Apr -May, 1915

Chapter XXIV – ANZAC Beach
548 THE STORY OF ANZAC [Apr -May, 1915
Work continued under shrapnel exactly as if the Beach were Collins Street or Circular Quay. On April 27th, when the Turks were delivering their general attack on the trenches, shells burst over the Beach all day. But except during one period of thirty minutes, when work was ordered to cease, the unloading and issuing of supplies and the carrying of rations and ammunition by mule and hand to the hills went on without intermission. The shell fire on the Beach was exceptionally deadly. A high British artillery officer, fresh from the Western front, gave it as his opinion that it was “absolute madness” to disregard it in this manner, and eventually it was ordered that during spasms of shrapnel a whistle should be blown and work should cease. The signal was not greatly regarded. The sight of the beach-workers who did not desist, but who continued to perform their part of the day’s task under the whine of shells and the scatter of pellets, was a never-ending wonder to those who lived on the terraced hillside above them. A similar standard had been set in the front line, and only heavy trial or long strain ever broke it down. The attitude of complete indifference to all casual shell or rifle fire was simply the natural expression of the men’s self-respect. No one liked shell fire, but public opinion demanded that, whatever men felt, not by the flicker of an eyelid must they show it. This attitude cost many casualties, and had to be modified by order from higher quarters. But it never died out in the A.I.F. That careless, easy manner and apparent indifference to shell fire marked the Australians on every battlefield. More than one German officer, captured two years later on Broodseinde Ridge, was profoundly impressed by this quality. “What could we not do with such men!” said one of them to the British officer who interrogated him. The percentage of loss amongst Australian officers and men was high, but it is doubtful if in
25th-30th Apr., 1915] ANZAC BEACH 549
the long run this attitude increased it, whereas its permanent effect upon their morale gave them a formidable fighting value which, during the last year of the war, told sensibly in favour of their side. Another result of the heavy fighting of the landing was that it fixed once and for all the relation of the Australian men to their officers. Until this first actual trial, there had lingered in most Australian battalions a vague resentment against the institution of officers.