Monday 21 April 1915
It has only been five months now but it feels like forever. I can’t describe how terrible it has all been. We arrived in Gallipoli at dawn and stepped out of our boat, then right before my eyes men began collapsing onto the sand. They had been shot. What happened back then I’ve decided to forget. Yesterday I was woken by shouting, screaming, gunfire and explosions. Troop leader Mark scowled and then yelled at my new friend Ishmael and I to get out on the field. I walked out with pride but lurking in the back of my mind, fear. Ishmael and I crouched behind a bush. It’s the most horrible feeling pulling the trigger on the gun knowing you’re about to kill a perfectly innocent man. Well I guess what’s done is done no matter how bad you feel. I called to Ishmael and said ‘Let’s go, the Turkish armies are coming.’ I heard a loud bang then a thud. I turned to see Ishmael groaning in pain, he had been shot. I couldn’t just leave him there when he could still survive. So I heaved him onto my back. It was a struggle to walk but I had to get him to base camp. I was worried. What if I got shot too? Determined, yeah, I was determined to save my friend. After a long, slow walk we reached base camp. Ishmael had lost a lot of blood and stopped responding to me. I wasn’t sure if he was still alive. I left him with the nurses and went back to my trench. Ishmael is now safely at home with his wife and I am surviving. I promise I’ll make it home.
Your loving son
Harold
It has only been five months now but it feels like forever. I can’t describe how terrible it has all been. We arrived in Gallipoli at dawn and stepped out of our boat, then right before my eyes men began collapsing onto the sand. They had been shot. What happened back then I’ve decided to forget. Yesterday I was woken by shouting, screaming, gunfire and explosions. Troop leader Mark scowled and then yelled at my new friend Ishmael and I to get out on the field. I walked out with pride but lurking in the back of my mind, fear. Ishmael and I crouched behind a bush. It’s the most horrible feeling pulling the trigger on the gun knowing you’re about to kill a perfectly innocent man. Well I guess what’s done is done no matter how bad you feel. I called to Ishmael and said ‘Let’s go, the Turkish armies are coming.’ I heard a loud bang then a thud. I turned to see Ishmael groaning in pain, he had been shot. I couldn’t just leave him there when he could still survive. So I heaved him onto my back. It was a struggle to walk but I had to get him to base camp. I was worried. What if I got shot too? Determined, yeah, I was determined to save my friend. After a long, slow walk we reached base camp. Ishmael had lost a lot of blood and stopped responding to me. I wasn’t sure if he was still alive. I left him with the nurses and went back to my trench. Ishmael is now safely at home with his wife and I am surviving. I promise I’ll make it home.
Your loving son
Harold