Imperial Ottoman Army

Date: 1 Jan - 13 Sep 1915

From: McRae, Donald, 1881-1915 : Diary and letters

Reference: MS-Papers-3775-1

Description: This folder contains the war diary written by McRae from Jan to Sep 1915. At the front of the diary is a brief timeline of travelling dates from leaving Auckland in Sep 1914, through to arriving in Cairo on 5 Dec 1915. McRae's entries in the diary are brief. He describes his time at Zeitoun Camp, parades, training drills, and visits to the Egyptian Pyramids. McRae transfers with his unit to Ismalia on 26 Jan 1915. Comments on the attach of the Turkish Army at Suez Canal on 3 Feb 1915. Transported on the `Katuna' on 10 Apr 1915 to the island of Lemnos. Ship moves off ANZAC Cove on 24 Apr 1915. Details fighting and wounded until 4 May 2015 when he disembarks at ANZAC Cove and moves up to the firing line. Wounded in leg on 8 May 1915, wound dressed on beach the next day. Taken aboard transport with other casualties including Lieutenant-Colonel Plugge and Major Harrowell. Shipped to Malta via Alexandria to recuperate at St George's Hospital. McRae details life on Malta over the next month. Returns to Gallipoli and the front line on 25 Jun 1915. Involved in the battle of the Turkish Army's last major offensive against the ANZAC soldiers on 29 and 30 June 1915. Injured for a second time on 7 Aug 1915 during Auckland Infantry's attack in the ANZAC offensive which included the attack on Lone Pine and Chunuk Bair. Lay out without dressing for three days then carried down to shore. Medical attention the following day and transferred to a medical boat on 11 Aug 1915. En route to Malta the bullet was removed from his leg. Very few entries in the diary from this point. Leg operated on 19 Aug 1915, amputated 13 Sep 1915 (last entry). End pages of diary include some contact addresses and a list of names (possibly correspondents). Quantity: 1 folder(s). Physical Description: Holograph (9.5 cm; red cover) Processing information: Digitisation details - Part of WW100 digitisation project. 273 digitised images

Date: 1915-1916

By: McGilp, Clyde, 1883-1918

Reference: MSX-8786

Description: War diary contains a day-by-day account of operations of McGilp's 1st Battery for most of 1915 with brief entries for the beginning of 1916. Diary begins on 9 Apr 1915 with troops leaving Zeitoun Camp for Alexandria. Depart aboard the transport vessel `HMAT Katuna" for Gallipoli. Arrive at Lemnos and continue training and the slinging of horses in preparation for the Gallipoli landing. Infantry disembarks at a beach one and a half miles North of Kaba Tepe on 25 Apr 1915. McGilp stays aboard the transport vessel to disembark further troops and supplies. Entries include details of fighting manoeuvres of soldiers and shelling by the Navy, condition of the horses and the burial of the dead. Transport returns to Alexandria 12 May 1915 so the horses can be exercised. Diary note that McGilp took over command of the 1st Battery on 20 Jul 1915. In August McGilp details the Battery's support for the 1st Australian Infantry Brigade in the battle of Lone Pine ridge. Continues with details of artillery support for the New Zealand infantry and the Wellington Battalion on taking Chunuk Bair on 8 Aug 1915. The remainder of the diary records the bombing of the Turkish Army as they counter-attacked gaining the positions they had lost earlier. Major McGilp records the daily rounds from his guns, casualty lists of his own soldiers, observation and movements of Turkish troops and arms at Lone Pine, Pine Ridge, Chunuk Bair, The Nek, Baby 700, The Apex, The Chessboard, Johnston's Jolly, Quinn's Post, Rhododendron Spur, Legge Valley, Table Top, Sari-Bair, Gun Ridge, Owen's Gully, Scrubby Knoll, Poplar Grove, Hill 971, Walden's Point, Mortar Ridge, Meadow Field and the Maimais. On 14 Nov 1915 Lord Kitchener visits the 1st Battery at their observing station on Walker's Ridge. From 14 Dec 1915 the 1st Battery prepares to evacuate Gallipoli by destroying or burying beneath land mines surplus stores and ammunition. 6.10pm on 19 Dec 1915 the last gun fires its final shell and is dismantled and carried to the beach. By 7.40pm Major McGilp and his gunners have embarked aboard the `HMT Queen Louise' to Lemnos. Diary includes a list of the 22 soldiers who evacuated alongside Major McGilp. Troops then head to Ismailia in Egypt. Diary is complete on 8 Jan 1916. A further note on 6 Apr 1916 indicates that Major McGilp is embarking to France and a new diary commences. Last entry is a newspaper cutting depicting Major McGilp in action in the Somme, France. Diary also contains throughout its pages extracts from the Brigade's official diary, maps, topographical drawings, notes on military projections, force orders and photographs. Also a letter to Mary McGilp from Major Fred Waite returning McGilp's diary to her, Apr 1919. Extracts from McGilp's diary were used in the volume `The New Zealanders in Gallipoli'. Source of title - Transcribed from item Major McGilp left New Zealand in 1914 and commanded the 1st Battery of the 1st Brigade, New Zealand Field Artillery during the Galipoli Campaign. He subsequently saw action in Egypt, the Balkans and the Western Front in France. Returned to New Zealand in Jul 1918 to be an artillery instructor at Featherston Military Camp. Died of influenza at Featherston on 14 Nov 1918. Serial Numbers: 7475 and 2/280. Quantity: 1 volume(s) (76 leaves). Physical Description: Holograph (26 cm; tied between boards, in phase box) Illustrated with maps and photographs Processing information: Part of WW100 digitisation project. Digitisation details - 86 digitised images

Date: 1914-1915

By: Constance, John Edward, 1894-1915

Reference: MSX-2845

Description: Diary covers the period 20 Aug 1914 to 15 Aug 1915 and provides a detailed day-by-day description of Private Constance's activities. Details joining the Army on 20 Aug 1914, training at Addington and travelling to Wellington for embarkation on 16 Oct 1915. Recorded his vote for the 1914 New Zealand general election. Sailed aboard the `Tahiti' with the Canterbury Infantry Battalion. Comments on shipboard life, sea sickness, rifle exercises, general drills, fatigue duties and tug-of-war competitions between soldiers. Stopovers in Hobart and Albany. General Godfrey and staff tour the transport on 20 Oct 1915 in Albany. Notes sinking of the German Navy light cruiser `SMS Emden' by the Australian light cruiser `HMAS Sydney' in 9 Nov 1915. During stopover on 16 Nov 1915 in Colombo the `Tahiti' takes on board seven prisoners who served aboard the `SMS Emden'. Arrives Aden 25 Nov 1915 then continues onto Suez Canal. Comments on soldiers' disappointment on learning the troops were not continuing onto England but being deployed in Egypt instead. Disembarked 3 Dec 1915 at Alexandria and entrained to Cairo and then Zeitoun Camp. Constance updates daily on military drills, parades, inspections, marches and skirmishing practice in the desert. On leave he visits Cairo and the Pyramids with other soldiers. Marched with the whole of the New Zealand Divisional Brigade through the streets of Cairo. Comments on being paid in shillings and writing letters home. 26 Jan 1915 leaves Zeitoun Camp for the camp at Ismailia. Company relieves troops at El Ferdan to repel a possible Turkish attack on Suez Canal. Comments on number of Turkish prisoners taken on his return to Ismailia, and then back to Zeitoun Camp. On 16 Mar 1915 the troops were inspected by Sir Arthur Henry McMahon, High Commissioner in Egypt. Ten days later Constance notes that his false teeth are broken after chewing tough beef. On Good Friday, 2 Apr 1915 Constance is in Cairo and witnesses the riot in the Ezbekieh Quarter between local Egyptians and Allied troops, comments on the drunks and arrested men. Entrains to Alexandria on 10 Apr 1915 and sails on the transport `Lutzow' with the Canterbury Battalion to the port of Mudros on the Mediterranean island of Lemnos. At anchor in the harbour with daily trips to the island for marching practice, training and leave. 24 Apr 1915 transport heads to the Gallipoli Peninsula lead by the British dreadnought battleship `HMS Queen Elizabeth'. 11.00am on 25 Apr 1915 leaves the `Lutzow' landing on the Gallipoli Peninsula and straight into action. Records fighting up on the firing line. Constance continues to record his daily life of bombardments by the Turkish Army, sniper fire, manning the trenches, and coming off the front line to be relieved and take sleep wherever he could find it. 3 May 1915 writes that the men were being "slaughtered wholesale" and provides a detailed account of the New Zealand soldiers trying to retire from their position in the face of enemy fire. Following weeks settles into a routine of front line activity, fatigue duty at the beach, burying the dead and rest. 19 May 1915 Constance and his section are transported onto the HMS Reindeer and sailed a couple of miles along the coast, they come ashore once more and commence the digging of trenches. Returned to original bivouac on 22 May 1915. Notes the sinking of the `HMS Triumph' on 25 May 1915. 4 Jun 1915 Canterbury Infantry raided from Quinn's Post, next day a sortie against the enemy at German Officers' Trench opposite Courtney's Post. 15 Jun 1915 Constance competes in a bomb throwing competition. Constance's Company travel to Mudros for rest on 15 Jul 1915. Comments on the men being sick "as they had eaten too many luxuries". Returns to Anzac Cove and duty on Walker's Ridge. Involved in the heavy fighting during the first week of Aug 1915. Last entry on 15 Aug 1915 as a party of Constance's Company advances beyond the trench lines to take a fort but are driven back and have to retire. Last page of diary has two quotes from history. Source of title - Provided by Library Relationship complexity - A portrait photograph of Constance has been digitised and is in the Photographic Archive (PAColl-10094) Private Constance left New Zealand with the Canterbury Infantry Battalion in Oct 1914. Trained in Egypt. Fought at Gallipoli, wounded late August 1915, died 2 Sep 1915 in a hospital in Alexandria. Serial Number: 6/1223A. Quantity: 1 volume(s) (68 leaves). Physical Description: Holograph (9 x 14 cm, fawn case) Provenance: Donor is nephew of Constance Processing information: Part of WW100 digitisation project. Digitisation details - 114 digitised images

Date: 11 Aug 1915-11 Feb 1916

By: Bollinger, George Wallace, 1890-1917

Reference: MS-Papers-1419

Description: Diary covers service in Egypt and the Gallipoli campaign, while serving with the Hawkes Bay Company of the Wellington Infantry Regiment. Diary begins on 11 Aug 1915. Bollinger is returning to the front in Gallipoli after a month away from action, recuperating in the New Zealand General Hospital No 2 with a case of Gastritis. First part of diary recounts sailing from Alexandria to Turkey and activities aboard ship. He notes the sinking of the passenger liner `Royal Edward' in six minutes, with 2500 to 3000 British troops on board after being torpedoed by the German submarine UB-14. Bollinger has drawn a rough sketch of the vessel sinking (approximately 935 soldiers were drown). Comments on the transfer at the island of Lemnos and the trip to ANZAC Cove. On arrival comments on how badly beaten up the Wellington Brigade are, and the deaths of Lieutenant-Colonel William Malone and his friend Lieutenant Grace. Describes his ill health, the frightful smell of dead soldiers, body lice, living conditions, mail from home, and actions against the Turks, as well as personal comments on the nature of war. On 1 Sep the remnants of the New Zealand Infantry Brigade are ordered to man Garrison Apex. 14 September the Australian and New Zealand Brigades are withdrawn from Gallipoli to Lemnos for rest and reorganisation. Bollinger notes that most of the soldiers are sick with stomach pains and that Lemnos has become one big hospital. Bollinger himself ends up in the Hospital at Mudros. Comments on daily parades, church services and his military duties on Lemnos. 8 Nov returned to Gallipoli and the Apex on Chunuk Bair. 14 Nov comments on the rumour Lord Kitchener is visiting Gallipoli and details the heavy shelling from the Turkish Army and the huge weather storm encompassing the Peninsula. 24 Nov Bollinger takes snapshots with his camera of the Apex, Guthrie's donkeys and the Turkish position from the beach. Late Nov a snow storm with sleet, rain and ice. 2 Dec another Hawkes Bay Company soldier shot and Bollinger notes the Company is down to 84 men. 5 Dec Bollinger sails across to the island of Imbos to get canteen supplies for the Company, passes by Cape Helles. From 11 Dec he notes consistent rumours of an evacuation from Gallipoli and on 14 Dec that "Today we got our handicaps for the Gallipoli Runaway Stakes". Hawkes Bay Company evacuates on 18 Dec to Mudros on Lemnos. 26 Dec sailed on the P&0 liner `Simila' to Suez and onto the village of Ismali. Leave into Cairo for a week in early January 1916 and Bollinger notes the relief and joy at the freedom of the soldiers. Returns to Moascar army camp awaiting redeployment. 11 Jan Bollinger's appointment as Regimental Sergeant is confirmed and his notice to return to New Zealand is given 2 Feb. He is one of only six men from the whole force that are to return to New Zealand. Leaves Cairo to head to Suez on the 10 Feb. Last entry on 11 Feb 1916 for diary journal. The end pages of the volume contain payment lists, names and addresses. Source of title - Supplied Relationship complexity - An earlier diary by Bollinger, together with letters and photographs (all photocopies) are held at MS-Papers-2350 Sergeant Bollinger fought with the Hawkes Bay Company, Wellington Infantry Regiment in the Turkish Campaign at Gallipoli in 1915. Returned to New Zealand in Feb 1916 to train as an officer. Serial number: 10/1024. Quantity: 1 folder(s) (one volume, 134 pages). 0.01 Linear Metres. Physical Description: Holograph (13.5 cm, black leather) Processing information: Part of WW100 digitisation project. Digitisation details - 107 digitised images