, although plenty of room for improvement. Round at A69 all day. Saw some of the Turkish Batteries trying to get some of the destroyers and trawlers, also an aeroplane or two, also got introduced to a sniper who nearly scored 2 hits I know about. Our gully got shelled in it's turn at Dinner time. Saw most amusing incident but can't put it down here. Visited a 4.7 on the right flank later. Raining.
27th November 1915
Raining and quite cold enough for snow. Along at A69 all day. Sea very rough and things looking very black in general. Horribly short rationed with food and water. Too rough for boats to get close enough in for the use of lighters. Can't expect our guns to arrive in this weather. Bunk at 5.30.
28th November 1915
Snowing hard. Started last night at 11 pm and still snowing 6 pm. Cold as Charity with a 30 m.p.h. wind whisking the spindrift about. Lovely sight from my dug out. Everything is perfectly white. But gee, isn't it hot. This afternoon got issued with McIntosh's warm underclothing. Don't half need them either. Managed to pinch some Quaker Oats and had porridge for supper. Wrote Linda. Bunk 9 pm.
29th November 1915
Stopped snowing, but absolutely raw. Tired of being an Eskimo so crawled out into it. From 10 till 2 the Turks have been bombarding out trenches positions, one shell, a 5.9 HE has just lobbed into Shaw's dug out just above me, but didn't explode. He is only bruised. Johnston wounded with shrapnel. Sorry to report that Lt Dixon (Jim) badly wounded. The heaviest bombardment the Turks have given us for months. Sent over 8.2 HE Howitzers. Smashed Lone Pine about. Casualties very heavy on our side. Expecting an attack tonight.
30th November 1915
Contrary to expectations, the Turks never attacked last night. Just an occasional shell lobbed by them and our own reply with Howitzer fire. Saw Jim today, looking very seedy on it, but as 'cheery' as of yore. This afternoon the Lord Nelson and several cruisers and destroyers came up and loosed 'Hell' round the point. At present things are perfectly quiet. Not a gun firing anywhere. Believe the final dash for the Narrows to be made within the next few days. Bitterly cold.
1st December 1915
Heavy frost last night. Turks again bombarded Lone Pine, but stopped after about two hour's flutter. Marching orders came late tonight. Have just got one party away for Lemnos to pick up guns and ammunition there. Expect to go over tomorrow. Rumoured on good authority that we go from there to Embros. Hope so.
2nd December 1915
Busy packing up all day. Beachy still busy. Expect to leave tonight.
Back at Embros Island
3rd December 1915
Disappointed last night. Still at Anzac awaiting transport. Supposed to leave at minute's notice. LATER. Got orders to leave camp at 9.30. Walked via Walker's Ridge to beach. Got on board a semi-trawler and left at 12.30. Arrived at Embros 5.30. Camped in tents again.
4th December 1915
Spent practically the whole day eating and I am still hungry. Awaiting General Birdwood's return from Cape. Don't know where we are off to yet. Guns and first party on board the Queen Louise. Saw Mr Selmes today. Looking OK. Quite a novel experience not to have to dodge shells or bombs. Plenty of Turks prisoners. Also an aeroplane.
5th December 1915
Still no news as regards shifting from here, so filling in time doing the next best thing to fighting - eating. Delany and myself got permission off DSO to visit the RNAS's aerodrome. Had about 3 ½ hours there this afternoon. Tried to go for a 'rise' but struck hard luck. Having another try tomorrow. Very interesting afternoon.
Walkers Ridge leading down to 'W' Beach
6th December 1915
Missed fire again as regarding having a trip in an aeroplane, the day being rather rough. Had a look around the beach which is strewn with small wrecks, due to the stormy weather of late. Had a good view of the battleships shelling Achi Baba and Anzac. Visited QMS Tabbs, along with Golding at night. Orders in for reveille at 5 am tomorrow. Leaving for Sarpi Camp, Nudros West.
7th December 1915
Couldn't get away today, so made the best of things and kicked around generally. Rec orders for embarkation tomorrow morning at 7.
Onto Lemnos Island
8th December 1915
On board TBD 'Chelmer' heading for Lemnos. Have just got word of hostile aeroplane about. The gunners are on their guns already. Later hour appearance of aeroplane. Arrived at Lemnos and pulled alongside SS Arregon and ordered to Nudros W. Arrived at Camp at 8 pm. Great trip across.
9th December 1915
Getting settled here at our old position. Visited Sonpi this afternoon along with Delany and a chap of the Chelmer. Our party off H supposed to land tonight.
10th December 1915
Guns landed OK also rest of party with the exception of Bradwell and 2 others who are guarding the ammunition. Visited dental hospital later. Saw Golding at No 3 AGH. 500 at night.
11th December 1915
Rebuilding tents etc. Villageing this afternoon and watching football match.
12th December 1915
Getting settled down to Camp life again. Start training tomorrow.
13th December 1915
Camp and training routine similar to Egypt with the exception of having horses. A great number of our troops have been arriving here for the past 24 hours. Nothing definite known but fancy there's a big move somewhere. Glorious weather nowadays. Hear Chas will be over in a day or so.