Private S. J. Cross, Machine Gun Section 1st 5th Bedfordshire Regiment

Before the War Private Cross was employed at Messrs Jordan and Addington’s Mills, in a letter says:

We arrived here on the 11th leaving some of our Battalion at —— we stayed the night and in the morning we were taken for a route march round the town, it is a bit different from our English towns, is it not? As soon as we arrived in the harbour here we were under shell fire and have been ever since. It made us duck our heads the first day but we are quite used to it now. We went into action on the 15th for the first time, and our Brigade were told off to take a very important hill. Getting in grips with the enemy about 2 pm our boys cleared everything before them and gained the top of the hill in about twelve hours. It was a splendid feat, as the hill is a mile long. I am sorry to say we lost very heavy. . . . . our Battalion, but you would have been proud had you seen how the boys died. Since that battle other Battalions have given us the name “The Yellow Devils ” on account of us wearing a little yellow badge on the back of our hats. Our machine guns did some good work, our officer getting recommended for D.S.O., but I am very sorry to tell you that two days ago
he got shot through the head by a sniper and died. It was a great blow to us as he was such a good and daring leader. The worst thing we have to put up with here is the water. We get such a small quantity that it is almost as big an enemy as the Turks. The Turks are no good whatever with the bayonet, as soon as they see the white steel they shriek and run like hares. It is really only their artillery that we are fighting against. They are not such bad people as you have no doubt heard they are, as I know several cases where they have bandaged our wounded up and either sent them back to our lines, or if too bad have left them with some water by their side. You may not believe this, but the other day two Turks found one of our boys badly wounded so they bandaged him up and themselves brought him back to our
lines, and of course we took them prisoners, as no doubt they wanted us to do. It is surprising what a number of snipers there are here, women as well as men, they seem to be everywhere; they have been found with their faces and hands painted green as well as wearing green clothes. I haven’t time to write more as we are going into action again tonight at 8 o clock, so please remember me to Mr. Bonham, and tell him I shall come back to the “Old Mill ” safe again and sound. So goodbye for the present, hoping soon to have a reply.