to the Quartermaster, who was known, sometimes, as "the O.C.
Dunks." The donkeys carried loads suitable to their strength and were
found to be most useful animals in the areas near the front line.
Sometimes they got shot. A story is told of one of the 28th drivers who
was rather attached to his pair of animals. One day in the Dere a shell
killed one of his donkeys and the concussion from the explosion knocked
the other one over. With a little persuasion he got up again, but the
driver, in explaining the loss, said that he had had one beast killed
and that the other had _fainted_.

FOOTNOTES:

[N] Gallipoli Diary.

[O] H. W. Nevinson. The Dardanelles Campaign.

CHAPTER VIII.

GALLIPOLI (continued).

Lower Cheshire Ridge, the Battalion's new position, was in part a
razor-edged feature which faced the steep north-west slope of Sari Bair.
In between the two, and diagonally across the front, ran the Aghyl Dere
which passed through the trench line at the 28th's northern boundary.
Here a high breastwork had been constructed which carried a firestep and
at the same time allowed room for the passage of water underneath. This
breastwork, and the line for some distance beyond, was manned
alternately by the 5th Norfolks and 10th Londons, both of whom belonged
to the 162nd Brigade, 54th Division, and were Kitchener Army men. Both
battalions were much reduced in strength and contained many men whom
disease had rendered really unfit for work other than that of the
lightest nature. However, they hung on with the Tommy's well known
stoicism.

The 28th line was very varied. Commencing from the left of the 27th
Battalion, it ran through a hilltop to a place where an L-shaped cutting
had to be made to secure any footing at all. Thence about a dozen steps,
cut in a face, took one to a lower level which ran along towards the
Dere and terminated in a series of firing bays opening out from tunnels
which had been excavated by the 4th Brigade and further improved by the
25th Battalion. Portions of three companies were detailed to hold the
line, "B" Company being on the right and "A" Company functioning with
the British. Immediately behind the line was a deep hollow which
sheltered the supports and provided space for the kitchens and
headquarters of the Battalion. Little Table Top and Rose Hill formed the
western side of this hollow, and across their summits had been
constructed a reserve line with machine guns in position.

T