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Page 21
One night I had just turned in at nine-thirty, when Captain Welch came
up to say that a bad casualty had come in, and so many came in
afterwards that it was three o'clock in the following morning before I
had finished operating. While in the middle of the work I looked up
and found G. Anschau holding the lantern. He belonged to the 1st Field
Ambulance, but had come over to our side to give any assistance he
could. He worked like a Trojan.
We still had our swim off the beach from this position. It will be a
wonderful place for tourists after the war is over. For Australians
particularly it will have an unbounded interest. The trenches where
the men fought will be visible for a long time, and there will be
trophies to be picked up for years to come. All along the flat land by
the beach there are sufficient bullets to start a lead factory. Then
searching among the gullies will give good results. We came across the
Turkish Quartermaster's store, any quantity of coats and boots and
bully beef. The latter was much more palatable than ours.
Our men had a novel way of fishing; they threw a bomb into the water,
and the dead fish would either float and be caught or go to the
bottom--in which case the water was so clear that they were easily
seen. Wilson brought me two, something like a mackerel, that were
delicious.
As there was still a good deal of delay in getting the cases off, our
tent was brought over from Canterbury Gully and pitched on the beach;
the cooks keeping the bovril and biscuits going. We could not maintain
it there long, however, as the Turks' rifle-fire was too heavy, so the
evacuation was all done from Walker's Ridge about two miles away. The
Casualty Clearing Station here (the 16th) was a totally different
proposition from the other one. Colonel Corkery was commanding
officer, and knew his job. His command was exceedingly well
administered, and there was no further occasion to fear any block in
getting our wounded off.
Amongst the men who came in to be dressed was one wounded in the leg.
The injury was a pretty bad one, though the bone was not fractured.
The leg being uncovered, the man sat up to look at it. He exclaimed
"Eggs a cook! I thought it was only a scratch!"
Our bearers did great work here, Sergeant Baber being in charge and
the guiding spirit amongst them. Carberry from Western Australia
proved his worth in another manner. The 4th Brigade were some distance
up the gully and greatly in want of water. Carberry seems to have the
knack of divining, for he selected a spot where water was obtained
after sinking. General Monash drew my attention to this, and Carberry
was recommended for the D.C.M.
Early in August, soon after Colonel Manders was killed, I was promoted
to his position as Assistant Director of Medical Services, or, as it
is usually written, A.D.M.S. On this I relinquished command of the 4th
Field Ambulance, and though I appreciated the honour of the promotion
yet I was sorry to leave the Ambulance. We had been together so long,
and through so much, and every member of it was of such sterling
worth, that when the order came for me to join Headquarters I must say
that my joy was mingled with regret. Everyone--officers,
non-commissioned officers and men--had all striven to do their level
best, and had succeeded. With one or two exceptions it was our first
experience on active service, but all went through their work like
veterans. General Godley, in whose division we were, told me how
pleased he was with the work of the Ambulance and how proud he was to
have them in his command. The Honour list was quite sufficient to
satisfy any man. We got one D.S.O., two D.C.M.s, and sixteen
"Mentioned in Despatches." Many more deserved recognition, but then
all can't get it.
Major Meikle took charge, and I am sure the same good work will be
done under his command. Captain Dawson came over with me as
D.A.D.M.S. He had been Adjutant from the start until the landing,
when he "handed over" to Captain Finn, D.S.O., who was the dentist.
Major Clayton had charge of C Section; Captains Welch, Jeffries and
Kenny were the officers in charge of the Bearer Divisions. Jeffries
and Kenny were both wounded. Captain B. Finn, of Perth, Western
Australia, was a specialist in eye and ear diseases. Mr. Cosgrove was
the Quartermaster, and Mr. Baber the Warrant Officer; Sergeant Baxter
was the Sergeant Clerk. To mention any of the men individually would
be invidious. They were as fine a set of men as one would desire to
command. In fact, the whole Ambulance was a very happy family, all
doing their bit and doing it well.
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