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[Page 42]
pelting us like anything. The ships are keeping the tip of the ridges under a continual line of fire – am just told that we have landed 20,000 men. We are transferring into the boats – it is raining lead – Turks firing wide.
It was a relief to get ashore; we were packed so tightly in the boats and moreover so heavily laden with out kit that, had a shot hit the boat, we should have had no chance of saving ourselves – it was awful the feeling of utter helplessness.
Meanwhile the Turks pelted us hot and fast. In jumping ashore I fell over, my kit was so heavy; I couldn't get up without help – fortunately the water was shallow at this point, otherwise-.
It was a magnificent spectacle to see those thousands of men rushing through the hail of Death as though it was some big game – these chaps don't seem to know what fear means – in Cairo l was ashamed of them, now I am proud to be one of them though I feel a pigmy beside them.
Wish there wasn't quite such a damned noise with the guns, it is sending me all to pieces – don't think I shall ever make a soldier.
The beach is littered with wounded, some of them frightful spectacles; perchance myself I may at any moment be even as they are. Indians bringing ammunition mules along the beach – this scene of carnage worries them not at all.
It is commencing to get dark – we are now climbing the heights.