ll up. These tactics had been carried out at Anzac prior to the
evacuation and it was hoped that the Turk might be induced to attack
when he found us doing the same at Helles, but he was not to be drawn.
It was a very peculiar sensation in the trenches that night with not a
sound from our own lines and only an occasional rifle shot from the
Turks. Sentries were doubled and a very sharp look-out was kept. The men
were beginning to get a little bit "jumpy," when suddenly on our right
a burst of rifle-fire started; every one seized his rifle and before you
could count ten the whole line across the Peninsula had followed suit.
This was only "wind up" and it died away very shortly afterwards, but it
showed that all troops were at extreme tension.

The following day we moved back to the rest camp and Major Simson left
us on his appointment to the 155th Brigade as Brigade-Major. Major
Neilson took up duties as Adjutant.

On the 30th December a message was received from Brigade Headquarters
that all surplus stores were to be returned to Ordnance and all baggage
was to be sent that night to the beach. The reason given for this was
the early relief of the 8th army corps by the 9th army corps, but in
view of the recent evacuation of the position further north this story
of relief was very much doubted and an opportunity was given to many to
circulate the wildest of rumours. We were all decided, however, that we
were not sorry to be spending our last few days on Gallipoli. The
following day the Colonel left the Battalion to take over command of the
Brigade and secret instructions were issued that the evacuation of the
Helles position was to be carried out within the next week.

A few days later the Battalion moved up to the eastern section of the
Eski line, a position joining the French. There was little done in the
few days we spent there except in making detailed arrangements in
connection with the evacuation. It was a very tedious time and as
rations were none too plentiful, foraging parties used to go down to the
beaches with the hope of collecting any odd dainties, such as tinned
chicken or tinned fruit that might be found in the vicinity of the
canteens that were being rapidly dismantled.

It might be mentioned that while one of the largest canteens was packing
up stores, the working party came across several cases of bulbs for
sparklet syphons; there had been a great demand for these during the hot
weather, and the cantee