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[Illustration]




 THE DARDANELLES

 _COLOUR SKETCHES FROM GALLIPOLI_

 WRITTEN AND DRAWN BY
 NORMAN WILKINSON, R.I.

 _With Thirty Full-Page Plates in Colour, reproduced from Water-Colour
 Drawings made on the spot, and a number of
 Black-and-White Illustrations_

 SECOND IMPRESSION


 LONGMANS, GREEN AND CO.
 39 PATERNOSTER ROW, LONDON
 FOURTH AVENUE & 30TH STREET, NEW YORK
 BOMBAY, CALCUTTA, AND MADRAS
 1916




CONTENTS


CHAP.                                                               PAGE

I   FIRST IMPRESSIONS                                                  1

II  THE LANDING AT SUVLA BAY, AUGUST 6-7                               9

III OFF THE LEFT FLANK AT HELLES                                      23

IV  TRAWLERS IN THE DARDANELLES                                       34

V   BEACH-PARTIES                                                     42

VI  SUBMARINES                                                        50

VII WOUNDED                                                           56




[Illustration: THE NUMBERS ON THIS MAP REFER TO THOSE COLOUR PLATES
WHICH ARE STARRED IN THE LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS]




LIST OF  PLATES


 HELLES

                                                                _Facing
                                                                   page_

 *1. H.M.S. _THESEUS_                                     _Frontispiece_

 This cruiser, 25 years old, which has now special arrangements for
 withstanding submarine attacks, is supporting the Army off the left
 flank. She is firing at Turkish gun emplacements, an aeroplane being
 used to spot the fall of shot.

 *2. SHELLS FALLING ON THE BASE CAMP AT HELLES                        62

 *3. OFF THE LEFT FLANK AT HELLES                    }

 *4. MONITORS SHELLING YENI SHER VILLAGE AND ASIATIC }                64
 BATTERIES                                           }

 *5. FRENCH FLAGSHIP _SUFFREN_ SHELLING ACHI BABA                     66

 *6. FRENCH FLAGSHIP _SUFFREN'S_ 12-IN. SHELLS BURSTING ON
 WESTERN <DW72>s OF ACHI BABA                                          68

 *7. BALLOON-SHIP _HECTOR_ WITH KITE BALLOON UP, "SPOTTING,"
 OFF THE LEFT FLANK                                                   70


 SUVLA BAY

 *8. LANDING AT "A" BEACH, AUGUST 7, 5.30 A.M.                        72

 *9. TROOPS LANDING AT "C" BEACH, AUGUST 7                            74

 *10. "C" BEACH, AUGUST 8                                             76

 *11. DRESSING STATION—"A" BEACH                     }

 *12. SHIP'S BOATS GOING OFF TO A HOSPITAL SHIP WITH }                78
 WOUNDED                                             }

 *13. H.M.S. _TALBOT_ IN SUVLA BAY SHELLING ENEMY RIDGES
 AT DUSK                                                              80

 *14. SALT LAKE AND CHOCOLATE HILL                                    82

 *15. LALLA BABA                               }                      84

 *16. LOOKING TOWARDS THE VILLAGE OF ANAFARTA  }

 *17. H.M.S. _SARNIA_ LANDING TROOPS IN SUVLA BAY                     86

 *18. SALT LAKE FROM CHOCOLATE HILL                                   88

 *19. TRANSPORTS UNDER SHELL-FIRE—SUVLA BAY                           90

 *20. DRESSING STATION—"A" BEACH                                      92

 *21. SUPPORTING SHIPS AT THE SUVLA LANDING  }                        94

 *22. ANZAC                                  }

 *23. ANZAC                                                           96

 *24. MOTOR LIGHTERS                          }                       98

 25. GENERAL SIR IAN HAMILTON'S HEADQUARTERS  }

 26. SEAPLANE BASE                                                   100

 27. SEAPLANES AT KEPHALO                                            102

 28. H.M.S. _EXMOUTH_ IN KEPHALO HARBOUR                             104

 29. SUBMARINE E11 AT KEPHALO                                        106

 30. H.M.S. _BEN-MY-CHREE_ AT KEPHALO                                108

 31. HOSPITAL SHIPS AT KEPHALO                                       110

 32. FRENCH FLAGSHIP _SUFFREN_                                       112

 33. HOSPITAL SHIP _AQUITANIA_                                       114

 34. SUBMARINE E2 RETURNING FROM THE SEA OF MARMORA  }               116

 35. MUDROS HARBOUR                                  }

 36. HOSPITAL SHIP _AQUITANIA_ AT MUDROS                             118




THE DARDANELLES




CHAPTER I

FIRST IMPRESSIONS


Before entering upon the subject of this chapter I cannot help a
passing allusion to the lack of pictorial records of this war—records
made by artists of experience, who actually witness the scenes they
portray.

Our descendants will surely regret the omission when they try to gather
an impression of the greatest war in history from the inadequate
material obtainable.

I do not lose sight of the fact that many professional artists are
fighting with our army in France and elsewhere. But life in the
trenches is so arduous that it is doubtful if many records will come to
us from this source.

The start of my journey was not at all what I had intended. I had
imagined myself busily sketching our departure and attempting to get
some of the delightful colour and abundant movement of the lower Thames.

In actual fact, I spent most of this time lying on a settee, trying to
overcome the effects of inoculation, though rather cheered, it is true,
by the thought of the annoyance set up amongst the millions of germs
inhabiting my system.

I made several efforts to go on deck, but was forced each time to give
in and return to my cabin.

This was the more annoying, as we were passing through what to any
traveller by sea, and to me especially, was the most interesting zone:
full of romance and mystery, with stories of sunken submarines, rumours
of nets and mines, and all the strange happenings of this strangest of
wars.

There was naturally a certain amount of speculation on the steamer as
to the possibility of attack by submarine: this new factor in modern
warfare, which, from a romantic point of view, has so largely conduced
to the elimination of spectacular fighting.

At the time of sailing we had heard of submarine activity in the
western entrance to the Channel, though the apparent indifference of
the passengers was a wonderful testimony to the calmness of the Briton
in the presence of a very real danger. However, hopes ran fairly high
that we might soon get into safe waters, as we were favoured with a
fairly heavy summer gale, which should, with luck, see us well round
Ushant and down the bay.

We were pushing along doing a steady ten knots with our fore-deck
frequently taking it green; but, well loaded as we were with general
cargo, the ship was wonderfully easy in motion. This was in comforting
contrast to a tramp-steamer close by, which looked as if she wanted to
see how far she could roll without turning over.

Ships bound for the Mediterranean and to other parts are more scattered
nowadays than formerly. Since the war they have avoided the recognised
trade routes. Probably there may be enemy submarines bound out to the
Eastern Mediterranean, but the likelihood of attack from these appeared
to us small. After all, they would surely reserve their stock of
torpedoes for a more important quarry, and, in any case, would hardly
be likely to advertise their presence before arriving in their intended
zone of operations.

During the night we passed a number of patrol boats keeping their
ceaseless vigil. The patrol service will, when the war is over,
undoubtedly reap the full meed of praise to which they are entitled.
It is utterly impossible for the landsman to grasp the soul-wearying
work on patrol vessels. Frequently of quite small tonnage, keeping the
seas in every kind of weather, not bound anywhere in particular, but
just slogging to and fro on a set beat, rarely thought of except by the
relatives and friends of those serving in them.

We reached Gibraltar in two or three days, during which time no alarms
from submarines disturbed our peace. The sight of the Rock for the
first time must frequently call forth an exclamation on the strangeness
of events which have enabled us to take and hold so fine a strategical
position. Isolated as it is from any other of our possessions, it has
certainly served us well in the Dardanelles campaign.

Malta was made in the early morning, and it certainly looked a gem set
in a sea of opal, although closer acquaintance found it stiflingly hot.
Our time here was short, as we were ordered to a vessel leaving early
next morning for Mudros, the base in the island of Lemnos. The ship
in which we took passage was one of an entirely new class, specially
designed for the destruction of submarines. On our passage up, a matter
of three days, a sharp lookout was kept, as we were now nearing the
danger zone. For some reason difficult to discover there appeared to be
a lull in the operations of these craft, due, probably, to the numerous
devices employed to restrict their activities. Nevertheless, continual
reports were coming in of their being sighted, and our Captain was
anxious to try the efficacy of his means of offence, but we were
disappointed or otherwise, according to our various temperaments, for
we sighted nothing suspicious.

On the third day a French destroyer, with whom we exchanged recognition
signals, steamed up to us for a closer inspection. This denoted our
close proximity to the great naval base from which the operations in
this theatre of war were largely conducted.

A distant view of Mudros, one of the finest natural harbours in the
eastern Mediterranean, showed a vast concourse of ships, which grew in
interest and numbers as we approached. Eventually we steamed between
lines of warships to an anchorage given us by signal. I have seen many
reviews and naval pageants, but nothing to compare, in interest, with
the assemblage of ships that we now witnessed. British battleships,
French battleships, cruisers of both nations; a Russian cruiser, the
_Askold_ (which had incidentally been badly hammered in the war with
Japan); destroyers, torpedo boats of all ages, submarines (some fresh
with the laurels of raids in the Sea of Marmora), North Sea trawlers,
tramp-steamers, transports, food-ships, motor-boats, Greek sailing
vessels, motor-barges for landing troops, private yachts taken over by
the Admiralty (the Admiral conducting operations being himself in one
of these), and endless other craft gathered from everywhere to assist
in the enormous undertaking of supplying food and munitions and to
guard the routes to the various other bases established in the islands
around. Towering above all the vessels could be seen the _Aquitania_
and the _Mauretania_, their immense bulk dwarfing every ship in the
harbour.

Ashore were camps in every direction, that of the French being the most
conspicuous, as, owing to its longer occupation, the ground had lost
every trace of vegetation and had become a vast arid mound, looking
terribly hot, with clouds of sand blowing continually across it.

The fact of so many battleships and cruisers being in the harbour
was an eloquent tribute to the moral influence of submarines. These
craft would appear to have been less active recently, whether as a
result of means taken to combat them (the sea is a maze of nets), or
whether from engine troubles or shortage of petrol, it is impossible
to say. On the other hand, they may hope to lull us into a sense of
false security, and thus to entice the larger ships out. Whatever the
cause, our belief in their inactivity is strengthened by the fact
that a number of warships are patrolling the seas continually without
interference.

We spent a few days in this port before an opportunity occurred to
get nearer to the area of hostilities. I was fortunate enough to be
appointed to a ship which left almost immediately for Kephalo, our base
in the island of Imbros, some ten miles distant from the enemy coast.
After a rapid passage through a sea studded with indicator nets, we
arrived at Kephalo. A fair enough anchorage, this, in summer, though
a practically continuous breeze from the north-east, sometimes of
considerable strength, is apt to make it uncomfortable for small craft.

The setting here is rather more picturesque than Mudros, by reason of
the smaller water area and higher hills on the northern side. Here
again a large concourse of ships was gathered, mostly transports,
though two vessels, the balloon-spotting ship _Hector_ and the
plane-carrying and repair ship _Ark Royal_, were of unusual interest.
The flagship _Exmouth_, with a large collier made fast on either beam,
was evidently determined not to allow the marauding submarine any
opportunity of repeating her _Majestic_ and _Triumph_ successes.

Nothing has been left undone to make Kephalo a safe anchorage. A
complete net-guard stretched across the harbour has up to the present
been effective in preventing submarine attack.




CHAPTER II

THE LANDING AT SUVLA BAY, AUGUST 6-7


The strictest secrecy was maintained with regard to the new landing in
Gallipoli, thus preventing anything but the vaguest rumours leaking
out as to the point chosen for disembarkation. It was presumed that
the Turks must have taken every possible protective measure to guard
against surprise. I was very fortunate in being attached to the ship
which the Admiral conducting operations had chosen as his temporary
flagship.

It is difficult to give any idea of the strange feelings that possessed
us as we crept through the darkness on the night of August 6, knowing
that big events loomed ahead. Would it be a surprise to the enemy? Had
they any information of our movements? A single bright light showing
on the northerly end of Imbros looked suspiciously like a signal to
the Turks, a simple matter when one realised that our bases in these
islands were held entirely on sufferance and we had practically no
jurisdiction over spies. Our occupation of the various islands
was somewhat Gilbertian; after the war between Turkey and Greece
both parties claimed the islands in the Ægean, neither being in a
position to hold them successfully. Consequently, when the Dardanelles
operations commenced, we naturally decided to regard the islands
as "No Man's Land," although the Greeks knew that, in the event of
a successful campaign, we should probably hand them over to their
keeping. It is certain that without them we could never have carried on
the operations in this theatre of war.

We left the anchorage of Kephalo with every light obscured and silence
enjoined, even white clothes and cigarettes being forbidden on deck. It
was fortunately a dark night even for these parts. At slow speed with
a picket-boat close on our quarter we crept across the twelve miles
separating us from Suvla Bay, which by now was generally presumed to
be the place chosen for what we hoped would be a surprise landing.
Two cruisers, the _Theseus_ and _Endymion_, carrying large numbers
of men, and specially fitted with gangways over their sterns to
allow the troops to walk down into motor-lighters, were sent on with
destroyers towing motor-lighters full of troops to be at the point
of disembarkation at about 11.30 p.m. We on the flagship steered a
slightly more northerly course, in order not to interfere with these
vessels in the darkness, and arrived in Suvla Bay at about 12.30 a.m.

The fact that the landing had already begun was shown by desultory
rifle-fire from the shore, but of so spasmodic a character that a
feeling of hope arose that the surprise was complete. Impatience now
became general for the first gleam of daylight. After an apparently
endless wait the dawn began to make in the eastern sky, and there was
enough light to get some idea of the general state of affairs.

On C beach the troops had landed from the cruisers and destroyers in
the darkness with practically no opposition. A beautiful sandy shore,
sloping at sufficiently steep an angle to allow the motor-lighters to
beach without difficulty, facilitated the landing. The troops, dashing
forward, were able to penetrate inland and drive the small bodies of
Turks out of their trenches. They then advanced over the now dry salt
lake some considerable distance.

On A beach things were not so successful. Here, a shallow ridge
of sand, running parallel to the shore, held up three of the
motor-lighters carrying some 1500 men at a point where wading was
impossible, owing to the deeper water inside the ridge. Here the men
were subjected to considerable rifle-fire from bodies of Turkish troops
and suffered a number of casualties. Picket-boats, however, succeeded
in taking them off and landing them on the beach.

By this time it was possible to see more plainly what was taking place.
Two batteries of Turkish field-guns opened fire with shrapnel and high
explosives on the landing-parties and on the three lighters which were
firmly fixed on the sand reef. The lighters specially claimed the
attention of the enemy's guns, doubtless under the impression that they
still contained troops. Beyond the lighters large numbers of men could
be seen filing along the beach, or forming up, and amongst these, large
columns of sand and dust showed where the shells pitched, causing many
casualties.

At about five o'clock an enemy aeroplane was sighted, but so occupied
was everyone with the work in hand that practically no attention was
paid to her; and shortly after, four large bombs were dropped in quick
succession in the harbour, causing huge columns of discoloured water to
rise, but doing no damage to the shipping, which by now had grown in
numbers. Five fleet sweepers arrived