ead comrade on a
stretcher. The cemetery may be small but it already contains many
graves, and inside its barbed wire fence there is still room for many
of our gallant men, who fondly fancy that the shell or bullet that
could lay them low is not yet cast. This very comforting feeling I
hope we all possess--more or less. One of the graves has a cross of
great taste and is over a "Driver Page," a New Zealand Artillery man,
and after the inscription is the word "Ake--Ake".

No one knows the extent of our casualties, but they must be heavy. The
Indian contingent alone is said to have lost 1000 yesterday. The
Royals, Essex, and K.O.S.B.'s are said to have suffered most in the
morning's attack.

_Later._--I heard in the evening that yesterday's casualties amounted
to at least 1800, but some think that an under-estimate.

We hear to-night that General Wolley-Dod has been appointed to command
our 86th Brigade. He is said to be a very able soldier.

In the afternoon there was an occasional interchange of shots, but on
the whole it was quiet till 8 p.m., the hour darkness sets in, when
the usual fusillade began. The Turks are nearly always responsible for
this, and our men rarely reply.

_June 7th._--I notice in yesterday's Routine Orders issued by General
de Lisle, commanding the 29th Division, that the old Etonians are to
have a dinner at Lancashire Landing, and those attending are requested
to bring knife, fork, plate, and cup--their mugs in short. This
request seems quite natural out here. Then follows a notice that some
unit has lost a bay horse and two mules, finder to return them to
such and such a place. This again is a curiosity, horses and mules are
always straying. The correct way to do if you lose a horse is to seize
the first stray one you come across, and swear you brought him out
from England.

Last night about 10.30 the Turks disturbed our peace by firing fifty
or sixty shells about our Beach, some being very near our camp, near
enough to bespatter our tents and dugouts with lumps of earth. One of
the men of the 88th Field Ambulance, just in front of us, got wounded.
They began again with heavier shells--Jack Johnsons--about 5 a.m.
to-day, seven falling near us, and as we lay underground we could feel
the earth shake with every detonation. Last night was the first time
they ever gave us such a visit. They are chary of using their big guns
after dark in case they should give away their positions.

2.15 p