y
moment, but though several men were killed and wounded in this way, the
survivors persisted bravely and the Turkish advance was effectually
checked. Their bombing slackened off gradually and it became possible to
hold on until the R.E. came up and erected a barricade across the
trench.

While this was transpiring word of the loss of the machine-guns had gone
back. Captain Morton heard of the incident and decided to make an effort
to recover them. Having collected a small party of six or eight
volunteers, he climbed out of the trench and worked his way along the
open ground beside it, making a slight detour apparently with the
intention of rushing the guns from the flank. Dusk was now turning to
darkness and those who were in the trench were unable to see what
actually happened. The little party evidently came under heavy fire
before they were in a position to make the rush. One or two got back
unhurt; one (Private Cleugh) mortally wounded, staggered into the trench
just in front of the barricade which was being erected, and was brought
in only to die; of Captain Morton and the others nothing more was seen.
One can only hope that their deaths came quickly and that they were
mercifully spared the lingering torture of waiting wounded for succour
which could not be rendered. It was a splendid plucky effort, which
might well have succeeded, and, though it did not succeed, it at least
failed gloriously.

Lieuts. W. Beckett and L.G. Aitken with the sadly diminished company
held on grimly, and Corpl. C. M'Intosh, who was blinded by a bomb which
exploded in his hand, Corpl. R. Holman, Lance-Corpl. W. Miller, Pte.
G.B. Langland, who was severely wounded, and Pte. (afterwards Sergt.) A.
Paterson specially distinguished themselves. At 1.30 next morning the
Company was relieved by the Plymouth R.M.L.I. Before dawn an alarm
summoned them to the front again, but nothing untoward happened.

On the morning of 13th July a curious incident happened among certain
troops in the firing line. The trouble began, as it so often does, with
an indiscreet verbal message. One of the front trenches was over-crowded
and the officer in charge wished to relieve the congestion by sending
back a section. Without thinking of possible consequences he passed
along a message for No. ---- Section to retire, and, as this order was
not complied with as rapidly as he expected, followed it up with a more
peremptory message that the section was to retire at o