Constance, John Edward, 1894-1915 : Gallipoli diary

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