2
as up hill then they among were
bombarding our trenches.
The evacuation itself was
carried out without a hitch but
we can thank God for the weather,
which was absolutely perfect for our
plans. Ever since the snow, and the
freezing wind which followed it, we
have had calm warm days and
nights, with lately a moon approaching
her full but very often a mist
filling the atmosphere.
I know for certain what was to
be done four days before, and was
at first told I was to be among
the last party to leave. The night
following that news I certainly felt
excited and nervous, but I was
all right after that till Saturday night
when the first big party left. I
think everyone felt the strain a
bit then, just as the party was
going off, and for about half an
hour afterwards, after that we felt
quite all right.
It was changed later on On Sunday night the rest of
the regiment left, and was divided
S.S "ANCHISES"
22.12.15
THE BLUE FUNNEL LINE
My Dear Mother
As I expect you
know by now Anzac ^& Suvla have been
evacuated without a casualty. A
few guns were left behind, but they
were all old and were of course were
blown up before being deserted; most
of the the stores were burnt in an
accidental fire a couple of nights
before; a fire which ∧we were very
frightened might give the show away
to the Turks, but which I think
they must have thought was set
alight by their shells. The rest of
the supplies were to be shelled
by our own boats when the enemy
discovered we were gone, which
they did not do, till two o'clock
the next afternoon at any rate,
Certum Pete Finem
The Blue Funnel Line. S.S. “Anchises.”
22.12.15
My Dear Mother
As I expect you
know by now, Anzac & Suvla have been
evacuated without a casualty. A
few guns were left behind, but they
were all old and of course were
blown up before being deserted; most
of the stores were burnt in an
accidental fire a couple of nights
before; a fire which we were very
frightened might give the show away
to the Turks, but which I think
they must have thought was set
alight by their shells. The rest of
the supplies were to be shelled
by our boats when the enemy
discovered we were gone, which
they did not do, till two o’clock
the next afternoon at any rate,
-7-
my account certainly sounded like a splendid success, very
different from what it really was. The guns too, which we
captured were not 4.2, as it said in the first bulletin we
received, but about 10 pounders, that is according to Snow,
who helped to capture them. However I am going to copy
a message out to send you, which gives us a pat on the back:-
“I wish to thank you personally for the very fine work
accomplished by the division under your command in the action
on 26th, and especially for the skilful way in which you
withdrew the Cavalry in the dark after their long day’s work
against the enemy.
Will you express to all ranks under your command my
admiration for their splendid behaviour before the enemy. It
was no light task to delay the advance of greatly superior
hostile forces throughout the whole day on a front of nearly
twelve miles and at the same time be able to put in a strong
attack by two Brigades to assist the Infantry in the attack on
Gaza. Two hours more daylight would have enabled the Cavalry
to finish the job and it must have been most disheartening to
your men after such a fine effort to have the prize snatched
from their grip by darkness. The harder the task I give to the
Mounted Troops of the Desert Column, the better they carry
it out and no man could wish to command finer troops.”
To-day is Good Friday, but I have not been to Church,
and we have had a painful day- an arms and saddlery inspection
by our Divisional Commander with all that that carries with it.
…. We received our extra kit yesterday, I am glad to say,
so have a bivvy once more and eating utensils. They can quite
easily be done without, but it is very nice to get them. …….
…….
3
into three parties A, B and C. Each
of these was again divided into three
leaving a quarter of an hour after one
another. I was changed from the C
party to B 3 which left at ten past
ten. The A party left about six, B
at about ten, and C about two thirty in
next morning. Three officers and 27 men
were in this last party for the regiment.
The moon in the early part
of that night had a perfect rainbow
round it, but this afterwards disappeared.
It was bright moonlight marching
down, and very impressive seeing
parties coming from all directions
in silence, with padded feet to
deaden any sound, and all making
for their appointed places to the
tick of time. Then out at sea
the transports lay at anchor, with
boats plying busily backwards and
forwards to the shore and the
brilliantly lighted hospital boats
in deep contrast to the others, dark
which were without a light.
You will probably hear wild
rumours of men left behind,
4
but one case of a 13th Battalion
man is true. He was a sentry in
a tunnel and fell asleep; he
woke with a pain in the tummy
(only too common at Anzac), and on
going out found the trenches
deserted. He raced for the beach, and
arrived without rifle or pack in time
for one of the last boats. The tale
he now tells himself is a very
different addition, and much more
heroic, but I think this is right.
As to the evacuation itself, I
think it was a great move, since
it has been done successfully, as
the men suffered cruelly in the cold,
which we had. The Australians and
New Zealanders certainly had a
good many cases of frost bite, and
some of my toes haven’t got their
circulation back yet, but it was
the Tommies at Suvla who lost.
I don’t know the figures at all,
but hundreds died and up the
number ran up to thousands who
were sent away owing to the
exposure. This was partly due to
6
and sent out meant that we
did not get the full advantage of
them.
We arrived in Lemnos harbour
early Monday morning, and after
several changes were put on this
boat, and sailed Tuesday afternoon.
It was rather funny, as some
Tommies came on board that
afternoon, and as usual their officers
had tons of kit. We were all
jeering at the gang of men
carting up huge valises , bundles of
swords, tent chairs and "different things,
and wondering if they would get
them on in time. They didn’t
manage to do so however, and
the captain had the gangway
hauled up leaving a good bit of
of baggage and some men behind.
After all we only reached
the mouth of the harbour that
night, owing to an accident.
We just missed running into
Certum Pete Finem
THE BLUE FUNNEL LINE S.S “Anchises”
5
the nature of the country, and
partly that there are such a
lot of city men among them.
I am afraid the Australians
haven’t much of an opinion of
a Tommy now. It is a pity but
we have only seen second rate
regiments, and the Australian
seems much quicker at inventing
things, which are useful for trench
warfare. The English fought in
France nine months before the
Australians began, yet the later
weren’t at the front a month, before
they invented the periscope rifle
a thing, which has been invaluable
to us, and which the enemy
has not yet been able to make
successfully. They have too invented
a good many other things, but the
time it took to get them made
7
a large boat, which steamed
across our bows by stopping dead
and putting down our anchor. Then
when we tried to sail again
the wind caught us, owing to
our having no way on, and we
had to make for a channel
between two rows of boats at
anchor. A smaller boat however
was coming up behind, and
being unable to turn aside
owing to these boats had
nothing left to do, but run
into us. She only broke one of
our life boats and some railings
though, as well as her own bow,
and after that we anchored for
the night setting forth this morning.
I have forgotten to tell you
that a Austrian battery of
12.1” guns began to fire on us
on Saturday evening, and for
which we had been preparing
by digging funk holes. It I
believe gave Lone Pine a
8
great doing all Monday morning
after everyone had left! Shells of
that size are rather expensive
too.
Also to show you how we were
favoured by the weather; on Tuesday
morning it blew a gale from
the South, which made embarking
impossible at Anzac and Suvla,
so we only got off with one day
to spare.
Christmas morning and we have
just taken the pilot on board to
go into Alexandria and feeling
very pleased that we have escaped
the submarines. The sun is just
rising over the city in a yellow
Eastern sky, which is very pretty, so
I think I shall go up on deck
to look at it. I must try to
send a cable as soon as possible
to wish you a joyful Xmas. and
let you know that we are back
in Egypt once more.
I am
Your affectionate son
Nat D Barton.
EXTRACTS FROM THE LETTERS OF MAJOR NATHANIEL DUNBAR BARTON.
7th Light Horse Regiment, A.I.F
Grazier; of Wellington, N.S.W.; born Wellington, 5th June,
1894; appointed a 2/lieutenant in the 7th L.H. on 20/11/14;
promoted lieutenant 1/5/15. temporary captain 15/10/15;
captain 12/3/16; major 8/9/16; appointment terminated 27/11/18.
………………………………………………………………
6/8/16.
…..
We got back to camp about 11 pm. on the night of the
3rd after being out since 1 am. in the morning, and in touch
with the Turks. Then we were called out again at 1.15 am. on
the morning of the 4th to the sounds of shots exchanged between
the 1st L.H. Bgde and the enemy. After getting things ready we
turned in again about 2.30 am. then up and into it at 4 am.
We advanced about ¾ of a mile from the camp, then the men lined
a ridge. They had to advance about 400 yds from there on to
another ridge to support the 1st Bdge. Meanwhile our led
horses were being shelled with shrapnel and high explosive and
it was very funny to see them put their tails down when a shell
burst just behind them. The led horses were then taken on to
be nearer the firing line and the 1st Bdg. retreated through us.
Colonel Onslow did splendidly. He led the men on to
the ridge, 50 yds ahead of anyone and the regiment held it under
shrapnel from the front, and machine gun fire from three sides,
till all the 1st Bdg. were clear.
We then retired to a ridge and rallied there for
a time and in the retirement from there a wrong order came
from someone that the men were to go back on foot. I let one
troop go mounted then got the order direct from Sutton, so took
the rest of the horses back without riders, then had to return
with them again as the men were about knocked up. We held that
ridge all day, our left flank being held by the infantry in
-2-
their redoubts, which they have had thousands of natives
digging for the last two months.
Col. Boyston is splendid/ They call him galloping Jack
but everyone swears by him now. He had this brigade well
under control, knows when to push and pushes hard. Our men
brought back all the wounded under heavy fire on tired horses,
no matter how badly wounded they were, and did not seem to mind
even machine gun fire. It is said 15,000 Turks attacked our 2
Brigades at that time. During the day we linked up with the
N.Z. Brigade, 3rd Bdg. and Yeomanry Bdg. We were heavily
shelled where some of C Sqdn. and some of B Sqdn were in the
afternoon, and Cossack got a shrapnel pellet in the off flank
and is now in the Mobile Section. Before this, while I was on
him a spent bullet hit the front of one of the panels of my
saddle and was stopped by a piece of iron from entering him,
so he had a narrow squeak.
At four o’clock next morning, the 5th, the whole line
advanced in a bayonet charge. Colonel Onslow was hit at close
quarters by a bullet which went between the bone of his thigh
and femoral artery. I forgot to mention Major Windeyer was
hit the morning before so Sutton now has the regiment. The C.O.
and Windeyer are both doing well, and the former is expected
back in about 10 weeks, it is doubtful about the latter.
The Wellington (N.Z’s) and the 7th captured about
1000 prisoners and 7 machine guns, the prisoners including
about 7 Germans I know of. We then advanced, mounted. The
Brigadier, who was hit the afternoon before in the leg was
not allowed to come. This Bdg. went right forward, the N.Z.
leading the 7th on the right. The N.Zs did splendid work and
if they had anyone to support them could have taken Qatia
and routed the army, I think. We captured a Field Ambulance
entire camal and all and an ammunition column with about 400,000
rounds of ammunition. We managed to water our horses there, got
-3-
some dates, dried apricots and wheat for ourselves, which
just about saved us and waited for the remainder of the Div.
If only our Brig. Boyston had been there I think we could have
routed the remainder but Col. Meldrum of the Wellington Regt.
could get no-one to support him and in the end we had to wait
till 2.15 pm. before attacking Qatia. By that time the Turks
had brought up fresh men and the whole Division could not
shift them.
We were again terribly lucky with our led horses, hardly
any of them being hit, all the shelling going too far. It almost
seemed as if we had a special protection from Heaven. The
Yeomanry on our left, the first we have seen of them since they
cut up in April when they fled for their lives, let us down
again. They are the limit. The attack having failed we
returned to camp at 7 pm reaching here at about 10 pm.This
squadron had 1 killed, 3 died of wounds, and 12 wounded. Cpl.
Curran, who was brought out under escort for his trial was the
one killed while rescuing wounded. This regiment had 6 killed,
3 died of wounds, 47 wounded, I think the 6th having practically
the same. Our horses faired better than most, the 6th and several
of the other Brigades not getting water for theirs for 48 hours.
…….
We are resting today and the infantry have taken Qatia
without a shot and have advanced towards Oghratina. So far,
but for them holding the left flank and drawing the fire of
the Turks 6 in. gun, it had been a Light Horse Battle. ……
The Tommy Infantry here is a bit worse even than the
Yeomanry, or rather some of it the Scotch element is good,
a lot of the others get so scared when they see us returning
at night that they become speechless. We only had four guns
to support our attack on Qatia yesterday; they had very little
ammunition and were practically useless though they were
-4-
magnificent targets. The order of the Yeomanry yesterday
was “Retire on Romani, every man for himself.” We retired
half an hour later without fresh casualties and I believe the
Turks must have retired pretty well simultaneously with us.
Our burying party today brought in 4 mountain guns and 2 more
M.G’s which were captured by the N.Zs. We have lost some of
our best men, which must be expected, but it is very sad. Cpl.
Curran was killed and L/Cpl. Bell, Daden, and Dunkinson died
of wounds in this squadron, Bell died this afternoon. …
………………………………..
29th March, 1917.
….
….We had reveille at quarter to one on Sunday morning
and marched most of Sunday. Then that night we were up at one
and marched round to the N.E. of Gaza, this regiment being the
advance guard, A Sqdn. doing the screen. The first excitement
we had was watching some of the men in the latter squadron
spurring their horses and riding hell for leather after some
garries which they just managed to catch. After that they
missed a glorious chance of getting two Taubes- the men saw
them down on the plain, while they were on the top of a steep
bank, but seeing them from above like that they could not be
sure they were nots ours and did not dare to fire, and by the
time the officer had come up they had got a move on, and their
shots missed.
Next they recaptured two of the Brigadier’s horses which
had got away from his groom and galloped along the road towards
Gaza. Some Turks caught and tied them up but our fellors coming
along collared the lot.
The next chase was after bigger game - the general in
command of the 53rd Turkish Division and his staff who were, I
-5-
believe, in command when Gen. Townsend was captured. The lads
caught the General and most of his staff but one of his Staff
officers had too fast a horse and escaped.
We were not sent in to help the Infantry till pretty late
in the afternoon then one of my troops got a bit astray
in the huge cactus plantation we had to pass through. They
got in among our friends, the New Zealanders, and with them
captured two 4.2 Austrian guns and had some almost hand to hand
fighting on the outskirts of Gaza.
The remainder of us did not have such an exciting time
as the Turks gave themselves up pretty easily and especially
after it became dark. Still the regiment had an enormous
frontage to cover, and we, with most of the others in the
division, had to cut our way through cactus hedges four to six
feet high and from ten to fifty yards apart. That night we
were withdrawn much to our disgust, as we were right to the
town. This opened the door to reinforcements and next day the
infantry had to retire.
We were wishing the 3rd or 1st Bdg. had been with our division
instead of the Yeo-manry, who have by no means risen
in our eyes. Still I am thankful to think that this Brigade
and this Regiment came out with credit.
In our withdrawal we marched the whole night long owing to
faulty guiding, with scarcely a stop, and as it was the third
pretty strenuous night, we were very tired. Up till now I have
thought being sleepy on horse back was about the most painful
thing imaginable, but that night I slept going along quite
comfortably, and as nearly everyone did the same, there was a
bit of a jumble up of units. Since then we have not done
much, but today, the 31st, is the first quiet one we have had
and last night the first full night.
-6-
We are now bivouaced between a fresh water lake and the
sea, so are fairly revelling in it.
One Wellingtonian, last Monday, captured a chair while
going though one of the houses and carrying it along with him,
sat on it to fire through the cactus, and it also helped him
to get through the hedges.
Some others captured a lorry with four horses, and rode
down on it till things became too warm. This regiment captured
150 of the enemy altogether, out of about 700 taken by the
whole force, and the Colonel is very pleased with things in
general, but we are all chewing our cud and filled with thoughts
of what might have been, if only ……………
The two men who actually captured the general were Birchell
and Price, the latter was a mate of Brian’s on the voyage over
this last time, and the prisoner told the Brigadier that he
would rather have been shot than laughed at in the way they
laughed at him. What all set them going I am told was that they
offered him “Half a Mo” cigarette, our worst issue and seeing
a General smoking this tickled them immensely.
It is now the 3rd, and we spent a very enjoyable Sunday
yesterday. I went to early morning service and thenagain
to church Parade in the evening. Our Padre is delicate, can’t
preach for sour tarts, and his voice cracks every second word,
but he is sincere, which covers everything, and consequently
we all like him, and rejoice in having him with us. ……….
………………………………
6/4/17.
….
I am afraid my last letter was more misleading to you
than any newspaper, as you expect my reports to be true, and
