October 19 - 22
Oct 19 A very busy day going into details of strength, etc with Gen Peyton and Gen Taylor with a view to taking over the firing line trenches again on the 22nd. Walked to the left of the line in the evening with Croshaw and Devonshire and had a yarn with Ralph Yorke, etc to discuss matters with them and make arrangements.
Oct 20 The welcome news that we are not to take over the firing line on Friday after all. I presume this is the result of our conference yesterday morning and the interview Gen Peyton was to have later with Gen Byng. Hear that Sir Charles Munro has arrived and taken over as C-in-C. Went up to our old front line section in the afternoon (now occupied by Lovats Scouts) and went over the ground where they made their successful attack on the redoubt in the Azmak Dere on the night of the 17th. It was a fine piece of work and well done. Talked it all over with Major Baillie (a son of Colonel Duncan Baillie who said he had known me when he used to go to Marcham as a small boy) and young Pease who left the bombing party. They sent for young Matthew Elliott to come and talk to me, delighted to see him looking extremely well, he is in their maxim gun detachment
Oct 21 The Turks started shelling our line at 10.30 just as we were getting our working party into the trenches. Two of the City Regt hit. They gave us a pretty good doing. Later in the day, heard officially that the Division was to be taken off the Peninsula for a rest camp for a fortnight to reorganise and get our drafts, etc. Personally I think it will take longer than a fortnight ! for our numbers owing to killed, wounded and sick are much diminished.
Oct 22 Gen Peyton met all the C.O.s at Gen Taylor’s HQ and spoke very nicely of the hard and incessant work which we have all done since we landed in August. He says that a fortnight at Mudros is not long enough and that it I no good our being brought back until we are thoroughly reinforced. We have lost 80 per cent and want 3000 men to pur us right. I should not be surprised if this move was the first step to sending us to Egypt to thoroughly re-fit and then be ready to go either mounted to Salonika, if mounted men are wanted there or back here dismounted. Later in the day we were told that the Regiment of Divisional Cavalry sent from Egypt to Salonika is so badly officered that we have to send officers and NCOs at once to reorganise the show, Ralph Yorke (Glosters) is being sent to command the Regiment and I have to send 2 subalterns, a sgt and 2 cpls, selected Roller (Middx), Vickewich (City), Sggt Clift (3rd County) and Cpl Ellom (Middx) and Cpl Withers (City). They are to leave very soon. Had to send 3 officers and 100 men to reinforce he Scottish Horse in the firing line tonight.