Battle of Gallipoli

An Australian soldier, fighting with Britain against Turkey, wrote a diary throughout the Battle of Gallipoli. In his entries, he repeatedly mentions being surrounded by numerous deaths caused by the enemy snipers. Since Gallipoli is extremely dry, it was very hard for the soldiers to get access to drinkable water, so soldiers received only one to two litters of water, when they should have been receiving 20 litters of water, which is what a person in a dry, hot climate would need. The only accessible water sources were dangerous to reach since the soldiers risked being shot by Turkish soldiers. The soldiers were surrounded by rotting bodies of dead soldiers, so these soldiers had to survive in very unsanitary conditions. Silas also mentions, many soldiers suffered from dysentery or an “infection of the intestines resulting in severe diarrhea with the presence of blood and mucus in the "feces”. Later on, we get a better sense of the soldier’s opinion and state of mind on the war,

“Sergeant of the machine gun is writing a very amusing diary, full of humour; I wish I had his spirit. In the dug-out just above me a poor chap is lying very ill but has asked me to say nothing to the medical officer as he does not want to get sent away in the middle of the fun, as he calls it. Of such stuff are soldiers made – I think if I were in his place I’d be glad of an excuse to get out of this Hell, though I don’t think I should ever have forgiven myself if I had not come.” (Silas).

It is interesting to see that despite the fact that that the man hates being there, he is glad for his decision to come. As the days go by, the situation gets worse and the scenes becomes more gruesome;

 “Dawn. Oh God, only 250 left of our battalion – there has been a ceaseless stream of wounded... the narrow pass is so cumbered with dead and badly wounded... that it is becoming impassable – along the edge, bodies are hanging in all sorts of grotesque and apparently impossible attitudes” (Silas). 

The soldier starts doubting their likelihood to survive, let alone win, the battle. He starts thinking about all the horrible casualties, and how the experience is simply traumatizing.

 “I don’t think we can hold the Ridge much longer ...they (Turks) keep pouring down (shooting) – Marines, some of them mere boys, and New Zealanders are supporting us, but keep getting frightfully cut up. I am told to go and rest…I lie down in the sun for a bit, but sleep I cannot” (Silas).

Despite the hardships, he still manages to survive, and we can get a sense of his thoughts as he marvels at the luxuries of the “normal” lives we take for granted.

“Great excitement – have just been presented with half a loaf of bread – what exactly this means, only those who have been without one can fully appreciate. Some papers at last, and mail from home, among which a copy of London Opinion – an article by Ashley Sterne made me laugh; the first time I have really done so for nearly two months. The letters from home make me think a lot; this terrible life will make me very contented with the ordinary conditions of life. For my part, all I desire is a little studio and the wherewithal for bread and butter” (Silas).

As we can see here, hardships can make one reflect on life and appreciate even the smallest details that often go unnoticed. 

(source: Silas)