With The Twenty-Ninth Division In Gallipoli, A Chaplain's Experiences. [Illustrated Edition]

Rev. Creighton Oswin

• Publisher: Lucknow Books
• Year: 2013
• eBook ISBN: 9781782891000
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: Military Biographies
• Index: History

"The padre of the 86th Brigade, 29th Division, gives an account of his experiences at Gallipoli where he landed on 25th April 1915 to his evacuation on medical grounds on 12th August....it covers the period 27th January 1915, when he reported to the HQ of the newly formed 29th Division in Leamington, to 12th August 1915 when he arrived in Alexandria having been evacuated sick (diphtheria) from the Peninsula. The 86th Brigade was a Fusilier Brigade with 2nd Royal Fusiliers, 1st Lancashire Fusiliers, 1st Royal Munster Fusiliers and 1st Royal Dublin Fusiliers, and it was the first to land on 25th April 1915. It was with the first two mentioned that Creighton had most contact and they feature prominently in this account. The other two battalions, being recruited mainly from the south of Ireland, were predominantly RC.Creighton had come straight from civvy street and took a little while to find his feet among regular troops....This account is based on his diary and he took pains to write only what he got firsthand and from personal observation and he has tried to be as accurate as possible.The interesting photos were borrowed from the CO of 2nd RF and his narrative does give a feel for the conditions and fighting on the Peninsula. At one stage he gives vent to his feelings after a fruitless attack by a brigade of the newly arrived 52nd (Lowland) Division which cost over fifty percent casualties: "These things seem to happen every battle. The amount of unnecessary lives simply thrown away is appalling."...The book closes with a chapter by the BM, Major H.M. Farmar, on the landing of the 86th Brigade and the subsequent operations till 3rd May."N&M print versionAuthor — Rev. Creighton Oswin, 1883-1918Text taken, whole and complete, from the edition published in London, Longmans, Green and co., 1916.Original Page Count – xiv and 191 pages.Illustrations — 26 maps and Illustrations.

WITH THE TWENTY-NINTH DIVISION IN GALLIPOLI

CHAPTER I—IN ENGLAND

(January 27—March 14)

Leamington Spa: January 27, 1915.—I reached Leamington, the headquarters of the 29th Division, where I had been directed by the War Office to report myself without delay, prepared to go immediately to the front, on the evening of January 27. It was a great wrench tearing myself away from a brigade of the New Army, to which I had been attached shortly after my return from four years’ uninterrupted work in the north-west of Canada. I had dropped, quite naturally, into my place in the New Army. Among the officers there were men preparing for Ordination, men I had been at school and college with, and the military life was no stranger for me than for them. I had formed many close friends, and was much interested in my work.

I was presiding at a crowded concert when the telegram from the War Office was suddenly handed to me. I had been looking forward much to going to France with the regiment. Without comment, but with inward feelings of dismay, I handed the telegram to Captain —, who was sitting beside me. Many nice things were said at the conclusion, which made it all the harder for me to leave. What was this 29th Division? Regulars just returned from India! I knew nothing about the regular army. I had no soldier friends. What would they be like? I felt I should be like a fish out of water, and it was with fear and trepidation that I presented myself at the Divisional Headquarters, on the evening of the 27th, in the big hotel at Leamington. I met C—, who was to be one of my fellow-chaplains, and who happened to arrive at the same moment at the hotel entrance. We were received by Colonel Percival, who had recently returned from France to be chief of the Divisional Staff.

[Commencement of diary, which in this chapter has been largely abbreviated as not of general interest.]

The War Office had not let him know we were coming. However, we produced our papers, and he took us into the office and gave us our railway vouchers. (It is surprising the amount of attention to petty little details these superior officers seem to have to give.) He also gave us lists of all the units composing the Division. From these it appeared that one Brigade was at Rugby, another at Nuneaton, and the third had not been formed yet, but would have its headquarters at Stratford-on-Avon. C— had an aunt at Rugby, so decided to go there, while I was to go to Nuneaton, leaving the unformed brigade to the chaplain who had not yet arrived. We went to the Regent Hotel for the night. It was the headquarters for the artillery, and swarmed with officers. There were eight batteries there. The whole Division is from India, the last regular Division, I gather, in England.

I understand some units—R.A.M.C., cavalry, A.S.C., etc.—are Territorial. We dined at the hotel, and C— went off to see a friend, while I wrote letters and felt a little bored.

Thursday, January 28.—After breakfast I managed to get into conversation with one or two officers and gather a little information. The artillery are fully equipped, but waiting for ammunition. They seemed a splendid set of men....I went to headquarters to see if the Communion sets sent by the Chaplain-General had arrived, and found them there. We saw the staff officers, who filled in our papers, and then to lunch at a restaurant, as the hotel was so expensive; then to the train, where I first saw C— off to Rugby, going to Nuneaton myself, and arriving shortly after 4 p.m.

Nuneaton.—I found my way with some difficulty to the Brigade office, which is some way from the station, in a large country house, Caldwell Hall, on the edge of the town. I found a charming Brigade-Major, Frankland, who had been informed of my coming from Leamington, had most kindly telephoned to the vicar to ask if he could have me to stay, and seemed prepared to do anything, but very busy. 1 afterwards discovered he had been in France since the beginning of the war, but had been recalled to help form the Division.

The people here have been most active about soldiers’ clubs. They had called in the ubiquitous Y.M.C.A., and had three clubs started. The main one is in the Conservative Club, St. George’s Hall, a magnificent room with a stage, in the centre of the town, with a typical Y.M.C.A. man in charge. He took me round to see two other clubs. They are not very much used, as the men are pretty comfortably billeted, and, having been away from England so long, appreciate a little home life very much.

Friday, January 29.—I went and saw the Brigade-Major, who had very kindly telephoned the night before to the vicar to ask about me, and learnt more about the composition of the 86th Brigade and my duties. In Nuneaton there are three battalions—the 1st Lancashire Fusiliers, the 1st Royal Dublin Fusiliers, and the 2nd Royal Fusiliers— billeted in Stockingford, a mining district just outside. The 1st Royal Munster Fusiliers are at Coventry. The Dublins and Munsters are mainly R.C., but no chaplain seems to have been appointed yet. The L.F.’s and R.F.’s have the usual large majority of nominal C. of E. I am supposed to be attached to the 89th Field Ambulance, but as it is mainly composed of Scotch Presbyterians, I asked the Brigade-Major if I could not be attached to one of the battalions, and I hope this can be managed. Then I went to the L.F.’s orderly-room and found a charming adjutant, who seemed prepared to do anything for me, and also to the Dublins (who have about 120 C. of E.), to arrange about Church Parade.... Later, I went to a concert in the St. George’s Hall. The battalions all have their bands, but unfortunately the instruments are going away next week, as they do not have bands at the front. The L.F.’s band was playing cheery but noisy music. They are to play at church on Sunday. A very nice, rather talkative corporal accosted me in a shop afterwards, and asked if I was to be their chaplain. He gave me a lot of useful information. He said the men were not at all religious, and I would have a lot of disappointments, but would always find them very civil. They did not like going to church. They had a splendid chaplain in India—a soldiers’ chaplain, quite unlike the English ones. He seemed quite prepared to instruct me, and very pleased that I was prepared to let him.

These are some of my first impressions. Regulars are very different from Kitchener’s Army. They seem exceedingly smart and seasoned troops, and have an air that there is nothing they don’t know about soldiering. Of course one feels that they have inherited an ancient army tradition, and there is not the feeling of new ground to be broken there was with Kitchener’s Army. It makes so much difference, feeling they are so absolutely ready for the front. I found people friendly before, but nothing could exceed the friendliness here. There seems nothing they are not prepared to do. I can see how my work will be both easier and harder. It will run much more smoothly, but there will be a great barrier of tradition and forms to surmount. The men seem to be very well behaved, but of course in a town of this size there must be much that is wrong. I can only say how thankful I am that I do not come to them utterly green. I do know a little military terminology now, and understand a little my way about. It is all exceedingly interesting. I don’t think I shall aim at much during our weeks here beyond trying to make friends with as many officers and men as possible. I think there will be more chance of ancient traditions breaking down when we go out.

Saturday, January 30.—I spent the morning on a route march with the L.F.’s. I went to the parade ground, when the Major came and spoke to me; and when they moved off, and I fell to the rear, he sent for me to come and march beside him at the head of the battalion, just behind the band, and there I marched all the way. We had a little guard of soldiers round us to keep the crowd off. Different companies took it in turn to take the lead, so I had an opportunity of talking to different officers. They were all most friendly and agreeable. The Major was especially nice. He told me that the 1st L.F.’s have not seen service since the Crimea, and are all very keen to get out. They have been a very long time in India. They feel the cold rather, but are getting acclimatized. A huge band of about seventy instruments went before us, and I enjoyed the music much more out of doors. It certainly makes a difference to marching. I tried my new patent boots, and found them on the whole very satisfactory. The officers took much interest in them. I talked a little with the regimental sergeant-major. He had been to Aldershot to see his wife, and had seen the review of Kitchener’s Army when the French Minister was there, and was very much impressed by the men. I was pleased to hear this, as I could not help contrasting the regulars with the Kitcheners, unfavourably to the latter. These are splendid troops here, such a magnificent physique. I enjoyed the march much, and hope to go for more.

Sunday, January 31.—After breakfast a motor-car came for me and took me to the Stockingford Church, where the R.F.’s were parading at ten o’clock. It was my first military parade with regulars. The band provided the music, and also the choir. The whole service was done with the most exact precision. A Major read the lessons. One felt they had been doing it for years, just the same. The vicar took the service. I asked that no ladies should be present. However, I saw some girls in the gallery with the soldiers. Fortunately, they were ejected before the sermon. I only preached for seven minutes. I told the men I knew little about them and the place, and had only heard good. But I said that the women and girls were having a very difficult time during the war. They had never had military in the place before, and were naturally very excited, and thought a lot of the soldiers who had just come from India and were going so soon to the front. I asked the men to do all they could to help the girls, so that the memory they left behind them should always be of the good they had done during their stay.

But I am afraid the men do not like Church Parade. Very few go to Evensong, and I have not heard of one going to a Celebration. Theirs is a strange religion. I held a service in the evening in the St. George’s Hall. There were very few men there, mostly R.C., I think, and they did not sing the hymns, and seemed very loath to stand, and I had to realise they were very different from Kitchener’s Army. Individually, I must say I find them very nice, very civil and easy to talk to. But I feel quite at sea as to how to do any direct religious work with them, and almost inclined not to attempt any, but just to try and get to know them.

Monday, February 1.—I went a long route march with the Dublins in the morning, about twelve miles. The Colonel rode part of the way, but walked a good deal, and was very pleasant, and talked away quite a lot. Many of the officers are very pleasant, but I don’t feel they very much care whether one exists or not. After all, why should they? Again I marched just behind the band, and enjoyed the music. It is very amusing watching whole villages turn out to see us and the general excitement we arouse.

Tuesday, February 2.—Mrs.— told me she had heard stories of soldiers leaving their billets at late hours to meet girls in back streets, so I decided to investigate a little on my own.... At 10.30 p.m. I went for an hour’s walk along a path by the canal. It was a lovely moonlight night, but I saw no one there, and found a few soldiers behaving quite orderly in the streets, in one or two cases with girls, but quite openly. I find they are allowed out till midnight. One of the other vicars has since told me that he has been out three nights, but saw nothing. I am very glad, as now I feel able to contradict a lot of the reports going about. The men seem to be behaving very well.

Thursday, February 4.— ... After lunch I bicycled to Stockingford and saw the Adjutant of the R.F.’s, and went round with him a little, and then bicycled on to Arbury Park, a large place, where one of the companies was trench-digging. The R.F.’s are all Cockneys, mostly from the East End of London—such a contrast to the L.F.’s. They are smaller men, but seem very tough. They never stop talking and joking. It might pall in peace-time, but I think would be very suitable to the trenches. They were digging in awful mud, and bailing the water out of the trenches with pails. They all seem very comfortable in their billets, and the soldiers’ club is being closed up there, as it is not used. This billeting makes it exceedingly difficult to see the men or do anything with them.

Friday, February 5.—Went to Coventry. One of my battalions, the Munsters, is there. I went to the orderly-room and found they had over 200 Anglicans, but had not yet been to Church Parade, and the Adjutant asked me to arrange one.... The South Wales Borderers are also there, and, though not in my brigade, I went to arrange a parade for them. They are back from Tsing-Tau, where they were for eleven days in terribly muddy trenches, but only lost fourteen men, and have brought back practically all their wounded, who have recovered....

Saturday, February 6.—I went to the 89th Field Ambulance headquarters and found a very nice Colonel, and arranged about my being attached to them. They are all Presbyterian. I gathered a R.C. padre had been appointed.

Sunday, February 7.—...I had supper with Dr. — . He told me there had been thirty soldiers married at the registrar’s office. However, when we inquired we found there had only been nine licences issued; most of the men being married at the R.C. Church. Things do get so exaggerated.

Monday, February 8.—…I went to the club and talked to the men. They are so nice to talk to. C— finds just as I do, that practically none go to Communion. I am trying to discover if there are any C.E.M.S. men, or men belonging to any religious society, but hitherto have been unsuccessful. They all seem to have had any individuality crushed out of them by army discipline. They confess this, and say themselves that it is useless ever calling for volunteers to do anything. They must always be detailed. I am trying to get up a concert, and the men have to be detailed in regimental orders in order to come to rehearsals. They don’t mind being detailed, but won’t come unless they are{1}. But they are charming men, so civil and clean and orderly. I don’t think I have heard an oath yet, and others say the same. I hear nothing definite about our departure yet, and they seem quite leisurely about completing equipment.

Thursday, February 11.—A dull day. The main excitement was that I heard over the telephone from the R.A.M.C. sergeant-major that my batman had arrived. I had to explain that, as I was from Kitchener’s army, I did not know what a batman was. Perhaps he could send it over by an orderly. It turned out it was my servant, sent specially from the A.S.C., from the other end of England somewhere, to look after me. I am glad the Government takes such care of the chaplains.

Friday, February 12.—This morning I went on a great brigade route march. The whole brigade turned out, with all their transport. It was a lovely day, and a fine sight. We went fourteen miles, and did not get back till three o’clock. The Munsters joined us from Coventry for part of the way. I timed the whole column as it passed a certain point, and it took twenty-five minutes. I talked to different officers on the way, and found them all very pleasant.

Tuesday, February 16.—I went to a dinner party given to the senior Dublin officers by Mr. T—, a wealthy mill-owner on whom the Colonel is billeted. The General and Brigade-Major and about sixteen Dublin officers were there. The General was previously in command of a territorial brigade, but is very pleased to be here, and enthusiastic about the men. We had much to eat and drink, and toasts at the end. I was made to sit in the place of honour at the head of the table. They were all very charming to me. Certainly the regular officer is very easy to get on with. They started a great discussion at my end of the table about compulsory Church Parade. I was very glad to find the majority strongly in favour of its being voluntary, and firmly convinced that if only the men liked the padre they would come. The Colonel made me play auction bridge afterwards, and they were very nice when I rather demurred about playing for money, and let me off. It was a very pleasant evening, and a good way to get to know the officers.

Wednesday, February 17.—...Father Finn, the R.C. chaplain, came to see me and seemed very pleasant.

I went to a room where the L.F.’s have lectures for the men. The officer who was to lecture had so bad a cold that he said he could not. So I offered to tell them about the Canadian contingent, and he jumped at it. The Lancashire men are very quiet, and sat perfectly stolid while I tried to tell them why it was so difficult to get the kind of discipline among Canadians the English regulars are used to. We know nothing of our movements yet.

Thursday, February 25.—The Divisional General suddenly d...

Table of contents

• Title page
• TABLE OF CONTENTS
• DEDICATION
• FOREWORD
• LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
• CHAPTER I-IN ENGLAND
• CHAPTER II-ON BOARD SHIP
• CHAPTER III-IN EGYPT
• CHAPTER IV-IN MUDROS HARBOUR
• CHAPTER V-OFF CAPE HELLES
• CHAPTER VI-ON CAPE HELLES
• CHAPTER VII-A THREE DAYS’ BATTLE, AND AFTER
• CHAPTER VIII-QUIETER DAYS
• CHAPTER IX-THE BATTLE OF JUNE 4
• CHAPTER X-IN ABERDEEN GULLY
• CHAPTER XI-THE BATTLE OF JUNE 28, AND AFTER
• POSTSCRIPT
• ADDITIONAL CHAPTER