1 Oct Suvla 5 men to hospital. Ordered first to take over line part of 39th Brigade. This cancelled and ordered to take over our old lines, on south side of old blockhouse. Moved off at 6.45pm, finished taking over about 10pm when Newfoundland Regt marches out. Very extended front, all companies in firing line. The lines were in an indescribably filthy condition, and the whole battalion was the next day set to work at the Augean task.
2 Oct Suvla 5 men to hospital. During the night a very severe task was given to establish a new firing line. A blockhouse in our possession had to be connected up to existing line. A start was made on North side and good work done. One man was badly wounded by Turkish bullet, and 8672 Sgt W Cooke, Z Coy, was shot through stomach. Both died and Sgt Cooke was the greatest loss as he was an invaluable reconnoiterer by night. 3 men 10774 Cpl Byrne, 5728 Private Irwin, 8757 Private McGuire X Coy, behaved in a very gallant manner and brought in 2 wounded men from the open under a very heavy fire. Excellent work was also done by 15149 Sgt Byrne, Y Coy. the 3 rescuers formed part of the covering party under Lt Oulton. This officer behaved with the greatest coolness and courage, especially when half his party retired into the firing trenches when the first wounded by a Turkish bomb. Capts de Wolf and Hawes directed operations and it is to their splendid efforts and courage that only 2 casualties occured.
3 Oct Suvla 3 men to hospital plus Rev Father Hogg. Work has continued in the sap to blockhouse, and at cleaning the lines and at filling sandbags for further operations tonight. One man wounded today by our own artillery due to defective Australian ammunition. Name in tomorrows casualty lists. (in future the diary for any day will cover the previous night up to 12 noon of the day in question. eg diary of 4th Oct will cover operations from 12 noon of 3rd to 12 noon of 4th)
4 Oct Suvla Work sandbag filling, digging drains and communication trenches and cleaning area. Fire lit 6.30pm by 1/R Munster Fus on our right failed to ignite properly.Capt McMahon reconoitred my right front in connection with new line. Excellent work again to new trench at north end of hut. Covering party out all night. Heavy hostile sniping and fired heavily when fire was lit. A heavy fusilade broke out in division south of us. At once reinforced firing lines. Nothing happened and our fire was held. Work suspended for half an hour, Casualties: hospital 3: wounded by our own artillery 11249 L/Cpl M McClelland, W Coy.
5 Oct Suvla Work continued during rest of the day and at night actual connection with left of blockhouse established. Two new communication trenches to support line started, also new support trench by 1/Royal Fusiliers lent to us. RE work in blockhouse poor, also wiring most skimpy. 400 rounds fired by battalion at snipers and working parties of Turks. Casualties: Hospital 4: killed 1, 8905 Private J Cassidy, X Coy: wounded 1, 21203 Private J Fagan, Z Coy. Capt Carruthers rejoined at 18.00 4 Oct and posted to command, X Coy, also his company, Sgt Major and 1 man returned. These 3 had been to Alexandria to fetch base kits
6 Oct Suvla Strength 16 officers, 593 other ranks. Work during day continued in rear trench, also drain digging and sandbag filling. Attempts to fire grass in front failed. Sniper very active. Work on new trench at night, came across a well which suspended operations. Good work done in connecting part of line from fire trench towards south end of hut, Turkish working parties stopped by machine gun fire. Body found near new trench. Casualties: Hospital 2, rejoined 2. Coy Sgt Major McCann, Y Coy, has worked splendidly the last 2 days. Lt Ridley from 2nd Battalion joined and was taken on strength of battalion and was posted to Z Coy.
7 Oct Suvla The work continued till 4pm when a naval bombardment followed by field artillery bombardment (each a 1/4 hour) took place at the Turkish trenches. The shooting appeared to be accurate. Very excellent work done by night, especially by W Coy. Capt McMahon and 2nd Lt Sparkie organised the working party, and in the face of heavy fire sandbgs were carried out and a line laid out for digging. The Coy then worked for six hours with the greatest steadiness. 2nd Lt Sparkie walking up and down outside the trench and encouraging the men in the most gallant manner. Casualties: Hospital 2, 1 killed 19858 Private P McLoughlin, W Coy: Wounded 2, 5353 Private P Farlay, W Coy and 16518 Private J Byley, X Coy. Very heavy sniping all round area of blockhouse which can now be reached in safety from north. The Divisional General (de L) visited the blockhouse at 10.30am and said the work done was splendid, and decided to call the blockhouse Dublin Castle. Other work done on drainage, support and communication trenches, also filling sandbags. When the blockhouse area is completed, the names of those who are specially mentioned will be entered therein.
8 Oct Suvla Work continued on drainage system, ommunication, support and new fire trenches. New sap run out from between the two blockhouse huts towards the new trench coming from the south side. Some wiring was done, old wire being dragged forward just in front of new fire trench. Very little sniping last night and today. Several hostile snipers have been accounted for this last week. Casualties two wounded, 21427 Private J Mullally & 17228 Private T Doye. Z Coy. Hospital 1. Divisional General again visited Battalion HQ and issued fresh orders including wiring blockhouse. 2nd Lt A G Tooth, 6th Australian Light Horse (attached 1st RDF) to hospital. Blew up hostile snipers barricade and dugout with rifle grenades.
9 Oct Suvla Strength 16 officers, 581 men. During day work went on in new firing lines, blockhouse, communication and support trenches and drainage system. About 7pm heavy rain came with thunder and lightening and continued in gusts until 1am. This greatly impeded sandbag carrying and digging. but W Coy did good work in the new line from the south. X Coy assisted RE in wiring blockhouse. Fire breaks were placed 30 yards out on SE and 2 more made. 1 man of X was killed about 1.30am, and then the hostile flares and rapid fire necessitated the stoppage of wiring. Capt Carruthers and a bombing party tried to cleat the bush but it only got rid of snipers for a short time. General work resumed at 9am. Casuaties: killed 1 man 11461 L/Cpl P Fagan, X Coy: hospital 3
10 Oct Suvla Soon after midday a hostile aeroplane, flying very low, came oer our lines. Rifle fire was opened and it sheared off. Great chance for artillery, who did not fire. Work was continued on blockhouse area, main drainage and support trenches. Some more wiring was done - not very well placed, till wire and tressles ran out. Latrine dug in blockhouse area, sapping and new fire trenches advanced. Main drain entrances to fire trench opened up and bridged. In afternoon Capt Hawes fired 8 rifle grenades with good effect against hostile barricades. And Capr Carruthers from his sap threw one bomb into a snipers barricade. Hostle fire by night was in consequence much less. Casualties: hospital 2.
11 Oct Suvla In afternoon enemy fired 4 trench mortar bombs into X Coy lines, only 2 exploded an no damage done. Work continued in blockhouse area, main drainage and support trenches. A little more "French" wiring done north of blockhouse. Trestles came to ppieces when tryiing to carry them out. Snoping quite subdued by day, but extra galling at night. We destroyed 3 snipers posts with bombs, but fire was continued from thick bush all around. Rain started just at noon. Casualties: 1 killed 11839 L/Cpl J Harold, W Coy: 1 wounded 8544 L/Cpl J Best, W Coy: hospital 15, rejoined 3: to Brigade HQ, 1 as messanger.
12 Oct Suvla Strength 16 officers, 557 men. About 5pm 2 Turkish trench mortar bombs were fired into our lines: both failed to explode. We fired 8 rifle grenades into Turks snipers barricades with good effect. Work continued on blockhouse area, communication and support trenches, and drainage systems. At night a strong sandbag barricade was built between the two blockhouse huts and an extra bridge built across drain approaching blockhouse. A srorm of rain about midday delayed work for 2 or 3 hours. Hostile sniping much subdued by our bombing and expert riflemen. Divisional General (de Lisle) visited area and expressed his great satisfaction at the work done. 40 more yards of wiring done on northern and north-eastern sides of blockhouse area. Hostile aeroplane approached lines at 11am but was fired on and retired. Casualties: 7 hospital.
13 Oct Suvla Work continued in blockhouse area, drainage system and communication trenches. Barms made a parados side of branches and parapets improved. A new sap to connect a forward line started south of blockhouse. Sniping by emeny much relaxed Some of their working parties in front of our left centre held up by our machine gun fire. Our artillery opened up with HE on hostile trenches to our right front with good effect at 5pm. Hostile aeroplane approached at 11am but was driven off by fire. Casualties: hospital 1, and 1 man rejoined. 19 men who had gone to Divisional Train ASC have not appeared in battalion orders or been struck off strength, hence discrepency between strengths.
14 Oct Suvla Work continued in blockhouse area (2 saps and general improvements), drainage system and communication trenches. Parapets and parados repaired. Rear trench round blockhouse complete. Hostile sniping mild. Our machine gun stopped hostile working parties. Battalion contracted its fromt 200 yards to make toom Royal Fusiliers. Casualties: hospital 4.
15 Oct Suvla Strength 16 officers and 527 men. Work continued on 3 saps in blockhouse area. Telephone installed and improvements made, including new traverse and dugout. Progress made on main drains, bridges, communication trenches. Parapets and parados repaired and new traverse built in left of line. Shelters started. Hostile sniping mild by day but brisk at night round blockhouse. Our machine guns interrupted a Turkish working parties. Casualties: 1 wounded 18128 Private P Connolly, W Coy: hospital 1 . Lt H de Boer RAMC to Alexandria and struck off strength. Arrived Lt L D Shaw RAMC in place of Lt H de Boer RAMC.
16 Oct Suvla Work continued on Blockhouse area and sap to Royal Fusiliers ditch finished through. Work on main drainage, communication trenches and shelters continued, also repair to parapets and parados. Another traverse made on left fire trench. Some wiring in front of my left carried out by RE & Z Coy. Work stopped on saps from 4 to 8am by order. Hostile snipers quiet by day but active early part of evening till driven out by bombs and rifle grenades. 3 of later failed to explode. Casualties: hospital 6, rejoined 1.
17 Oct Suvla Work continued on main drainage, communication and repair of fire trenches. Some wiring was done by RE and Z company in front of our left. In blockhouse area fire trench pushed forward 25 yards. Sandbags were carried and a barricade built under Coy Sgt Major McCann who did excellent work. Trench was then dug and connecting sap south of the blockhouse pushed forward. Previous to this we carried out a bombardment with trench mortars, catapult rifle and hand grenades in conjunction with Royal Fusiliers who were meeting us from the south. Trench improved during the day. Sniping of enemy insignificant by day but very galling during the night work. We accounted for several enemy killed or wounded, but they wer got away. casulties: wounded 1, 21346 Private D Hayden: hospital (.
18 Oct Suvla Work continued on main drainage, communication trench and shelters. In blockhouse area rtench was continued along wall and connection made with Royal Fusiliers barricade. Excellent work done by men and a special telegram from Divisional General received expressing his pleasure. Coy Sgt Major McCann, Y Coy, brought in 2 Turkish and 3 of our rifles, all with fixed bayonets. Some wiring done on our left front by RE and Z Coy. Our area was shelled in the afternoon and one shell fell into northern blockhouse hut. 3 men were slightly wounded: (2 bruised, 1 burnt). We completely cover the Turks, took all sniper posts and practically all hostile firing ceased. Casualties: 3 wounded (21306 L/Cpl E Wolfred, 21488 Private R Hosie, 17861 Private P Brady, W Coy), 8 to hospital, also Capt McMahon. Lt Oulton transfered to W Coy to command it.
19 Oct Suvla Strength 15 officers, 492 men. Work was concentrated on "Dublin Castle" which was rapidly being consolidated. Some minor work was done on drains, shelters and communication trenches. Wire trestles were fixed in front of new piece of trench to the north. A new and more forward line of trench commenced to complete salient to Royal Fusiliers line. 2 men wounded by hostile bomb. The men working round went on unconcernedly. There was vewry little hostile sniping. Heavy shell fire was directed at Dublin Castle soon after noon. And about 3pm another shell got the roof of the northern hut, another struck the parapet of Z Coy firing line. GOC division again expressed his satisfaction at work done. Casualties: wounded 3, 17816 Private P Coyle, 7135 Private P McGrath, Y Coy, 7886 Private P Kirwan, HQ Coy: hospital 6, rejoined 1.
20 Oct Suvla The enemy again shelled Dublin Castle about midday. 2 shells struck the huts which were unoccupied. They are now being demolished. A barricade was built at night across a ditch in front of our latest piece of fire trench, east of Dublin castle. Some good wiring was also done by RE and Y Coy under heavy sniping. Work also done on drainage, communication and shelters, and general improvement in trenches. Very little hostile sniping except around Dublin Castle, where it was very galling. An officer of the 2/Royal Fusiliers wandering in our trenches without leave was killed by a sniper. Casualties:hospital 8.
21 Oct Suvla Improvement and consolidation of Dublin Castle position. Bundles of wire were thrown into ditch over barricade. Removal of the Castle's huts roofs completed. Work done on drainage and clearing ground between firing line and support trenches. Communications trenches and shelters advanced. Hostile sniping vicious around Dublin Castle, elsewhere slight. Our artillery kindly dropped 3 shells into our tenches at 3pm by mistake while cutting enemy wire. Our fire was confined to sniping shots. Turkish gun located on ridge, bearing 69 degrees from point 60 yards west of Dublin Castle. Brigade and forward observing officer notified. Our fire was not too effective. Casualties: hospital 4, rejoined 1.
22 Oct Suvla Strength 15 officers, 478 men. New main fire trench east of Dublin Castle almost complete. Bomb protectors fixed to barricade. Brushwood cleared in front of support trench. Communication trench Cq complete. General improvement to parapets and sanitary work. Brushood cleared in new fire trench. Hostile sniping vicious in front of Dublin Castle only New snipers post discovered up ditch. Heavy shell fire twice during the day by enemy on battalion HQ area. Hostile aeroplane flying high came across area in morning. Turkish gun located and reported. Bearing 69 degrees from point 60 yards west of Dublin Castle. Casualties: hospital 4, rejoined 1.
23 Oct Suvla Parados built behind barricade in ditch, and bomb protection improved. Work consited chiefly in improving fire and communication trenches, paving paths and digging cuts for shelters. Firing step in support line revetted with stones. Bridge built across main drain outside parapet. Sandbags filled. Very little firing on our part. Hostile sniping brisker than normal. Our area was heavily shelled between 11am and 3pm especially battalion HQ. No casualties except 1 man bruised. Damage done to 1 or 2 parapets. Casualties: 1 wounded 11305 Private W McSweeney MG Section. Hospital 7.
24 Oct Suvla Heavy shell fire opened on our area bearing about 130 degrees from Dublin Castle. Most shells failed to explode. Time 3 to 4 pm. Trench improvements, paving paths, drainage, raising and revetting firing steps to support line, and clearing brushwood carried out. Hostile sniping subdued at and around Dublin Castle at 8pm. Enemy replied by trench mortar bombs and rifle grenades at 3am aimed at support line. No damage done. One parados hit by large shell repaired. Also parts of communication trench. Casualtie; hospital 6
25 Oct Suvla Work daone was improvement to trenches and paving paths. Shelters continued and new sanitary measures taken. Filling of sandbags for new work. We bombed and grenaded the enemy snipers' posts at 8.20 pm which silenced them for a time. The Turks replied with a few harmless trench mortar bombs and grenades between 9 and 10pm. The nearest hostile snipers posts well wired in during the night. Our snipers fired steadily all night. Casualties: hospital 10, rejoined 1.
26 Oct Suvla Draft of two officers - Lt Jacob, Lt Moffat - 9 NCOs and 90 men arrived at 9.30pm. Work started on new sap from ditch north of Dublin Castle to straighten line. Improvements to parapets and parados, paving paths, revetting firing steps and drainage. Shelters and sandbag work done. Hostile sniping very severe. Our bombing quietened it for a time. Hostile aeroplane flew low over our trenches at 10.30am. Our artillery failed to fire at it! Casualties: wounded 1 man, 16785 Private J Fanning X Coy: hospital 4, rejoined 5.
27 Oct Suvla Strength 17 officers 545 men. Work on the new sap continued day and night. Fire trenches around barricades improved. Work on drainage and shelters continued also revetting fire steps and repairing parapets and parados. Paving paths and sanitary work in morning. One of our machine guns dispersed a Turkish working party. Sniping continues around , elsewhere slight. Our fire was normal. Casualties: 1 wounded 19330 L/Cpl J Byrne, Z Coy: hospital 11, rejoined 2.
28 Oct Suvla Work continued on new sap towards dead tree. Shelters, drainage, sandbag filling & carying, sanitation and repair of parapets, firing steps and parados continued. The wiring of the ditch NE of Dublin Castlewas attempted, but the enemy threw 4 bombs over the heads of our covering party, and they fell among the wirers, wounding Lt Holland RE and 3 of our men. The covering party behaved with gallantry and coolness, bombing the urks in return and dispersing them. And then with great steadiness and courage, carried in the wounded to safety. The men who distinguished themselves were: 21890 L/Cpl R McNichol, 22111 Private T McGann, 21170 Private J Tierney, W Coy. Hostile sniping severe round Dublin Castle, elsewhere slight. In the afternoon a machine gun foired 1000 rounds and destroyed the wire round the Turkish snipers post in ditch. Casualties: wounded 3, 19866 Private J Logan (since died), 18841 Private P McWilliams, 17743 Private J Monaghan, W Coy. Hospital 8. To Brigade HQ,2. 1 man to Cape Helles struck off. 2 officers servants, whereabouts unknown, also struck off. Rejoined 3.
29 Oct Suvla Progress made with new sap. Wiring up to barricade ditch completed. Work done on shelters, parapets, fire steps, new battalion HQ. We bombed the Turks at 6.15pm and reduced their sniping. A Lt of RE (Sassoon) wounded in leg while wiring. Enemy shelled us from 12 to 2pm. And also from 7 to 8pm on 28th and at 10am on 29th. Casualties: 1 killed 5702 A/Coy Sgt major P Byrne, Z Coy by shrapnel. 1 wounded, 22170 Private J Winrow, Y Coy: hospital 4, rejoined 1
30 Oct Suvla Strength 17 officers, 522 men. Digging continued on new Battalion HQ and place for cooker. Also on shelters and repair of lines. The new sap was extended and improved. And 8 trestles of barbed wire put out under a covering party without accident. The enemy's sniping was brisk early in the evening but dies off later. Casualties: 3 wounded, 9704 Private J Jomnes, W Coy; 9342 Private P Loughmen and 19673 Private W Waterhouse, Z Coy: hospital 3, rejoined 1.
31 Oct Suvla Work on our new sap continued, and 2 other saps started, 1 for a new communication trench to new firing line, and 1 to meet new sap. HQ and Company Shelters, wash house and sanitary measures proceeded with. 6 new trestles put out by RE. Our fire was normal, that of enemy brisker than normal. The enemy shelled us between 3 and 4 pm, but it was ineffective. A hostile trench mortar threw two bombs without effect, and a rifle grenade which did not ezplode. The Turks have moved their hospital to a new site bearing 25 degrees from Dublin Castle. Small snipers barricade built in ditch opposite ours. The enemy were active in scrub around Dublin Castle, and one got a shot and killed a man in our barricade. Casualties: killed 5669 Private E Hayden, Y Coy: wounded, 8347 L/Cpl J Cronin & 17395 Private M Lonergan, Y Coy: 18014 L/Cpl J Snowball & 19331 Private M Byrne, Y Coy: hospital 1.
The following awards have been approved by the C in C Mediterranean Expeditionary Force in connection with the work done in and around Dublin Castle (wire dated 30 Oct 1915)