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DIARY RECORD OF LIEUTENANT/QUARTERMASTER GEORGE CLARIDGE

1st /5th BATTALION ROYAL WELSH FUSILIERS

GALLIOPOLI 1915

1915

8th Aug. Sunday

Embarked at Lemnos island on S.S. 'Rowan' en-route for Embros at 9.30 a.m.

Arrived Embros about 5.30 p.m. passed Cape Helles etc en-route. Stayed in

harbour. Slept in deck chair.

9th Aug

Left Embros about 3.30 a.m. Arrived SULVA BAY Gallipoli at about 4.30 a.m.

Disembarked in small boats. Battalion was ordered to go on to Lala Baba.

Drew rations. Cooks made tea. Started issuing rations, digging latrines etc.

all suspended for a time owing to enemy shelling us. 7th Battn, had a

couple of men hit only. Battalions first time under fire of any sort- men

could not quite understand the importance of lying down at first but soon

did so when they knew they were being shelled. All were remarkably cool-

Self, Head and Borthwick stayed very close together under a little cover

until shelling finished.

Battn. ordered to move behind highest point of Lala Baba (a very large

hill) in fighting order- packs left behind- also cooks myself and a few

others- cooks sent for. I went with them took all our tackle except picks

Battalion made soup etc. Colonel (Basil E. Phillips, Mold) not well- has

not recovered from diarrhoea contracted at Lemnos- looks very poorly. C.O.

received orders that Battalion, would take part in fighting next day also

ordered to report to Brigade H.Q. at 4 a.m. on the 10th. C.O. had a rough

bed made for myself, Head, Borthwick and myself.

10th Aug

C.O. still unwell on rising, said he had not slept at all- insects

crawling all over his face all night. I advised him to see a doctor and not

to go with Battn. falling in he called me aside and said "Claridge,

if anything happens to me send my pocket book and diary home- they will be

in my jacket pocket", (I) said "Good Morning" to him after promising to

carry out his wish- never saw poor Colonel again.

Took up my abode in small dugout near cooks- received order from Provost

Marshall to report to supply depot at 'A' beach (3 1/2 miles away) to draw

supplies. Took cooks (armed) sent Quarter Master Sergeant (QMS) to draw-

waited near No. 1 Clearing Station for him and party to bring food. Scouted

out to see if I could ascertain where the Battalion was so that I could

take food up to them. Sent for to supply depot-waited there with party

and food until about 5.30 (p.m.) loaded all supplies on mules-and started

off to find Battn. going across Salt Lake - unloaded mules near Chocolate

Hill in daylight - passed several dead men going to the position. (Poor

fellows are all quite black and in all positions). While talking to a mule

driver the mules nearest me was shot with a rifle bullet through both hind

legs above the hock- being sniped at all the time as long as daylight

lasted. Sent the QMS and Drury to find Battn. They returned at 11.30 p.m.

-1-