Intermediary stage of the evacuation from Anzac Cove: narrative from battalion war diaries

Theresa Cronk

08 December 2015

Part 2 in a series of three blog posts about the evacuation from Gallipoli

Accession Number: SC02009

Map of Gallipoli

The evacuation of Gallipoli began on 22 November 1915, when a plan was adopted during a conference at General Headquarters, Mudros. This was after Lord Kitchener's visit to Gallipoli in early November, during which he told General Birdwood to start thinking about how to evacuate, and before the recommendation was approved by British Parliament. Charles Bean, the official Australian historian of the First World War, wrote that this was the reason behind the evacuation plan being divided into three stages.

The evacuation from Anzac Cove and Suvla Bay occurred simultaneously, with the final evacuation of Helles coming later, on 9 January 1916. The operation from Anzac Cove, beginning on 22 November and ending on 20 December, consisted of the preliminary, intermediary, and final stages. To mark the centenary of the evacuation from Anzac Cove, a narrative blog post will be released to coincide with the dates that each of these stages commenced in 1915.

The idea was that the preliminary stage (sixteen days) could begin immediately, regardless of the decision made by the British Parliament, and would involve reducing the number of men required to defend positions during winter. In the official history Charles Bean described the intermediary stage (ten days) as one where "the force and material would be reduced until there remained only a bare sufficiency to enable the positions to be held for a week against attack". During the final stage all remaining men were to be withdrawn over a period of two days. The following table, taken from the second volume of the Official history of Australia in the war of 1914–1918, provides an overview of the numbers of men, guns, and animals that needed to leave Anzac during each stage of the evacuation.

Force before evacuation commenced	41,218 men	2,368 animals	105 guns
End of the preliminary stage	35,786 men
End of the intermediate stage	26,195 men	500 animals	40 guns

The intermediary stage of the evacuation

On 8 December 1915 General William Birdwood received a telegram (see copy here) direct from Lord Kitchener communicating the decision "to evacuate the positions of Suvla and Anzac, but to retain Helles for the present". This marked the beginning of the intermediary stage of the evacuation of troops from Anzac Cove.

Personal diary of Birdwood, 1 January 1915 – 2 January 1916

After receiving the telegram, General Birdwood wrote the following words to his wife, Lady Janetta Birdwood: "I am having a very difficult & most trying time of it with many alterations in important plans which I personally hate …"

But Birdwood's response to the news of the imminent evacuation was only one of many.

The narrative below tells the story of the intermediary stage of the evacuation of Australian troops from Anzac Cove between 8 December and 17 December 1915, based upon reports contained within official unit war diaries kept by the Australian battalions that remained at Anzac Cove until the early hours of 20 December 1915:

Interspersed among the official reports are personal stories taken from a selection of diaries digitised as part of the Anzac Connections project, including:

Where possible, names of people mentioned in the diaries have been identified and links provided to their profiles on the Australian War Memorial website. The war diaries for the units mentioned above have also been completely transcribed in the course of compiling this blog post and can be read here.

Note: Not all battalions kept a unit war diary during December 1915, nor did all battalions record daily entries. The 1st and 16th Battalions did not keep diaries, although men from these battalions were among the last to leave. The chart below shows the dates of all war diary entries recorded by each of the infantry battalions reporting from Gallipoli during this period.

Date	Infantry Battalion
8/12/1915	2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 26, 28
9/12/1915	2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 13, 14, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 26, 28
10/12/1915	2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 13, 14, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 26, 27, 28
11/12/1915	2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 26, 27, 28
12/12/1915	2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 13, 14, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 26, 27, 28
13/12/1915	2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 13, 14, 15, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 26, 27, 28
14/12/1915	2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 13, 14, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24
15/12/1915	2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 13, 14, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24
16/12/1915	2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 13, 14, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24
17/12/1915	2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 13, 14, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24

Daily narrative taken from unit war diaries and personal accounts – December 1915

8 December 1915

Location	Battalion no.
Shell Green	2, 3, 4
Anzac	5, 7, 8, 21, 22
Durrant's Post	13, 14
Lone Pine	24
Pope's Post	19
Quinn's Post	17
Courtney's Post	18
Fatigue Gully	20
Tambour	21
Mule Gully	26
Russell's Top	28

At 9am the temperature was 55 degrees Fahrenheit and the day was "quite spring-like". Writing on 28 November 1915, Vivian Noble commented on this change in the weather:

Since the snowstorm, the weather has improved considerably and it is now something like Australian winter weather.

Diary of Vivian Noble, 1915–1916

Before this change conditions had been miserable, as detailed by Richard Gardiner on 27 November 1915:

I sat in my dugout with a blanket round my feet & shivered. I wouldn't care if every Turk on the job came here. I wouldn't have shifted.

Letter from Richard Gardiner to his father, 1916

Fatigues and tunnelling continued throughout the day, with some reports of enemy fire. During the morning the observation station of the 2nd Battalion was destroyed by Turkish artillery. At 2.14 pm eight 15-inch enemy shells were fired in to the Tambour and damaged the parapets of the trenches held by the 21st Battalion. Three men were struck by shrapnel during an enemy bombardment at about 4 pm.

Second Lieutenants Plomley and Mackenzie reported for duty with the 4th Battalion, and Major Edward Martin re-joined the 17th Battalion at Quinn's Post. At 7 pm the 2nd Battalion was ordered into reserve for a month, 50 yards behind the firing line.

After the sun went down the 21st Battalion sent two men from B Company out to locate the position of a sniper operating in Wire Gully. They were successful, and returned with 60 rounds of Turkish ammunition. The rest of the battalion worked to repair the damaged parapets.

Meanwhile, Sergeant Wilbert Berg of the 18th Battalion commented in his personal diary on the news brought by men returned from hospitals in England: "good news re Germany who asking for peace. Boys will be glad when it is all over."

Diary of Wilbert Berg, 1915–1916

That day 37 men, reinforcements, and returning wounded joined the 18th Battalion at Courtney's Post. Likewise, 36 men re-joined the 13th Battalion at Durrant's Post. Five men in total were reported wounded. Captain Ernest Herrod, 2nd Battalion, was one of six men evacuated sick from the peninsula (see appendix B).

Total combined strength for the units reporting this day was 283 officers and 1,154 Other Ranks (see appendix C).

9 December 1915

Location	Battalion no.
Shell Green	2, 3, 4
Anzac	5, 6, 7, 8, 21, 22
Durrant's Post	13, 14
Lone Pine	24
Pope's Post	19
Courtney's Post	18
Tambour	21
Mule Gully	26
Happy Valley	27
Russell's Top	28

The day was reported to be "fine and mild", with the temperature recorded as 55 degrees Fahrenheit at 9am. Geoffrey McCrae described it as a "Hot, still day."

Diary of Geoffrey McCrae, 1915 (vol. 2)

Captain Roy Harrison took over command of C Company, 2nd Battalion, while Lieutenant Charles Lecky was in charge of the men from the 2nd Battalion who took over the firing line.

Lieutenant Harold Taylor temporarily replaced Lecky as adjutant, while Lieutenant Colonel John Lamrock took over command of the 5th Brigade and Major Richard Jenkins took command of the 20th Battalion. Brigadier General William Holmes visited the position of the 22nd Battalion.

John Adams remarked on the issuing of hot OXO to the men throughout the night whenever they were due to come off duty.

Diary of John Adams, 1914–1916

Men of the 2nd Battalion had a high appreciation for this drink, as detailed here in the 2nd Battalion's war diary entry of 6 December 1915.

Artillery practice was directed towards enemy trenches during the day, with shells targeting the Pinnacle. At 11 am the 24th Battalion returned to rest in White's Valley, having handed over Lone Pine to the 23rd Battalion.

Seven reinforcements, including men returning from hospital, joined the 20th Battalion. Two men from the 2nd Battalion were wounded by friendly fire originating from a machine-gun at Russell's Top, while eight others were sent to hospital sick (see appendix B).

10 December 1915

Location	Battalion no.
Shell Green	2, 3, 4
Anzac	5, 7, 8, 21, 22
Durrant's Post	13, 14
White's Valley	24
Pope's Post	19
Courtney's Post	18
Fatigue Gully	20
Tambour	21
Mule Gully	26
Russell's Top	28

A warm day began with a temperature of 54 degrees Fahrenheit. Six battleships were involved in a two-hour bombardment of Turkish trenches at Olive Grove and Gaba Tepe. Afterwards it was reported that naval shells appeared to have landed near the enemy gun position, but "beyond tearing up of odd trees" there was no indication of damage.

This bombardment of the Olive Grove by allied ships offshore was also reported in the diaries of Henry Wyatt, Wilbert Berg, John Adams, and Apcar De Vine. It was John Adams who gave the most detailed entry of this event, writing:

The battleship Bucchante. 2 third class cruisers & 2 large monitors, heavily shelled the Olive Grove from 10.30 am till 12.45 pm. It could not be seen for smoke & flying earth.

Diary of John Adams, 1914–1916

The 22nd Battalion diary entry for today recorded that Lieutenant Edwin Bazeley had been awarded the Military Cross for rescuing men from a mining tunnel in October 1915, while Sergeant Robert Stone and Private Joseph Kruger were awarded Distinguished Conduct Medals for their involvement. Plans for the 2nd Battalion to leave its position at Shell Green were cancelled, and the 4th Battalion relieved the 4th Light Horse Regiment instead. The 24th Battalion was still resting in White's Valley and observed 75-millimetre shells, aimed at Lone Pine, falling into its position.

Second Lieutenants Harry Mann, Cecil Boileau, and Edward Dalkeith reported for duty with the 4th Battalion. Three men returned from hospital to re-join the 20th Battalion at Fatigue Gully. Elsewhere three men were wounded, with 17 evacuated sick (see appendix B).

The 7th Battalion reported strength of 26 officers and 624 Other Ranks. In contrast, the 2nd Battalion recorded 23 officers and 524 Other Ranks (see appendix B).

11 December 1915

Location	Battalion no.
Shell Green	2, 3
Anzac	5, 7, 8, 21, 22
Durrant's Post	13, 14
White's Valley	24
Pope's Post	19
Courtney's Post	18
Quinn's Post	17
Fatigue Gully	20
Tambour	21
Poppy Valley	4
Mule Gully	26
North Beach	27
Russell's Top	28

Reports indicate that the 11th was a "fine warm day". There were several handovers and movements of battalions, with the 4th moving to Poppy Valley, the 7th taking over from the 5th and 6th at Silt Spur, the 24th returning to Lone Pine, the 17th taking over a section of Courtney's Post from the 18th, and the 21st handing over the Tambour to the 22nd

Geoffrey McCrae was appointed intelligence officer, and writes that he went to the 1st Brigade HQ for instructions and took control of the observation posts and maps. Both Geoffrey McCrae and John Adams commented on the departure of the 5th and 6th Battalions, while the latter also observed the departure of the 7th Light Horse Regiment and a battery of artillery, speculating that they would "make another landing on the Olive Grove".

Sniping by both sides continued throughout the day, with reports of Turkish stick bombs and shells falling at intervals. The 2nd Battalion gave the following description of stick bombs:

in shape the bomb resembles a small shrapnel shell about 2" diameter with a hole screwed at cap & base to admit stick. It does not contain pellets but is meant to burst into fragments as grooves around the casing indicate.

2nd Battalion war diary, December 1915

Captain Keith Single returned from hospital and re-joined the 20th Battalion. Five men were reported killed in action over the course of the day. Three of these men, Major Richard Jenkins, Major James Harcus, and Major Gordon Uther, were killed at the junction of Rest and Monash saps as the 20th Battalion was on its way to take over Russell's Top. Private Clifford Wells and Private Charles Maddocks, both of the 17th Battalion, were also killed in action.

20th Battalion war diary, December 1915

In addition, 14 men were hospitalised and two were wounded (see appendix B).

The 7th Battalion reported its strength as 26 officers and 623 Other Ranks (see appendix C).

12 December 1915

Location	Battalion no.
Shell Green	2, 3
Anzac	7, 8, 22
Durrant's Post	13, 14
Lone Pine	21, 23, 24
Pope's Post	19
Courtney's Post	18
Russell's Top	20
Shrapnel Gully	21
Poppy Valley	4
Mule Gully	26
North Beach	27
Russell's Top	28

Several battalions made note of the day that began with a temperature of 56 degrees Fahrenheit, with one describing it as a "lovely warm day". Captain William Hinton took over command of the 18th Battalion's A Company and Captain Herbert Bruce became acting adjutant. Lieutenant Colonel John Lamrock resumed command of the battalion.

Under the command of Colonel Russell Watson, a garrison was established at Lone Pine consisting of the 21st, 23rd, and 24th Battalions. The 20th Battalion also took over trenches from the 28th. The 18th Battalion's B Company took over Thompson's Post and the 17th took over part of Courtney's Post. The 21st Battalion moved to Shrapnel Gully from where A and D companies went into the trenches at Lone Pine: one in the front line and the other in the support trenches.

At 10 am a church service was held and attended by 21 men. There were several reports of shelling and bombing during the day, particularly in the areas of Lone Pine and Black Hand. One of these reports read, "Fragments and pellets are flying over lines constantly."

The 2nd Battalion focused its attention on making improvements to the trenches:

Tins ("Bully" beef, jam, milk, etc.) are gathered from incinerators and each tin is filled with earth and rammed into loose floor of recess bottom upwards. When the whole recess is floored in this way loose earth & gravel is rammed down the cracks between the tins to pack them tightly. If the same kind of tins are used for the one post, when finished, it looks extremely neat and can be kept quite clean, and in wet & sloppy weather it forms a good dry pavement for observers to stand on. Experiments have so far proved very satisfactory and the work is being continued throughout the line.

2nd Battalion war diary, December 1915

At 2.15 pm an officer and two Other Ranks were wounded by 75-millimetre shells. Minutes later large Turkish howitzer shells passed over Lone Pine from the north-east. The response from the 17th Siege Battery mistakenly landed in the trenches held by Australia's 24th Battalion. Two men were killed and Sergeant Edward Grice was wounded. Enemy shelling ceased at 3.30 pm.

At 3.40 pm, the 18th Battalion's position was hit by enemy shells, one bursting on the latrine in the rear. Private John McAllister was killed and three were wounded. Two men from the 2nd Battalion – Privates Mervyn Welch and William Osborne – were killed on separate occasions. Private Joseph Lewis was also wounded while observing the parapet. Lieutenants John Bailey and V.H. McDonald from the 20th Battalion were wounded during the Turkish army's heavy bombardment of the Australian trenches.

With the departure of the 7th Brigade and a large number of other troops, John Adams again speculates on where the men are going, writing that he expects "to hear of an attack".

Diary of John Adams, 1914–1916

According to the war diaries, a total of four men were killed on this day, with nine wounded and 16 sent to hospital. One officer and 50 Other Ranks from the 19th Battalion were attached to the 18th Battalion. Two officers and 150 men returned to the 14th Battalion after being attached to the 13th, and one man from the 5th Battalion was transferred to the 7th (see appendix B).

The 7th Battalion reported its strength to be 26 officers and 622 Other Ranks (see appendix C).

13 December 1915

Location	Battalion no.
Shell Green	2, 3
Anzac	7, 8, 22
Durrant's Post	13, 14
McCarroll's Nest	14
Hay Valley	15
Lone Pine	21, 23, 24
Pope's Post	19
Courtney's Post	18
Russell's Top	20
Shrapnel Gully	21
Poppy Valley	4

A fine and mild day dawned on 13 December; the sun was shining and broken clouds dotted the sky. Artillery fire from Anzac focused on the Chessboard and Johnston's Jolly, while enemy sniping was reported to be brisker during the night. Trench improvements, repairs to firing steps and parapets, and work on bomb-proof winter chambers continued during the day. The placement of barbed wire in front of the lines occurred during the night.

Mail, both inward and outward, was stopped for the day at 9 am. Water rations were scheduled to return to the normal one-gallon-per-man allocation as of the following day. Major Robert Smith took over command of the 22nd Battalion after Lieutenant Colonel Richard Crouch was appointed to a base command position on Mudros.

News of the evacuation started to filter through to the men, with Cyril Pryor writing, "Troops leaving Anzac: purpose, for an evacuation". John Adams was even more suspicious, although he still did not know for certain: "number of troops leaving & no news of a fresh landing".

Diary of John Adams, 1914–1916

Heavy shelling was reported at Lone Pine and Russell's Top. It was here that Lieutenant Malby Crofton of the 20th Battalion was killed. The battalion headquarters were also damaged and moved to Walker's Ridge. The 18th Battalion was also affected, as evidenced by the following report from Wilbert Berg:

Turks bombard our trenches heavily, did a lot of damage. I was carrying a wounded man down the trench & a 6-inch howitzer exploded just near us & the concussion knocked both of us up against the side of the trench. Preparing to evacuate.

One casualty was reported by the 22nd Battalion. Two men were wounded, one of whom was Lieutenant William Treloar, 4th Battalion, who sustained a broken arm from a sniper bullet that lodged itself in the thigh of another. This incident is described in detail by Geoffrey McCrae:

Diary of Geoffrey Gordon McCrae, 1915 (vol. 2)

Thirteen men were sent to hospital with illness, including dysentery and influenza. A further 21 men, including Captain Morris and Second Lieutenant Hobbs of the 18th Battalion, were evacuated. Some 60 men detached from the 14th Battalion to join the 13th at Durrant's Post. In all, two were wounded and two were killed in action (see appendix B).

The 22nd Battalion reported a strength of 28 officers and 743 Other Ranks (see appendix B).

14 December 1915

Location	Battalion no.
Shell Green	2, 3
Anzac	7, 8, 22
Durrant's Post	13, 14
McCarroll's Nest	14
Lone Pine	21, 23, 24
Courtney's Post	18
Russell's Top	20
Shrapnel Gully	21
Poppy Valley	4

Today the 22nd and 23rd Battalions took over sections of Lone Pine from the 24th, while the 18th spent the day putting Plugge's Plateau into a state of defence. The 20th Battalion also assisted with this task, with Pryor writing: "Sent with 50 men to make new trenches at Plugges bound for 18th Battalion to hold for the final move."

The 3rd Battalion reported that evacuation orders had been received to transport the sick off the peninsula and make "preparations for an early departure". The 2nd Battalion, without specifically mentioning evacuation, gave more detail as to the preparations that were under way:

Verbal order issued to effect that all surplus baggage records, papers etc. to be sent to Northern slope of lower Anzac Gully under footbridge with 1 man to mount guard & to take with him 48 hours rations.

1100: Message rec'd from Bde HQ to ensure that all bayonets be covered with sandbags or khaki covering.

2000: Word received to withdraw one blanket per man and send to Anzac Gully together with any surplus kit.

2nd Battalion war diary, December 1915, pp. page 14 and page 15

John Adams, despite being part of the 2nd Battalion, still had only suspicions as to what was happening. His report for the day focused on the availability of stores:

Tons of stores have been shifted & tons remain for everyone to help themselves, everyone living in luxury, with more than we could eat in 3 months. Everything points to us leaving.

Diary of John Adams, 1914–1916

Work continued on trench improvements. A bombardment by Turkish artillery at 4 pm caused no damage to the position of the 7th Battalion. There were several reports of work with barbed wire in front of the lines, with the 2nd Battalion diary describing this in great detail:

2nd Battalion war diary, December 1915

Sixteen men were sent to hospital sick, and two were wounded. Among those hospitalised was Second Lieutenant Robert Henderson of the 13th Battalion. An additional four men departed the peninsula in order to guard officers' baggage and unit records (see appendix B).

Strength was reported as 26 officers and 621 Other Ranks for the 7th Battalion, and 28 officers and 736 Other Ranks for the 22nd Battalion (appendix C).

15 December 1915

Location	Battalion no.
Shell Green	2, 3
Anzac	7, 8, 22
Durrant's Post	13, 14
McCarroll's Nest	14
Lone Pine	21, 24
Pope's Post	19
Courtney's Post	18
Russell's Top	20
Poppy Valley	4
Shrapnel Gully	21

The weather report for the day was given at 9 am by the 2nd Battalion: "Morning cold with light gale blowing from East (off land)". Cyril Pryor noted that the beach was "getting deserted more every day".

The 2nd Battalion diary recorded confirmation of the evacuation plan: "it has now been made known that Anzac is to be evacuated by Our Troops". Five battalions mentioned, in one way or another, that what they refer to as the preliminary stage had begun.

News of the evacuation had been made official only to some. Half of the 5th Brigade had already left, according to Cyril Pryor. Clarence Wallach reports that orders were received to pack all heavy gear before it was taken away, but no one knew where it was going.

The 18th Battalion moved its HQ from Courtney's Post No. 1 to Courtney's Post No. 2. Captain Arthur Edwards joined the 3rd Battalion, as did Lieutenant Vernon Smythe. Private Peacock of the 2nd Battalion was arrested in 7th Battalion lines near Lady Galway Road, while "acting in a very suspicious manner … suspected of endeavouring to communicate with the enemy".

At 8 pm the 2nd Battalion reported that all officers had been over the route to be followed on the night of the evacuation. The most detailed account of preparations is provided by the 2nd Battalion war diary, which includes numbers and procedures to be followed for selecting the men to be included in each evacuation party, and the route that they would follow. It also reported that a new program of sniping was to begin "to educate the enemy", and would involve up to 30 minutes of total silence interspersed with periods of continual sniping. The full report can be read here.

Chaplain Bicton Wilson was evacuated from the 3rd Battalion's position at Shell Green along with 20 men. This was in addition to the 20 evacuated with illness. Seven men were wounded throughout the day and Private Claude Wayland of the 7th Battalion was killed, possibly by a prematurely exploding grenade (see appendix B).

Reported strength was given as 27 officers and 729 Other Ranks for the 22nd Battalion, and 25 officers and 614 Other Ranks for the 7th Battalion (see appendix C).

16 December 1915

Location	Battalion no.
Shell Green	2, 3
Anzac	7, 8, 22
Durrant's Post	13, 14
McCarroll's Nest	14
Pope's Post	19
Courtney's Post	18
Russell's Top	20
Poppy Valley	4
Shrapnel Gully	21
Lone Pine	21, 24

Conditions were described that morning as cold and slightly windy. By this point Vivian Noble had found out about the evacuation:

Well, here we are trembling on the verge of catastrophe. (That reads well doesn't it? quite a la Sunday Sun). Let me explain. For the last 2 days we've been all packed up ready to evacuate this position at a moment's notice. Isn't it cheerful? After 8 months fighting, thousands of lives lost and millions of pounds spent we have to acknowledge defeat. I don't know where we are going.

Diary of Vivian Noble, 1915–1916

Preparations for the evacuation continued with all tools and personal kit considered surplus to requirements rendered useless and buried. This policy was also applied to gas sprayers, water tins, and cooking pots. John Adams also comments on this, writing:

During the day all waterproofs & blankets not in use were burnt, also any other spare gear that were of use to the enemy. Several horses & mules were shot.

Diary of John Adams, 1914–1916

The 18th Battalion continued working on defences at Plugge's Plateau while the 13th repaired its second line of trenches in front of Ford Barricade at Durrant's Post. The Australians fired an 18-pounder gun on a house behind enemy lines but was knocked out of action by a 75-millimetre shell. The laying of barbed wire was also continued by several battalions.

The new program of sniping and silences continued during the night. After the first cycle the enemy opened heavy rifle fire, and took up "spirited sniping" after the second. Otherwise, the goal was to continue to make everything look normal:

At places in our area which are visible from Gaba Tepe all traffic bearing baggage & blankets & the like which would show signs of removal has been stopped and everything is being done to keep all things as normal as far as possible. Men are placed in small groups smoking & loitering in full view of Gaba Tepe.

2nd Battalion war diary, December 1915, pp. 20 and 21

Eight men were evacuated, including the Reverend Joseph Hearn, and one man was hospitalised with illness. Two more were wounded and four New Zealand men were attached to the 13th Battalion for special duties. A further two men were transferred from the 7th Battalion to the 22nd, the 5th Battery, and the 3rd Field Artillery Brigade (see appendix B).

The official strength was given as 27 officers and 716 Other Ranks for the 22nd Battalion, and 24 officers and 609 Other Ranks for the 7th Battalion (see appendix C).

17 December 1915

Location	Battalion no.
Shell Green	2, 3
Anzac	7, 8, 22
Durrant's Post	13, 14
McCarroll's Nest	14
Pope's Post	19
Courtney's Post	18
Russell's Top	20
Shrapnel Gully	21
Poppy Valley	4
Lone Pine	21, 24

The day began with two short showers of rain between 5.30 and 6 am, clearing to result in a fine and cloudy day. Early in the morning there was also a thick fog between Sniper's Ridge and Knife Edge.

Men from the 1st Brigade who were assigned to C Party for the evacuation began the day at 5.30 am with a walkthrough of the route to be followed down to the beach. The practice was undertaken as if it were real, with full kit and padded boots. The march took 28 minutes to complete and proved that wearing sandbags around boots would silence them well.

The 17th Battalion began to prepare and fine-tune the details of the evacuation parties. Brigadier General John Monash provided details of the parties for the 13th Battalion via Operation Order Number 13. John Adams, and Apcar De Vine received information that they would be among the last to leave. Of this news, Cyril Pryor wrote:

Selected to remain for the last party with own selection of 20 men to remain until all other troops embarked. Last 200 men of 20th to move out @ various intervals on last day of evacuation.

Diary of Cyril Arnold Pryor, 1914–1916

There were reports during the night of silences lasting 15 minutes. At 8 pm stores on the beach were reported have been set alight. Men had spent the day walking about in padded boots in order to get used to them before the final march to the beach. Men also continued to loiter and idle along roads and trenches in order to keep up the illusion that everything was normal. Tests of the self-firing drip rifle, invented by William Scurry of the 7th Battalion, also proved successful.

Heavy shelling at Bully Beef Sap Post killed two men from the 20th Battalion, including Private George Wicks. A further two men from the battalion were wounded. Private Eric Smith of the 3rd Battalion was also killed in action. One man died of wounds and three men from the Australian Medical Corps were attached to the 7th Battalion (see appendix B).

Recorded strength was 24 officers and 608 Other Ranks for the 7th Battalion, and 27 officers and 709 Other Ranks for the 22nd Battalion. The 2nd Battalion reported 23 officers and 500 Other Ranks (see appendix C).

Appendix A: Total casualties for intermediary stage, compiled by C.E.W. Bean

Date	Arrivals	Killed	Sick/wounded/evacuated	Troops withdrawn	Remaining strength
8 December 1915	277	4	558	4	35 445
9 December 1915	71	6			35 510
10 December 1915	132	8	400	649	34 585
11 December 1915	80	5	596	2 091	31 973
12 December 1915		4	900	2 125	28 944
13 December 1915		3	240	2 363	26 338
14 December 1915		4	271	2 346	23 717
15 December 1915			201	1 061	22 455
16 December 1915		3	249	717	21 486
17 December 1915		2	143	1 064	20 277