THE EVACUATION
When I learned in August of the Great Failure at Suvla, and heard with
astonishment and no little anger that no further troops were to be sent
to Gallipoli, I knew then that the only thing to do was to get out as
quickly as possible before the Turks could get a fresh stock of
munitions and reinforcements from Germany and Bulgaria.
It must not be imagined that I was anxious that we should leave
Gallipoli after all our great sacrifices there, but since the Government
had decided once more to fritter away our chances by diverting troops to
Salonika, when it was already too late to accomplish any useful purpose
there, I knew that our position on the Peninsula was hopeless.
Bad weather was coming on and it would have been absolutely impossible
to live in the trenches and dug-outs. Even with the little amount of
rain that I had experienced, the communication and other trenches were
at times waist deep in raging torrents, carrying down empty cases, dead
Turks and other débris.
Had troops been left in Gallipoli for the winter, the losses from
sickness and exposure alone would have been enormous; in fact, the Army
would have needed renewing every month.
It must be remembered that the conditions of life in Gallipoli were
entirely different to those prevailing in France. There were no such
things as dry sleeping places, dry clothes, or housing of any kind, and
one was just as likely to be killed in the so-called rest trenches as in
those on the front line.
One of the saddest things I know of was the death of the Colonel
commanding the King's Own Scottish Borderers. He had escaped everything
right through the campaign, but in the end met his death in one of the
rest trenches about the middle of November, by a shell fired from "Helen
of Troy" on the Asiatic coast.
When once it was definitely decided to send no further reinforcements to
Gallipoli, of course the only thing left to do was to get out, and to
get out as speedily as possible.
But even after the obvious had become inevitable, we still went on
gaily, spending enormous sums of money, laying down miles of tramways,
making roads, bridges, erecting camp hospitals, and doing a thousand
other things--all very expensive work.
When I saw this going on I began to think that perhaps, after all, the
Government were really going to do the right thing, which would have
been to throw an overwhelming force of Anglo-French troops on the Turks,
catching them, as they then were, with but little ammunition, crumpling
them up and thus accomplishing our main object in the Near East. This
would, undoubtedly, have been the right line of policy to have taken,
and would have helped Serbia much more than anything else, but some
fatal demon seems to dog the footsteps of our politico-strategists.
When our Foreign Minister declared that we were going to uphold Serbia
with all our might he must have known that he was mouthing mere empty
phrases, but the unfortunate Serbians put their trust in the pledged
word of a British Minister, with the result that thousands upon
thousands of them have been cruelly done to death.
The more honest and more noble plan would have been to have admitted
that, at the moment, we could do nothing for Serbia or the Serbians, and
to have advised them to make what terms they could with their powerful
neighbour, assuring them that, at the right time, when we were ready, we
would, without fail, not only deliver them from the hands of their
enemies, but amply compensate them for the trials they would, for a
space, have to endure.
It is said that the gods strike with blindness those whom they are about
to destroy and it certainly looks as if the gods had held the searing
iron rather close to our eyes; but, notwithstanding all the mistakes and
in spite of our politicians and our blundering strategists, and in spite
of our neglect of science and scientists, I have still absolute
confidence, owing to what I have seen of the splendid pluck and
endurance of our men, both in the Fleet and in the Army, that we will
come out of this great World War triumphant.
Let it not be supposed that our terrible losses and disastrous failure
in the Dardanelles have been altogether fruitless. By our presence
there, we held up and almost destroyed a magnificent Turkish Army and by
doing this we gave invaluable aid to our Russian ally.
Had it been possible for the Turkish Army, which we held fast in
Gallipoli, to have taken part in Enver Pasha's great push in the
Caucasus, there is no doubt that the Turks would have crushed the
Russians in those regions and have made things look very black indeed
for our ally. As it is, I consider it is greatly due to the Gallipoli
campaign that Russia, during her time of stress and shortage of
munitions, was able to hold her own in the Caucasus and, when she was
ready, assume the offensive, resulting in her recent brilliant capture
of that great Turkish stronghold in Asia Minor, Erzeroum.
The knowledge that this effort of ours has, after all, borne some fruit
tends to assuage our grief for the loss of those dear friends and good
comrades who now lie buried by those purple Ægean shores.
We can well imagine that the spirits of those heroes of France and
Britain and Greater Britain who have fallen in the fight are eagerly
watching and waiting for the hour of our victory; and when our Fleet
sails triumphantly through the Dardanelles, as it surely must, and
thunders forth a salute over the mortal remains of our mighty dead,
their shades will be at peace, for they will then know that, after all,
they have not died in vain.
APPENDIX
I had no idea when I was taken to hospital that I should not see my Zion
men again. I thought I should be fit for duty in the course of a few
days, so I never even said good-bye to them before I left. However, I am
in touch with them still through the post, and I am glad to say that
there were no deaths after I left and all got safely back to Egypt when
that brilliant piece of work--the evacuation of Gallipoli--took place. I
promised to recommend those who did well to the Russian Authorities, and
I was glad to forward the following letter and list of names to the
Imperial Russian Consul at Alexandria, for transmission to the proper
quarter:
Headquarters, Zion Mule Corps,
14 Rue Sesostris, Alexandria,
December 14th, 1915.
From the Officer Commanding Zion Mule Corps.
To The Imperial Russian Consul,
Alexandria.
SIR,
I have the honour to state that with the approval of your
Government a number of Jewish refugees from Palestine, Russian
subjects, were formed into a corps for service with the British
Army. I have already furnished you with a nominal roll of all
officers and men of Russian nationality in the Corps. I now
wish to bring to your notice, for the favourable consideration
of your Government, the names of those soldiers who did
especially well while serving under my command in Gallipoli,
and I sincerely trust that you may find it possible to have
their names brought before the Imperial Russian Minister for
War for favourable consideration.
The following have distinguished themselves before the enemy:
OFFICERS:
1. Captain J. Trumpledor has proved himself a most gallant
soldier and has been already decorated by H. I. M. the Tsar for
gallantry at Port Arthur.
2. Second Lieutenant Alexander Gorodisky. This was one of my
best officers and he was a very brave soldier. I was much
grieved when he died as the result of the hardships of the
campaign. He leaves a widowed mother who was dependent on him
for her maintenance.
3. Second Lieutenant Zolman Zlotnic, a useful officer and a
gallant man.
NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS:
1. Sergeant-Major Joseph Yassinsky.
2. Sergeant Nissel Rosenberg.
3. Corporal M. Groushkousky. This Corporal has been awarded the
Distinguished Conduct Medal for gallantry in the field.
4. Corporal Nehmia Yehoudis.
5. Corporal Isaac Yorish.
6. Corporal Frank Abram (killed in action, leaving a widow and
five little children).
I have only mentioned those who have specially distinguished
themselves, many others did very good service also, and I am
glad to be able to attach a copy of an official letter,
enclosed herewith, testifying to the good work done by these
Russian subjects while serving under me in the British Army.
Trusting for the favour of your transmitting these names to the
proper quarter.
I remain,
Sir,
Your most obedient servant,
(Signed) J. H. PATTERSON.
Lieutenant-Colonel Commanding Zion Mule Corps.
[COPY.]
8th Army Corps, H. Q. D. Adjt.-General, G. H. Q.
No. 274/12. No. B. 3322,
October 2nd, 1915. 5/10/15.
M. E. F.
The A. Q. M. G. 8th Army Corps.
I have had a petition from forty-five N. C. O.'s and men of
this corps for permission to go to Alexandria for a couple of
weeks on leave. I would very strongly recommend that this leave
may be granted, as these N. C. O.'s and men have been here (and
have worked well) ever since the original landing in April.
I consider that the men really need this change and as their
families are in Alexandria, I hope they will be sent there in
accordance with their request.
If, as I hope, my men are given leave to proceed to Alexandria,
I propose to give one half leave as soon as granted, and the
other half on the return of the first party.
As these men have done particularly well, I trust that their
good service will be recognised.
J. H. PATTERSON,
Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding.
2/10/15.
(Zion Mule Corps)
2. Adjutant-General, G. H. Q. 8th Corps, H. Q.
No. B. 332. No. A. 274/12.
5/10/15 4/10/15
M. E. F.
_G. H. Q._
I recommend this application. As the G. O. C.-in-C. is aware
_this Corps has done excellent work_.
(Signed) FRANCIS DAVIES,
Lieutenant General,
4/10/15. Commanding 8th Corps.
3. _G. O. C. 8th Corps._
This leave is approved, the delay is greatly regretted, but has
been unavoidable. The C.-in-C. has approved of a grant of one
pound to each of these forty-five men _in consideration of the
good work of the Corps_, and the Field Cashier is authorised to
issue the cash.
(Signed) A. CAVENDISH,
Colonel,
5/11/15. A. A. G., G. H. Q.
4. _Field Cashier._
Please note, and pass to O. C. Zion Mule Corps, who should
return this memo to Corps Headquarters.
(Signed) C. D. HAMILTON MOORE,
Lieutenant-Colonel for B. G., D. A.
and Q. M. G. 8th Army Corps.
7/10/15.
THE END
HATIKVOH
(Song of Hope)
HATIKVOH
Kol owd Hallivor peneemoh
Nafesch Yehoodée howmeeoh
Uléfahahsi Mizroch kohdeemoh
Aynec Tzeeown tsowfeeoh.
Owd lou ovdoh Sikvohsinu
Hatikvoh hahnowshohno.
Loshur léaretz ahvousinu
Léear bow Dovid chonoh.
Kol owd démohows--Mieyeninu
Yizzlu kéghashem nédovous
Urvovous mibni Amminu
Owd howlcheem al kivri ovous.
Owd lou ovdoh Sikvohsinu
Hatikvoh hahnowshohno.
Loshur léaretz ahvousinu
Léear bow Dovid chonoh.
HATIKVOH
(THE SONG OF HOPE)
Arranged by Eva Lonsdale.
By kind permission of Messrs. R. Mazin & Co., London.
1. O, Zi - on, our fair dwell-ing, home of peace and rest,
Far from thee we mourn our lib - er - ty, Tho'
sadden'd be our hearts, our souls with grief oppress'd,
Still our hope, our hope is in thee.
2. Tho' dark and drear, the hours pass slow, and fraught with pain,
Still we trust, Thoul't cher - ish us once more For
soon the dawn must break o'er thy green hills a-gain,
Bring-ing joy to thy fair shore.
REFRAIN.
Oh, Lord our God, guard and set us free--
Grant to Zi-on joy and lib-er-ty,
Night and day we pray to be Once
more, dear land, re - stor - ed to thee.
Transcriber's Notes
Obvious errors of punctuation and diacritics repaired.
The following words appear both with and without hyphens and have not
been changed: "break-down", "common-sense".
Hyphen added: "dug-out" (p. 194).
Hyphen removed: "fore-finger" (p. 86).
P. 111: "Lancashire Fusilers" changed to "Lancashire Fusiliers".
P. 217: "corraboree" changed to "corroboree" (they held a corroboree).
P. 240: "led" changed to "let" (who had let it).
P. 284: duplicate "to" deleted (an immense change to us).
P. 298: "Groushkovsky" changed to "Groushkousky".