October 11 - 18
Oct 11 At 9am, Gen Peyton and I rose over to Suvla where we left our horses and walked all along the ridge on our left flank to the advanced works at Jefferson’s Post – picked up Gen Fanshawe Comd 11th Div and Reggie Hoare (just arrived from England with his Yeomanry Brigade consisting of two Devon Regts and West Somersets) who came with us and the Gen showed us the chief points of interest. Had a good look at the Turkish trenches, ‘The Benchmark’, ‘The Pimple’, etc, walked back to Suvla by the trenches and below the ridge got caught in a heavy thunderstorm and was wet through before we got back to Lala Baba.
Oct 12 Started off at 9 am with Gen Peyton & Gen Butler to ride towards Anzac to see the right of our position and also to try and find Freddy who we hear has just landed with his Suffolks. Got spotted by the Turks riding along the sea shore and they gave us no end of a shelling. We galloped back to the Azimak Dore where we took cover and waited for the hate to subside. Sent the horses back by the orderly who came in for further shelling but luckily got through safely. We then walked to the 5 inch battery by the sea, a battery recently placed in a splendid position under Major Vicary. Found the Eastern Mounted Brigade in a gully hard at work digging themselves in – had a short yarn with gen Hodgson and then went on to find Freddy who is looking extremely well. They landed on Saturday night and had just got their stores up from the beach so Gen Peyton and I had luncheon with him and a capital luncheon he gave us – spent 2 hours with him discussing everything and the General and I then walked home by the Gurkha trenches – a charming day and a splendid panoramic view of the whole position, both British and Turkish, very sorry that my delightful 2 days holiday has come to an end.
Oct 18 A good deal of rain in the night. Lovats Scouts had a great success in bombing and rushing a redoubt in the Azmaak Dore where our old friend ‘Percy’ the sniper used to live. They rushed it with the bayonet and killed 14 and captured 2, losing 2 men killed and 6 wounded themselves. A very good performance. Had to put 150 men into the firing line at night to help the other regiments who are becoming, like ourselves, very weak from the number of men now daily going sick.