From the Journal of Jack Simpson

Shrapnel Valley, Gallipoli

25 April 1915

Today we came to fight the Turks but we didn’t know 

they were ready for us.  I lost 6 of my friends when we 

got off the ship.  It was hard to get up the steep terrain.  

When I got to the top there were 15 men dead and 9 

people wounded. 

It is hard work at the battlefront.  When we were fighting 

a bullet whistled past my head, it almost hit me I could smell smoke and bully beef 

for lunch.

It is very exhausting at the front, rescuing soldiers. I can hear bombs going off and there is a sour taste in my mouth. I wish I could go home and have my big tea.