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Dear Mum, Dad and Sally, I’m keeping this journal in case I don’t make it home and I hope it finds you. We are not supposed to keep diaries, but it helps take my mind off the homesickness. Jack and I got on the ship in Egypt with the rest of the 10th Battalion, we had no idea where we were going and the British ship we were on took us to the Dardanelles, near Constantinople. I was told the British Navy tried to bombard Constantinople but got driven back. Of course the Turks were waiting for us. We all climbed down the cargo nets and got into what the Navy boys call a launch which are a type of landing craft. All in the dark at about 3 AM. I tried to keep Jack beside me when we hit the beach at a place called Gallipoli. Some of our blokes sank over their heads in the water because of the weight of their packs and equipment, poor fellows. We were the first battalion to hit the beach. Couldn’t believe they dropped us at a place with sheer cliffs, at the top of which were Turkish machine guns. It was awful. Jack and I got to the top of the cliffs together but a lot of blokes weren't so lucky. We pushed on but couldn’t go too far as the Turks brought up reinforcements. So we dug holes in the ground like crazy animals. Some of the blokes reckon it will be over in a couple of weeks. Well it's been 6 weeks now and no let up. Not much else to say really Jack and I are still well but could do with some of your home cooking Mum. Haven’t been able to write much for a while. I’m lying in a hospital bed on an Island called Lemnos. Bullet wounds in both legs and right arm. All of them went straight through thank God. You’ll remember Bill McDonald, whose family owns a farm on the other side of town. Poor bloke copped it in the neck at the same place I was hit. We attacked the Turkish trenches and met with fierce resistance. Jack came through unscathed. We lost a lot of good men. I’m still not sure how all this is worth so many men dying. They reckon I’ll be back with the battalion in a couple of weeks. I’m worried about Jack when I’m not there. Still stuck in the hospital, leg wounds wouldn’t heal properly so it's now three weeks. I don’t know if I can handle not being around to look out for Jack. He wrote me a letter yesterday telling me how Mick Johnson had copped it. Do you remember when Mick and Jack would play together all the time when we were kids, I don't know how Jack is going to cope with that one, they were as thick as thieves, hopefully he can deal with it and try to focus on staying alive. Met an Australian nurse called Helen Rankine. Couldn’t believe it she’s from South Australia not far from our place. A beaut girl. We have become quite close. Mum I think she might be the one. Not sure what the future holds but one can only hope and dream I suppose. I do not want to get my hopes up as I know that there is a chance that I will never be able to come back and live a happy life with this woman. I know it’s winter back home and I’m missing my old horse. I miss the farm so much Mum, it’s all I can think about, the sunny days we would spend outside all together, you, Dad, Sally and Jack and I, what I would do to go back to those times. Three weeks later and I'm back with the battalion. There are more men out now, Jack’s been catching me up on all the friends we’ve lost, It’s devastating Mum. The Turks are relentless, we're trying and trying, but at the moment I feel like both sides are fighting a never ending battle. I had to take a break from writing, I don't know how to write this, I don’t know how to tell you. There was a Turkish attack on our lines. I t was unexpected, Jack took a shot to the head, he went quickly. I couldn't get his body back to the trenches, I tried so hard Mum, I am so sorry. It's been two weeks now since Jack died, I can’t stop thinking about how I promised you I would protect him Mum, I’m so sorry Mum, I hope Dad and Sally are doing okay as well, I’m going to make it my life mission to make sure I get back to you guys so I can take care of you all. I’ll be back soon God willing. I’ve been shot again in the leg the doctors say I’ll be in hospital for another 3 weeks again. Helen has been here with me though and it’s gotten pretty serious Mum I really love this girl. I’m so very excited for you to meet her when I come back to Australia. She truly is the reason that I keep going everyday. Her smile makes it all worth it. I’ve been promoted to Sergeant, Mum. I've been told that I will serve as a Platoon Sergeant. The way things are around here sometimes Sergeants end up running Companies. Who knows what might happen. I miss you guys so much I can’t wait to be back with my family and for you all to meet Helen, Mum you're gonna love her. Lieutenant Colonel Charles Brudenell White put out a set of orders. Can you believe it, after all that’s happened here, on Wednesday they will begin an evacuation. 36,000 troops will be shipped out over four nights. Support troops and reserves will go first, then the fighting units will be thinned out until only 10,000 remain on Sunday. They will then move out that night in a coordinated withdrawal from the front-line trenches. I’m hopeful about this plan because many are saying that it should be successful and give us an upper hand. It's the night before the evacuation I’ve been ready for this for months. We will be part of the last off the peninsular. We are hoping to fool the Turks into thinking we are still here. One bright spark invented a water fed rifle firing gadget. This was made of two ration tins. The top one was filled with water, while the empty bottom one was attached to the trigger by a piece of string or wire. The deal is before we leave some of us have to punch a small hole in the top tin so water can drip into the bottom one, which will fall over and pull the trigger. making the Turks think we are still here in numbers. Pretty smart I hope it works. Talking to some of the boys there is a real feeling of the job only being half done. Keep thinking what would all those blokes who got knocked think about us leaving. I hope they can't see or hear us when we go. There's too many young lives cut short in this damn place. One more day and we are out of here. Of course the thought of leaving Jack here without even a proper grave makes my heart heavy. I still feel like I let you down Mum, I wish it was me instead. The Padre spoke to me yesterday and it helped. Have to believe God had a better plan for Jack and I know he’s up there causing all sorts of mischief. I’ve been told I have to be detached to the Military Police to help with the evacuation. Should be interesting. I’ll catch up with the boys back in Egypt I suppose. Better go make sure the boys are all ok. Have to write some more when we finally get off.