Driver Charles Hemming, Australian Army Service Corps, 25 April 1915

Nepean Times (NSW)

7 August 1915

Mr and Mrs James Hemming (late of York Estate, Penrith, now residing at Maryborough, Queensland) have received a long letter from their son, Driver Charlie Hemming (Australian Field Artillery), written on June 7, from Alexandria, Egypt, where he was in a rest camp after taking part in the Dardanelles fight. Referring to the first landing day (25th April), Charlie says: 

"I was out of bed at 4 a.m. and on deck. The dawn was just breaking about 4.10 a.m., as I was leaning over the ship's rail. All at once I was brought to my senses by a flash and awful boom from a warship close. Within a few minutes it was a living hell — for a dozen warships had started on their day's work. The noise was something awful — we could not hear ourselves speak; and as daylight came over the distant hills, troop after troop began to land. Our ship was now in the mouth of the Dardanelles. 

No longer than half an hour passed from the time the first troops began to land, when we saw drifting towards us a boat — for a strong current flows out of the mouth of the Dardanelles. Some fifty yards off we noticed an English Bluejacket stand up in the cutter's bow and semaphore to us, "All wounded aboard here — can we come alongside?" As the boat drew alongside a sailor was seen to hold the ship's tiller in the right hand, whilst his left hand had been blown away with shrapnel. Our ship's officer shouted "Port your helm," and the bluejacket answered, "Aye, aye, sir," with a forced smile. It was a pitiful sight that met our eyes. The boat was half full of water, and the wounded were lying half drowned. We soon had them aboard. One had his eye blown out, another shot in the groin, others in the lungs, etc. 

On the Monday we had to take some of our guns ashore. We could not land horses, so every available man had to land to draw the guns up the steep hills into position. When we got ashore — awful sights met our eyes — everywhere dead and wounded lay in thousands. We soon got to work hauling the guns into position. Our work was not yet done — we had to carry ammunition to the guns. You cannot imagine what action is like, as you are fighting and carrying ammunition. All at once someone would drop or fall forward, shot or wounded, and cry out "I am done!" or "My God, I am hit!" Some would drop without a word, dead. The worst of all is that if you see your best comrade fall the rules are you cannot stay to help him — pass him by, for it is the A.M.C. work to look after the wounded. It

seems hard to go by a comrade without trying to help him. . . 

Some awful sights have been witnessed by me when visiting the hospital to see a comrade of mine who was shot in the back — men with legs and arms shot away, and some with their faces shot partly away; but they all smile and say, "How are things, boys?" or "Have you a spare fag, or a match, etc.?"

Soldier Identified: Driver Charles Hemming, Service No. 227, Australian Army Service Corps, No. 1 Coy. Divisional Train., 1st Australian Division, A.I.F. Returned to Australia, 23 October 1918.

Australian soldier landing a 4.7 inch naval gun which has been mounted for land action, from a barge at Anzac Cove. (Courtesy: Australian War Memorial)

Sources:

1. Soldier's Letter (1915, August 7). Nepean Times (Penrith, NSW : 1882 - 1962), p. 2.
2. Australian soldier landing a 4.7 inch naval gun which has been mounted for land action, from a barge at Anzac Cove. Australian War Memorial