Item 01: Sir Charles Rosenthal diary, 25 September 1914-31 December 1918 - Page 110
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[Page 110]
We were informed that H.M.S. Triumph was this morning torpedoed by a Submarine off Gaba Tepe, and that the sailors we saw on the Destroyer were survivors. We do not know how many casualties there were. We were also told that two nights ago the Turks, strongly reinforced, attacked our positions at Kaba Tepe at 1 AM. Our men counter attacked about an hour later and accounted for 9000 Turkish casualties, while our losses were 500. An Armistice was declared next day, the Turks burying 3000 dead. Such a heavy list of Turkish casualties makes me think our guns must have been doing good work during the night. I shall be desperately anxious to get away from this Port. I want to be with my guns.
As we are now in Port there is no trouble about darkening ship. In consequence all lights are going again. It was officially notified to us tonight that Italy has at last joined in with us and declared war against Austria. I wonder what will be the result in the Adriatic Sea. Men on board are a terribly undisciplined crowd. I have representatives of no less than 44 different units on board; some without officers, so it can be imagined how difficult it is to ensure decent troop ship discipline.
Wednesday 26th May
Much to my surprise 4 Torpedo Destroyers came alongside about 9 AM this morning to tranship us to Gallipoli. We bustled around and got our men aboard about noon leaving Mudros at 12.30PM. Each destroyer had about 500 men on board, my boat having 540 including 20 officers. She was named "Harpy". Some of these men and officers had been wounded earlier in the proceedings and were returning from Hospital. We had a beautiful trip to Gaba Tepe, quite a yachting cruise, about 50 miles at 20 knots. When we reached Gaba Tepe we were preparing to transfer into punts to be towed ashore by launches. The Turkish artillery opened on us with shrapnel firing 8 rounds. Four were effective and in a few moments we had 42 casualties on my boat, 5 being killed and 7 so badly wounded that the doctors held out no hope for them. It was a dreadful experience, and the wardroom was temporarily turned into a Hospital.
Luckily we had three doctors on board.
When I ultimately got ashore I reported immediately to General Birdwood and Col Hobbs. It was good to hear their hearty welcome, I think the more hearty because they had been watching the effect of Turkish shells on the Destroyers.