nervousness which showed itself in tightly-clenched fists, or quick whispers to a friend as if for reassurance. But that was usual enough before any real action.
He saw young Tarrier busy with his notepad as he sketched out this small section of a formidable coastline.
It would have made more sense to bring the senior N.C.O.’s to this meeting as well. Now they would all have to be told separately by their platoon commanders, and Jonathan had seen for himself how orders could lose their meaning once they had run the full length of the chain of command.
And there was the debonair Lieutenant Wyke of the third platoon, touching his small fair moustache with one knuckle. He seemed at ease, relaxed, and just before this meeting had been heard discussing the merits or otherwise of the girls at the London Pavilion, the popular music hall in Piccadilly, with his second-in-command Charles Cripwell, who looked as if he should still be at school.
‘The drill is much as before.’ Waring was obviously excited. ‘The men have already rested and they will be fed as soon as a last weapons inspection has been carried out. We will then disembark to the boats provided, and be towed as near as is prudent to the beaches. By first light I want every man in position, kit stowed, magazines loaded, and ready for action – do I make myself clear?’ His incisive voice lingered in the warm air. ‘The fleet will continue to provide support beyond us and as far as the enemy supply lines, so the rest is up to us.’
The tall Australian officer stood up, as if he had been waiting, perhaps, to be asked.
Waring snapped, ‘You wish to say something, Colonel Ede?’
‘I do.’ Then he faced the watching officers and gave a brief smile. ‘Just a couple of points that are never in any drill book. Like most other serving officers I know and admire the reputation of your Corps – as I believe Kipling described them, “soldiers and sailors too”. But this is a different sort of campaign for you to fight. It certainly is for me. I think that many of my men were contemptuous of the Turks – thought of them as a cross between brigands and aborigines, something to stamp onand still have time for a beer.’ He leaned towards them. ‘So that
you
don’t make the same mistake let me tell you: Johnny Turk is one of the most deadly fighters I’ve come up against. They attack when they have no chance – when they run out of ammo they’ll stand bayonet to bayonet till one falls. Their weapons aren’t a scratch on ours and in many cases their rifles are single-shot relics.’ He had their full attention now and Jonathan could feel all of them hanging onto his words. Ede continued in a contained voice. ‘We fought our way into our present position just three days ago. Not a week or a month, but three days. I don’t know what the hell is happening on the other beaches but in that time
I’ve
lost a battalion. My men have been fighting day and night, no chance to sleep. We can’t even bring in the wounded – Turkish snipers are everywhere.’ The power seemed to drain out of him. ‘Just be careful. The Turk is a brave and dedicated enemy, not some kind of native.’ He looked hard at some of their faces. ‘Think how you would feel if you had the Germans coming ashore in England, shooting their way up the beach at Dover. You’d fight like men possessed if that happened. Well, see it from their point of view and you’ll have a better chance of survival.’ He was about to turn away when he saw Lieutenant Wyke holding up his hand. ‘Yes?’
Wyke’s rather affected drawl seemed in stark contrast to the colonel’s blunt and abrasive manner.
‘But we
are
getting reinforcements, sir.’
Ede said coldly, ‘So they tell me.’ He studied the young lieutenant’s sunburned features for what seemed like a minute and then said, ‘By the time this war is over,millions may have died at the rate they’re going. The Dardanelles, you and me, we’ll be
He saw young Tarrier busy with his notepad as he sketched out this small section of a formidable coastline.
It would have made more sense to bring the senior N.C.O.’s to this meeting as well. Now they would all have to be told separately by their platoon commanders, and Jonathan had seen for himself how orders could lose their meaning once they had run the full length of the chain of command.
And there was the debonair Lieutenant Wyke of the third platoon, touching his small fair moustache with one knuckle. He seemed at ease, relaxed, and just before this meeting had been heard discussing the merits or otherwise of the girls at the London Pavilion, the popular music hall in Piccadilly, with his second-in-command Charles Cripwell, who looked as if he should still be at school.
‘The drill is much as before.’ Waring was obviously excited. ‘The men have already rested and they will be fed as soon as a last weapons inspection has been carried out. We will then disembark to the boats provided, and be towed as near as is prudent to the beaches. By first light I want every man in position, kit stowed, magazines loaded, and ready for action – do I make myself clear?’ His incisive voice lingered in the warm air. ‘The fleet will continue to provide support beyond us and as far as the enemy supply lines, so the rest is up to us.’
The tall Australian officer stood up, as if he had been waiting, perhaps, to be asked.
Waring snapped, ‘You wish to say something, Colonel Ede?’
‘I do.’ Then he faced the watching officers and gave a brief smile. ‘Just a couple of points that are never in any drill book. Like most other serving officers I know and admire the reputation of your Corps – as I believe Kipling described them, “soldiers and sailors too”. But this is a different sort of campaign for you to fight. It certainly is for me. I think that many of my men were contemptuous of the Turks – thought of them as a cross between brigands and aborigines, something to stamp onand still have time for a beer.’ He leaned towards them. ‘So that
you
don’t make the same mistake let me tell you: Johnny Turk is one of the most deadly fighters I’ve come up against. They attack when they have no chance – when they run out of ammo they’ll stand bayonet to bayonet till one falls. Their weapons aren’t a scratch on ours and in many cases their rifles are single-shot relics.’ He had their full attention now and Jonathan could feel all of them hanging onto his words. Ede continued in a contained voice. ‘We fought our way into our present position just three days ago. Not a week or a month, but three days. I don’t know what the hell is happening on the other beaches but in that time
I’ve
lost a battalion. My men have been fighting day and night, no chance to sleep. We can’t even bring in the wounded – Turkish snipers are everywhere.’ The power seemed to drain out of him. ‘Just be careful. The Turk is a brave and dedicated enemy, not some kind of native.’ He looked hard at some of their faces. ‘Think how you would feel if you had the Germans coming ashore in England, shooting their way up the beach at Dover. You’d fight like men possessed if that happened. Well, see it from their point of view and you’ll have a better chance of survival.’ He was about to turn away when he saw Lieutenant Wyke holding up his hand. ‘Yes?’
Wyke’s rather affected drawl seemed in stark contrast to the colonel’s blunt and abrasive manner.
‘But we
are
getting reinforcements, sir.’
Ede said coldly, ‘So they tell me.’ He studied the young lieutenant’s sunburned features for what seemed like a minute and then said, ‘By the time this war is over,millions may have died at the rate they’re going. The Dardanelles, you and me, we’ll be
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