Primary tabs
Transcription
[Page 26]
Ari Burun
or Anzac
8.7.15.
– – – – – Had meant to write you quite a long letter but you have no idea of our discomfort here. The heat is intense – about 88° & like Sydney – no cool verandah to write on – only a blanket just over ones head. The flies are the ghastly limit – give one indigestion as one has to blow & bolt ones grub. I cannot grumble however as I have again been on board the "Sicilia": This time got very weak from starvation following on a weeks indigestion, owing to an issue of bread, mostly dough – & getting influenza on top of that, I was sent away.
Have told lots of generals & Col. Doctors & things that if Regt; doctors were given castor oil to serve out to the [regtl?] sick & then a handful of rice or arrowroot or something for 2 days rations, the leakage of men wld. not be so great. Rice, 15 tons I'm told, has been eaten here, but divil a grain have I seen. I feel sure its all kept on the beach & eaten by those responsible for sending it up to the sick.
However – they sent me away & I got better quickly. Graham took me over from the nurse & so I lived on the bridge deck. He couldn't do enough & fussed "somethink awful". I eat & eat & eat & that was the cure. Geo Onslow, Shillington & lots of others off – very hard to get well once down with anything. The 4th day I was well enough to come on shore but a breeze prevented any connection & so I was carried away to Mudros – the bay in Lemnos Island.
There I saw 2 huge navies, dozens of naval officers rushing about the harbour doing nothing, & hundreds of red tabbed important staff men trying to look as if they had some thing to do ashore. I cld. write a good article on the carelessness & mistakes of everything from beginning to end & I'm awfully glad I went to Lemnos for I see now how the mistakes etc reach here: but must wait for a Chair & table & comfort.
I had to go off the Sicilia as she was off to Malta. On landing with 7 others I deposited my small kit bag & a box of food I was taking to trooper Knox of the Vic 4 L.H. from Graham, & eventually we separated & I was taken by alone by a Cpl to No 1 Hosp. (Australian).
From outside I heard the Regtl. Sergeant arguing he couldn't