Major E.B. Sheppard's Diary, 19th - 30th September 1915

19th Sept. Sunday.

Very quiet day. Went with Reggie Smith11 and found Gurney’s1 grave. Arranged to put up cross and posts to-morrow. We had to go round Chocolate Hill to get there and R.S. must have taken me a little off the path as we suddenly found ourselves confronted by the muzzle of a gun that had been shooting all afternoon. We skipped out of the way pretty quick. It was terrible to think what the advance of the 21st must have been like. To compare countries it might have been Danbury Common3 after it had been burnt down with a few patches of gorse left. Why many more were not hit I cannot imagine, as they advanced in successive regiments ourselves coming at last but one. Our effective strength to-day is 165 (without officers and machine guns).

20th Sept. Monday.

Quiet day. Took Farman and put up cross over Gurney’s1 grave, also posts and barbed wire. Two Engineers helped, continued drainage ditch at night. Harry Daniell2 rejoined. Bill Cunliffe too sick. Heard Arnold Ward4 had arrived at Munros. Afraid we shall have trouble there. Lovely weather.

21st Sept. Tuesday

Turks very quiet. Went up to observation post on Chocolate Hill with Oppenheim. Found Dunbar in charge of guns. Had not seen him since he dined with us as Adjt. Herts Gunners and we put him through the window. Put some more wire entanglements in front of trenches at night. Went over parapets to see how they were getting on. Could not make out what one man was doing lying down. Found he was dead. Lovely weather.

22nd Sept. Wednesday.

Nothing doing. Colder in morning. Numbers down to 166 x Officers and Machine guns. Party working under H. Daniell2 top end of Halsey Sap. Went out to see them twice. Kept on treading on a dead man who was lightly covered with earth and lime. It was a wonderful moonlight night and so rather surprising the Turks did not snipe at us. Westminsters had one man killed behind the trenches where he was black berrying. The men get absolutely careless if it comes to getting some wood for fire and anything to eat.

23rd Sept. Thursday.

Beastly cold morning. Men looked frozen standing to arms, 5-6 a.m. but sun came out later also flies! Saw Peyton and think have arranged for Gerald5 to go home so as to help Eileen if necessary. Lovely bathe with “Mother”. Had great difficulty to persuade him to come. Went and came back rather a different way, luckily as 3 shrapnel burst coming back about where we should have been otherwise. While we were bathing, our guns Naval and otherwise had been plastering the Turkish Hills, which seems to have irritated them into replying. Several high explosives (H.E.) came within twenty yards of our trenches, but I cannot hear of anyone being hurt. Glorious sunset.

24th Sept. Friday

Fine day. The Australians had a blaze off, also people on left. Nothing doing with us. A bomb was thrown or fired near Hugh’s dug-out. No damage.

25th Sept. Saturday.

Move to reserve trenches. Awful conjestion in trenches when night arrived. Our line taken over by Rough Riders. Started off to move about 9.30 and arrived in new trenches about 10.30 p.m. My dug-out, just a deep grave which if it rains will be a bath. Messing now with the “b” Squadron. Luckily a fine night with a moon, so no difficulty.

26th Sept. Sunday.

Men enjoyed a good long sleep and appreciated having no guards. Had a lovely bathe with Harry Daniell2, W. Gibbs and Barnett6. Men settling down to new quarters. A confounded new digging job was suddenly sprung on us. We had to find 30 men. Most disappointed as it looks like lasting all the time we are here. Wrote P.D.O.S.7

27th Sept. Monday

Lovely day and very quiet. Bathed with Harry Daniell2. Very annoyed at having to find a lot of digging partners just as our men were recovering a bit. Not only had to do communication trench but also ditch from Tints Corner. A “Strafe” started just as digging parties were going out and the bullets fairly fizzed over us for around ½ an hour. The guns also joined in. No time to be taken ill as latrines are right in the open! One man wounded digging, six went to hospital.

28th Sept. Tuesday.

Felt rather seedy. Suspect beer responsible. A. Clayton8 went off and quite time too. Suddenly had orders when it got dark to turn out all available men for digging. Most disappointing that I cannot get a quiet time for the men.

29th Sept. Wednesday.

Rather delicate. Thought I was in for the prevailing complaint. We were let off easy having only to find 14 men to dig at night. Hugh Wyld9 went off to try and get his hands right. They have been bad for three weeks. Victor Ponsonby10 returned having been to Malta. He was quite cured. News of his Brother’s death had arrived since he left, also his servant killed here. Wired for W. de Falbe and Part, but don’t expect they will come, as hear Halsey has gone to England with bad leg. Only 44 men available for digging! Strong statement sent in by Doctor as to state of men’s health.

30th Sept. Thursday.

Much better to-day. Had to start men on connecting ours and Westminsters’ lines. Bathed with Harry. Lovely day. Wrote P.D.’O.S7. Monitors bombarded hill above Anzac in evening. Wrote P.D.’O.S.7 and Dick.

Notes:

1 Major Samuel Gurney Sheppard (23rd March 1865 – 21st August 1915)  Killed in action 21st August 1915 in attack on Chocolate Hill, Gallipoli.  He had been raised to temporary Lt/Col when he replaced Lt/Co Harrison.

2 presumably Henry Charles Nugent Daniell (26th August 1869 – 13th July 1925.)  Appointed 2nd Lieutenant Hertfordshire Yeomanry 26th August 1914; Liuetenant 27th June 1917; resigned and granted rank of Captain 29th July 1920.  Served 1st/1st Hertfordshire Yeomanry August 1914 – May 1916 (Egypt, Dardanelles); 3rd/1st Hertfordshire Yeomanry may 1916 – February 1917.

3 Danbury Common, Essex.

4 Arnold Sandwith Ward (8th November 1876 – 1st January 1950), Liuetenant. 1st/1st Hertfordshire Yeomanry August 1914 – June 1915 (A Squadron – Egypt) and January – June 1916 (Egypt); commanding a convalescent camp, Cyprus June – August 1915.

5 presumably Gerald Arthur Sheppard (21st November 1867 – ?) Appointed 2nd Lieutenant Hertfordshire Yeomanry, June 1915 & Lieutenant 1st July 1917.

6 Ralph Frances Barnett (27th August 1883 – 1968 ) Appointed Lieutenant A Squadron, Hertfordshire Yeomanry, 1st February 1914. Served 1st/1st Hertfordshire Yeomanry August 1914 – August 1918 (A Squadron – Egypt, Dardanelles, Temporary Captain 28th August 1915)

7 Phyllis D’Oyly Sheppard, nee Noble, Sheppard’s wife

8 Archibald Charles William Clayton (24th October 1867 – 1944), Captain. Served 1st/1st Hertfordshire Yeomanry September 1914 – October 1915 (A Squadron Egypt; Dardanelles. Temporary Major while commanding squadron 28th August 1914); and November 1916 – April 1919 (D Squadron – Mesopotamia. Commanding squadron. Despatches twice.)

9 Hugh James Wylde (16th April 1880 – 1961), Major to command A Squadron 25th August 1913. Served 1st/1st Hertfordshire Yeomanry 1914 – May 1916 (commanding A Squadron – Egypt; Dardanelles; Wesern Desert)

10 Victor Coupe Ponsonby (21st June 1877 – 22nd April 1966.)  Appointed 2nd Lieutenant, C Squadron, Hertfordshire Yeomanry & Liuetenant 10th December 1914, with seniority 4th September; Captain 23rd July 1916, resigned retaining rank 22nd January 1921.  Served 1st/1st Hertfordshire Yeomanry 1914 – 1919 (Egypt; Dardanelles – Dispatches)

11 Reginald Henry Macaulay Abel Smith (28th April 1890 – 12th March 1964.) Served 1st/1st Hertfordshire Yeomanry August 1914 – December 1915 (B Squadron – Egypt, Dardanelles);and August 1917 – March 1919 (commanding A Squadron – Egypt, Palastine M.C.); 2nd/1st Hertfordshire Yeomanry January – July 1917 (Adjutant 31st January – 11th July 1917); and 3rd/1st Hertfordshire Yeomanry January – December 1916.

This page was added on 10/11/2015.

Add your comment about this page

Your email address will not be published.

Start the ball rolling by posting a comment on this page!