Letter from Gallipoli

At least 12 High School past pupils died in Gallipoli, but many more were there for the fighting. Here is a letter written by one of the survivors that was later published in the school Newsletter, 'The Erasmian'.

The Erasmian December 1915

A Letter from Gallipoli.1/6 th ESSEX REGIMENT, 54th DIVISION, Br. MED. Exp. FCE., Tuesday, Nov. 2nd, '15.

HERE we are again, as the Song says, and trying to keep as cheery as the circumstances will permit. I have now been in this awful place, "somewhere in G-_--i," for the last month, and shall not be sorry when I quit it. In a nutshell, it is made up of sand, scrub, stink, and flies—flies by the million ! The moment one puts an empty dinner-plate down it is smothered with two or three hundred flies; it looks just like a black patch, and those that can't settle on the plate, settle on the backs of those who are more fortunate. This is no exaggeration, but mere plain fact. The beggars are responsible for 98% of the sickness here, and if ever I reach civilisation again I swear a solemn "strafe " against all flies.


As I have to censor all my own letters, I cannot indulge in any "descriptions " ; it is strictly forbidden ; but isolated incidents may interest you. Like everybody else here I have had narrow squeaks with shrapnel. Some nine or ten days ago, while lying in my dug-out after an "all-night sitting" in certain trenches, a "whiz-bang" (as they call it) exploded a few yards in front of me. On another occasion the C.O. and his "Second" had just left my stores, and I ran after him with a certain piece of information, when—whiz !—a shell passed right between us and exploded about eight or ten yards further on. We hurriedly got out of the rain! But except when they want to make a more than close acquaintance with one's personal beauty, shells are treated with a blasé indifference. You see, they are flying about all over the place at any time of the day, so one just "carries on." "Weary Willies" are crawling whiningly across now, and -explosion seems just outside my parlour (ahem!) window. We came under rifle and shell fire before we landed, and we've been under it ever since. It would amuse you to see officers of all ranks walking about like tramps. The simile rather exaggerates, but conveys the correct impression. Out here practical ability, natural resourcefulness, and adaptability count. All the amenities of civil life are left behind on the boat. For the first five days I was here I had two half mugs of water allotted me, and in each case I had to wash, clean my teeth. and shave in them. Sounds horrid, doesn't it? but that's the least of our troubles. It will do my eyes good when I see a house or a road again, and "heavenly" won't be the word for it when I sleep once more, undressed, between clean sheets, and have fresh food put before me. Hallo! Johnny Turk has just begun his nightly " strafe " ; we can almost tell the time by it. They snipe like the deuce, and have very good shots amongst 'em.

Next morning (WEDNESDAY). Lack of light and candles put a stop to my pencil pushing last night. The Ration issue to the whole Division has been a dismal-.—

Next morning (THURSDAY). Very sorry, but a Quartermaster is a very busy person in H. M. Forces, and I was kept more than busy throughout the whole day with a, 37-bag mail. Another 25 bags have turned up this morning, so if I wish to catch to-day's outgoing mail I must be brief. Our Batt. had a bad night last night in the trenches, Capt. Tee, of "A" Company, being shot, and a sergeant and private also who were working on the parapet with him. We can ill spare such a man.

By the way, it may be interesting to you to know (if ever the question arises) that shells can be seen during flight. The other afternoon, as it was drawing on to dusk, I sat outside my stores and watched five H. E. shells, in succession, whine over the crest of the hilt opposite. I believe they can only be seen under certain conditions. In my case, for example. I was looking at the crest of the hill ; the shells came from somewhere behind me; the black of the earth of the hill below, and the exceeding clearness of the atmosphere above, gave me a very sharply-defined skyline, and I saw the shells. as they crossed over the crest. I pointed the phenomenon out to the adjutant and another lieutenant, and they saw the shells also.

Hallo! "Cookhouse" going; and I am busy after dinner.

Yours very faithfully,

4/II/'15. ALEXANDER R. SLADE.

This letter is reproduced courtesy the Board of Governors of the Schools founded by Erasmus Smith Esq.