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[Page 100]
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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