Item 01: Oliver Hogue letters, November 1914-29 December 1915 - Page 100

[Page 100]

8

of course the big item of news here is the fight our fellows put up in the Dardanelles.   When the landing was effected they encountered barb wire entanglements & trenches with [indecipherable].   Our boys made a great bayonet charge & drove the Turks for 7 miles.   It was the 9th Battalion infantry that bore the brunt of the attack.   Without waiting for supports they never troubled to fire.   They just fixed bayonets & dashed at the trenches.   We have only meagre details at present, but it is believed we lost 600 killed & 2000 wounded.   The stories we get from the wounded at the base are rather conflicting. They are only scraps & snap shots.   One wounded Turk asked an Australian for a drink & he gave him his water bottle. Then the Turk drew his revolver & shot the Australian dead.   Then 4 of our chaps got to the Turk & cut him to pieces.  

Another Turk in the trenches fired till the Australians were right on him & wounded a few. Then the moment our fellows got to the trench he dropped his rifle & held up his hands in surrender.   But our chaps would not stand that.   They bayoneted him on the spot.   From all accounts the Australians behaved with wonderful dash & courage & the bayonet charge should put the fear of Australia into the Turks.   We have sent reinforcements to fill up the gaps in our ranks & at last we hear definitely that our brigade is to move off very soon, & that some English Yeomanry are to take on our job of guarding Egypt.  
Best love to all.
Ol