though
deficient in some points, is adequate. Our greatest deficiency is in
personnel; we are short of our original number by three officers and
thirty-eight men, this being due to casualties and sickness. Kellas
was killed nine days ago, Whyte and Morris are home on sick leave.

_August 16th._--At 8 a.m. as Fiddes and I were preparing to go out to
Pink Farm, a message came that we were to embark any time after 17
o'clock (i.e. 5 p.m.). We withdrew all men and equipment from our two
advanced dressing stations, and had a busy day in camp packing up all
we possessed. We left at 8.30 after a supper of chicken and
champagne--something very unusual--and got on board the "Ermine," a
Glasgow boat. The officers made themselves as comfortable as possible
for the night in the smoke room, where several K.O.S.B. officers had
already deposited themselves. I managed to sleep a little at first,
but my nearest companion, a K.O.S.B., being unable to persuade me to
put my legs over his, placed his over mine while I was in an awkward
position, and rather than disturb him, I lay still. My friend was less
considerate, he next planked his big, dirty boots alongside my face,
which were anything but pleasant, they smelt as if their owner kept
cows.

We only steamed about one and a half hours when the anchor was let go
with the usual rattle, and we heard some one from another boat
shouting that the troops were to remain on board till morning. No one
took the trouble to look out to see where we were, such a thing seemed
to be of no interest.

_August 17th._--Suvla Bay. Tuesday, 2 p.m. We landed at Suvla Bay
about 5 a.m. and marched to the point of the projecting piece of land
on the north side. The bay is entirely closed by a boom, and inside we
have a fairly large fleet of battleships and transports, and a large
number of smaller boats, while three hospital ships lie outside. The
Turks have been shelling these rather furiously, but I have seen no
hits. Our troops on land are also having their share. All our
equipment was sent off on a lighter, which has not yet arrived, and as
all our rations are with it we are in dire straits. Luckily another
ambulance took pity on us and gave us tea and hard ration biscuits,
but there is no sign of further meals, nor do we expect any.

I am sitting on the side of a rocky slope, and just in front, in a dip
of the hill, are crowded the whole of the 87th Brigade to which we are
for the present attached.