with no opposition at the landing,
and had proceeded nearly two miles inland, when they were attacked by
the Turks in overwhelming force, and lost a large number in their
retreat to the Beach and then to their boats. This was afterwards
retaken by the Gurkhas, who pushed through from W. Beach, and the high
cliff on the north side is now known as Gurkha Bluff. The Indian
Brigade have their H.Q. here, and this morning there were about 2000
Gurkhas and Sikhs about. I was toiling up the "bloody cliff" when some
Gurkhas passed me, thinking nothing of the steep ascent; while I
straightened my knees slowly at each step, I noticed they brought
their legs straight with a jerk.

This day two years ago I was lying in bed in Brussels, reading
Baedeker, when I discovered it was the 98th anniversary of Waterloo. I
had given up all intention of visiting the battlefield, being pressed
for time, but after such a discovery I felt compelled to pay it a
visit. I was thankful I went, it proved one of the most enjoyable days
I ever spent. At that time Holland and Belgium hated each other, but
were outwardly kept friendly by their common enemy, Germany, of which
they were very suspicious. What has now happened has surprised neither
of these two States.

7 p.m.--Returned a few minutes ago from my favourite Observation Post
at Y. Beach--Major Ward dragged me over to....

11 p.m.--The preliminary big gun bombardment was to commence at 7, and
I had just made a start with my diary when the din began, and I had to
stop short. We are in the very middle of four batteries--two mountain
(Ross and Cromarty), one 64-pounder, and a fourth of four 6-inch
howitzers. All blazed forth at once, and all drew fire. As far as we
could make out this was the hottest corner of the whole front. Shells
in hundreds burst about our ears, chunks of shell and four nose caps
came into Aberdeen Gully. The noise of our guns and the bursting of
Turkish shells was the worst I have heard since the day of our
landing. Stones and earth we had flying about in plenty. In the midst
of it all Captain Rowland, R.E., shouted from the mule track, asking
if a M.O. would go and see Major Archibald in the front trench. I set
off with two bearers and a stretcher, and found him in a side trench
close to Gully Beach. He was mortally wounded. I dressed him and left
him where he lay, in charge of an orderly. We now hurried back to the
mule track, the whole length of which we had to traverse.