Letters from Gallipoli. Please read these and leave a comment.

                                                                                    The Trenches

 

                                                                                                   Gallipoli

                                       25th April 1915

Dearest Mother and Father,

The sea sickening trip to the shores of Gallipoli was dreadful. There was knee deep vomit in the boat and it smelt terrible.

I have just arrived at the shores of Gallipoli. Already the Turks have killed hundreds of our soldiers. There is a possibility that I will not come home.

The food here is vile and I almost threw up the first time I ate there. All we get for food is some stale bread which is hard as a rock and sometimes we receive ANZAC biscuits which are a treat for us. The smell of the rotting corpses is revolting, it makes a grown man cry. The trenches are lurking with lice and huge rats. If you were to be bitten by a

rat, one of the nurses would bath your limb that was bitten in some salty water.
Mum please do not worry about me I am looking after myself and I hope to see you soon.

Your loving son,
Karl

The Trenches

Gallipoli

April 1915

 

Dear mother and father,

I miss you guys a lot. How's the house? Oh and the dogs, are they missing me? Is Charlie alright? I'm not sure when I'll come back, but I hope within a few months. This place isn't comfortable. It's terrible living here.

You don't need to worry about me, my injures are minor, but some aren't that lucky. Life here is miserable. The air is polluted with smoke, the trenches are dirty and uncomfortable. The ground is covered with bullets and bodies moaning and screaming in pain. The food here is still ok, but I'm starving. The food we have to eat  consist mainly of biscuits, so even if it tastes nice, it's not filling.

The Turks are strong and ferocious. We aren't going so well but don't worry about me, I'll try to protect myself. We are defending ourselves pretty well for now but we might not make it. I hope I do, because if I don't the family will be miserable.

Even if I don't make it, don't worry, I'm proud of myself to fight for our country. Don't be sad, if I'm gone, I'm going to be in a safe place.

From your dearest son,

Rocco

Trenches, Anzac Cove

                                                                                                                  Gallipoli

                                                                                                                        15.8.1914

 

Dear mum and dad,

I've recently arrived at 'Anzac Cove'. During the arrival in the early hours everything was peaceful until we stepped onto the beach. Within a few minutes the beach was blood stained and over One thousand soldiers were killed by shells or machine gun fire.

Luckily, Iwas not hurt so you don't need to worry about me. The food here is terrible like slop! The living conditions are dank. We have to sleep on the wet floorboards which were supposed to stop water coming in.

We've lost many bunkers and captured many bunkers from the Turks. Sadly your son Ryan was KIA during a raid on a Turkish bunker. We have lost 18,000 soldiers so far and losing the war. We are aiming to catch a bunker on high grounds tonight.

Sadly I can't write more as the Turks are currently raiding one of our bunkers and they need reinforcement. Wish me luck!

Your loving son,

James

                                                                                                                               Main Camp

                                                                                                                              Gallipoli

                                                                                                                               April 26, 1915

Dearest Mother and Father,

I am currently unharmed here in Gallipoli. Although the conditions are harsh, being a nurse for the other Turkish soldiers it quite an honour.

 

All was peaceful until the enemies on their boats arrived. As our men were getting ready for the attack the other nurses and I were panicking while trying to organise and prepare all the medical equipment. Suddenly, the first gunshot fired.

 

Both sides showered each other with bullets. The sound of the violent fighting was quite disturbing. I could hear desperate shouting and screaming. Men were brought by stretcher bearers one after the other. Fortunately, I could save many soldiers. The smell of death and the blood stained battlefield could make a grown man cry.

 

It is early morning while I'm writing to you. Although it is quite dark I can see dead soldiers blanketing the field. It may of only been a few weeks I already miss you both so much,

Your loving daughter,

Charlotte