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Monday 31st May 1915 – Diary of HV Reynolds

31 May 2010 by Janice Farrer. No comments
Diary of an ANZAC

Please note: Care has been taken to transcribe these entries without alteration to preserve the original language of Herbert Vincent Reynolds. 

Fragment of officer's tunic collar : 16 Battalion, AIF, Bloody Angle, Gallipoli RELAWM07839.012

‘All the T.B.Ds spent the morning patrolling the sea area between Imbros, Cape Helles and Suvla, evidently in search of an enemy submarine. A new type of aeroplane made its appearance here this morning, it is easily the largest we have seen up to date. For about an hour and a half it circled overhead giving us a wonderful exhibition of aerial stunts in diving, twisting and turning in every direction. An old type of light cruiser put in an appearance today but did no firing.’

Sunday 30th May 1915 – Diary of HV Reynolds

30 May 2010 by Janice Farrer. No comments
Diary of an ANZAC

Please note: Care has been taken to transcribe these entries without alteration to preserve the original language of Herbert Vincent Reynolds.

Damaged and badly corroded Turkish water bottle, which is badly misshapen due to battle and environmental damage. RELAWM07799.002

‘After being extremely quiet all the morning. The enemy made things very warm for us shortly after midday when his artillery got busy, two mates were wounded by shrapnel though not badly. Our planes have been active again.’

Saturday 29th May 1915- Diary of HV Reynolds

29 May 2010 by Janice Farrer. No comments
Diary of an ANZAC

Please note: Care has been taken to transcribe these entries without alteration to preserve the original language of Herbert Vincent Reynolds.

A cemetery near Hell Spit, the southern horn of Anzac Cove. C01948

‘One of our mates C. Abbot was killed at 5pm, he was wounded by shrapnel and died almost immediately. He was buried in the Hell Spit burial ground at 7pm. The enemy mined our trenches at Courtney’s Post and exploded it early this morning, they followed it up with an infantry attack but it was an absolute failure as far as they were concerned, for they suffered rather heavy casualties and I saw one batch of 16 prisoners being brought down after it was over. Our casualties were not very heavy. Our planes have been very active all day.’

For the classroom: List the advantages and disadvantages of capturing prisoners during a battle.

Prisoners of the Japanese: A radio broadcast

28 May 2010 by Jennifer Selby. 3 Comments
Collection,New acquisitions

Today a wreathlaying ceremony will be held at the Sandakan Memorial in the Australian War Memorial’s Sculpture Garden to remember the prisoners of the Sandakan Death Marches of 1945. It seems appropriate to highlight a new Sound Collection acquisition which relates to another group of prisoners of the Japanese.

The Sound Section received a donation of a lacquer disc containing a recording of a radio broadcast made in September 1945 by David Druitt Nathan of the 5th Signals Corp. Captain Nathan was based in Saigon, and he speaks about the prisoners of the Thai-Burma railway in this recording.

Lacquer disc with metal core S04844

As you can see from the above image, the disc is in a very fragile state, and we were not sure that we would be able to recover the audio from it. The core of the disc is metal and it has been coated with a lacquer compound into which the grooves of the recording have been cut. Over time, the lacquer surface has degraded and cracked as the metal core expanded and contracted with fluctuations in air temperature.

Luckily the recording starts about two centimetres in from the edge of the disc which is where the worst degradation of the surface has occurred, meaning our audio engineers were able to play and digitally preserve the complete recording.

Listen to the digitised audio of S04844

Our innovative audio engineers used a paintbrush to gently hold down the arm of the record player to ensure the needle did not skip out of the grooves on the disc when it hit a crack in the surface.

Now that this disc has been digitally preserved, the original disc will be safely stored and won’t be subjected to being played again.

Friday 28th May 1915- Diary of HV Reynolds

28 May 2010 by Janice Farrer. No comments
Diary of an ANZAC

Please note: Care has been taken to transcribe these entries without alteration to preserve the original language of Herbert Vincent Reynolds.

Turkish 75 mm Artillery Fuze REL/02637

‘The enemy only fired over a few shells today and everything has been extremely quiet. An old type of light cruiser has been steaming around Imbros and off Suvla point today but has done no firing. At about 10pm a T.B.D steamed in close to Kaba Tepe* and shelled the enemy in the twin trenches on our right flank. We could hear heavy rifle fire at Cape Helles very distinctly tonight. A French aeroplane flew over our lines again today.’

*Gaba Tepe often was a focus of Allied artillery fire.

For the classroom: Why was it important to knock out this Turkish position?

Wednesday 26th May 1915- Diary of HV Reynolds

26 May 2010 by Janice Farrer. 1 Comment
Diary of an ANZAC

Please note: Care has been taken to transcribe these entries without alteration to preserve the original language of Herbert Vincent Reynolds.

Soldiers, possibly of 10th Battalion, observe Indian mule drivers as they lead mules carrying boxes of stores around the base of the hill, past a covered trench, to a storage area. P00326.011

‘The enemy artillery has been very active today. At about 2pm they concentrated their fire on our trenches near our right centre and a number of casualties were the result. We had a rather warm trip* to the C.C.S with a Light Horse Captain who was severely wounded and were forced to take shelter at the No.2 A.S.C depot. One of our aeroplanes retaliated by dropping a couple of bombs on the enemy trenches. The 4 horse boats cast adrift yesterday drifted on to the beach near Kaba Tepe, one was recovered during the night but the other 3 were left and the enemy removed the mule transport carts from the during the night. Three T.B.Ds attempted to land a number of reinforcements here this afternoon but had to give up the attempt through the enemies artillery fire being too severe. They landed them safely after sunset. There have been mo battleships of cruisers in sight all day.’

*Herbert often described dangerous situations as warm or hot. In extreme situations he would describe the day as being rather ‘lively’.

For the classroom: How might language such as this affect our interpretation of an event?

Tuesday 25th May 1915- Diary of HV Reynolds

25 May 2010 by Janice Farrer. No comments
Diary of an ANZAC

Please note: Care has been taken to transcribe these entries without alteration to preserve the original language of Herbert Vincent Reynolds.

The British battleship HMS Triumph steams into firing position off Gaba Tepe preparatory to shelling Turkish positions. The vessel was sunk shortly afterwards. P02282.016

‘At about midday all the transports weighed anchor and steamed off towards the island of Imbros and the battleships all got the move when the T.B.Ds repeated their performance of a few days ago and steamed here and there at top speed. We did not take very much notice of all the activity, knowing that it was caused by the presence of an enemy submarine and the movement of the vessels was necessary for their own safety. However when all the T.B.Destroyers, mine sweepers and other small craft suddenly all headed in one direction, that being from Anzac in the direction of Cape Helles we realized that something unusual was happening in that direction and immediately climbed the few yards up on to the ridge above our bivouac where an excellent view of the whole sea could be obtained right from Cape Helles on out tight Suvla point on our left.

Much to our dismay we found that about 1 ½ miles away towards Cape Helles lay the battleship Triumph with a slight list to starboard, it was evident that she had been torpedoed by an enemy submarine and while we watched she rapidly listed more and more till she reached an angle of about 40 degrees when she then very suddenly went with a sweep and as her decks reached the perpendicular her port torpedo nets, which were out swing over with a crash. A few seconds later all that was to be seen of the big vessel was the swirl of disturbed water and her rusty upturned keel. Only 8 minuted elapsed from the time to torpedo struck to the time the vessel turned completely upside down and for 15 minutes the exposed keel was visible before the vessel made her final plunge to the bottom. On receiving the signal for help boats of every description made for the triumph at full speed, one mine sweeper with 4 horse boats containing mule carts in tow cast them adrift and made off full speed with the rest. There were only 2 vessels, a T.B.D and a mine sweeper reasonably close to the Triumph when she was hit, they picked up as many of the crew as they could possibly do while the other boats were coming on the scene which they were doing at to speed from every direction. From the direction of Cape Helles 6 T.B.Ds came tearing through the water at a terrible speed. The scene they presented is one never to be forgotten, their smoke stacks belching forth great columns of dense black smoke, their bows cleaving the water causing a great white frothing trail in their wake. They came along a the greatest speed their engines could attain and after collecting around the Triumph for a very short time they all set out from the vessel as she made the final plunge in the form of spokes of a wheel to search for the enemy craft. They were assisted by a seaplane but as far as we know their search was fruitless. 

            We had witnessed the last incident in the life of the Triumph, a sad and to all who saw it a terribly weird ending to the glorious record of one of Britain’s most notable war boats. Sudden as the disaster took place and the vessel went to her doom it was one pleasant thing to know that most of the crew got clear and were picked up safely. The whole affair, though naturally what one must expect to take place when the circumstances offer nevertheless caused an uneasy feeling in our minds. The thoughts of our loss and the enemies success were not so much the cause of it but the weird methods of attack so successfully launched against the Triumph and the helplessness of the big vessel to defend herself against an unseen enemy lurking on wait beneath the waves, gave us all who witnesses it as no description ever could the full realization of what a hideous type of warfare submarines have made in naval actions. Much to our regret the assistance we had grown so used to receiving from the Triumph when she used to take up her usual position off Kaba Tepe point and harass the enemy with her 10 inch and 7.5 inch guns, would no longer be obtained from her now she is lying on the bed of the Aegean sea where there is no hope of ever recovering her. 

            The Triumph was a sister ship to the Swiftsure, both being built for the Chilean government but later on were taken over and became units of the British fleet/ She was launched in 1903 and her armourment consisted of four 10 inch guns and fourteen 7.5 inch guns, her tonnage was 11,800 tons and she carried a crew of 700. The Triumph has taken part in more actions than any other vessel in the navy, having won battle honours at Tsisg-Tau. About 1pm an extremely heavy rainstorm passed over and most of the dugouts and trenches were flooded, fortunately our dugout kept the water out and we were able to keep nice and dry.’

Monday 24th May 1915- Diary of HV Reynolds

24 May 2010 by Janice Farrer. No comments
Diary of an ANZAC

Please note: Care has been taken to transcribe these entries without alteration to preserve the original language of Herbert Vincent Reynolds.

Australian burial parties burying Australian and Turkish dead at either Quinn's Post or Chessboard, during the temporary armistice. P02649.025

‘We were turned out early this morning and told that an armistice would be observed between 8am to 4.30pm when hostilities would cease to allow the dead to be buried in no mans land. The day broke very dull and about 7am a thick misty rain began to fall which continued till about 11am when it cleared up and helped to take the gruesome task of burying a little less offensive to those engaged in that work. I was thankful that we were not called upon to take part in that work, what we saw of it was more than enough. In most cases a grave was dug alongside the corpse which was then rolled into the hole and covered up. The whole affair was awful to the extreme as some of the dead has been lying there from the landing and the number to be buried made it impossible to do little more than cover them with earth. The enemy worked on half of no mans land from their trenches and we did the same from ours. Having nothing better to do my mate and I thought of having a look at our trenches at the top of Shrapnel Gully, but we were not permitted to go right into the trenches.  However we saw some of our position that ascended probably with the exception of part of Walkers Ridge on our extreme left flank, the steepest ridge in our position, that is at the top end of Shrapnel Gully, where a gigantic stairway has been formed in the steep aide of the gully from the now dry watercourse at the bottom to the top of the ridge up which all supplies and ammunition for the trenches has to be carried. Hundreds made the best of the opportunity of having a dip in the sea without fear of defying regulations concerning swimming during the day or running the risk of having a shower of shrapnel sent over by the enemy, a thing that was always certain when any number went in during the day. Brighton beach was simply crowded with bathers, what a glorious time Beachy Bill would have had, had he not been doomed to silence today. About 4pm everything has returned to the old order of things, except of the silence, but that was soon broken when 4.30pm came long and the rifles began cracking away again, especially after sunset when the enemy made the air ring with intense rifle fire. After dark our Japanese bomb throwers began hurling their missiles into the air to fall directly into the enemy trenches, they go well up into the air and fall almost straight down leaving a trail of light like a falling star on making the descent, they make a fearful tearing crash when they explode.’

*The armistice provided a rare opportunity to get up close to the Turkish soldiers.

For the classroom: How might an interaction such as this change the ANZAC opinion of the Turkish soldiers?

Sunday 23rd May 1915 – Diary of HV Reynolds

23 May 2010 by Janice Farrer. No comments
Diary of an ANZAC

Please note: Care has been taken to transcribe these entries without alteration to preserve the original language of Herbert Vincent Reynolds.  

Captain Sam Butler leading a blindfolded Major Kemal Ohri, the Turkish envoy, past No 1 Casualty Clearing Station (CCS). A01506

‘Was on duty at Victoria gully station from 7am to 1pm. At about 9am an exceptionally heavy shelling of the enemies communications near the Olive Grove behind Kaba Tepe attracted our attention, being curious as what was going on, we climbed to the top of the ridge between Clarks and Victoria gullies where we could get a splendid though by no means safe view of what’s going on. Lying very close to Kaba Tepe point where two cruisers, one the Albion had gone aground and the other the Canopus was attempting to tow her into deep water. The Albion was firing broadside after broadside at the enemies communications near the Olive Grove while the Canopus and a small gunboat were firing a number if shells also. We could see the shells exploding from our point of observation and at the height of the shelling the road marked by a row of trees near the Olive Grove was covered with a huge cloud of dust and smoke, it was a mighty unhealthy place for any one to be in while it lasted. After about an hours bombardment the Albion managed to ease herself off the sandbank on which she went aground and at about 10.30am the three boats steamed off slowly, seeming to be none the worse for the enemies shelling which they had a little of. Now that things have settled down to trench warfare in earnest here and the trenches are up to the make, we are suffering very few casualties, the majority of which are caused by shrapnel on our communications and depots. At about 11am or a little later an enemy plane flew over us and much to out disgust when he appeared to be directly above us he let a bomb go. We could see it coming like a little silver speck at first, then the peculiar nerve racking noise as it appeared to be coming in rushed get us all diving like rabbits for the nearest hole. Looking up at the thing coming it appeared to be coming it appeared to be coming fair on top of us it was a great relief to hear the crash and realize that we were not in pieces. Anyhow it fell too close for comfort only 20 yards from our dressing station and luckily where it hit there were no bivouacs, unfortunately there was one chap in the vicinity where it fell and he was killed instantly. Another meeting took place between the enemies officers and ours at the same place as yesterday but after a bit of conference they returned to their own lines.’

*It took three meetings to arrange for the temporary armistice to bury the dead.

For the classroom: Why might the negotiations take this long? What things might they be discussing?

Saturday 22nd May 1915- Diary of HV Reynolds

22 May 2010 by Janice Farrer. No comments
Diary of an ANZAC

Please note: Care has been taken to transcribe these entries without alteration to preserve the original language of Herbert Vincent Reynolds. 

A group of Australian soldiers engaged in loading sick Turkish soldiers into a truck for evacuation for medical treatment. H00571

‘Very heavy rain fell between 6 and 10am and about 11am a huge water spout was to be seen towards the straights, writhing and twisting in the sky like a giant snake. The enemy officer returned again today to the place he was met yesterday on the beach just outside our lines. Some of our officers met him and after blindfolding him accompanied him to our headquarters, only today he rode in on his beautiful black horse, which was lead for him. The others who accompanied him to the meeting place did not wait there today, but took one of our officers with them back into their own lines. About midday an enemy submarine was reported in the vicinity of our transports and all the T.B.Ds* commenced dashing about at full speed, all the battleships got under way and the transports all weighed anchor and steamed off to the more safe anchorage in Imbros and Lemnos harbours which are protected by anti-submarine nets. The hospital ship went with them. There has been very little activity on either our part or the enemies today. Some efforts will have to be made to remove the dead in no-mans land as it is almost unbearable in our trenches now, there is a rumour to the effect that the enemy are negotiating from an armistice with us to bury their dead.’

*T.B.D stands for Torpedo Boat Destroyer