ion for cover difficult. There were also
disagreeable evidences of the previous occupants and the ground was
freely scattered with tins of preserved meat.

Here the 28th became a support for the garrison above. It had also to
provide a patrol to connect with the 1st Light Horse Brigade now on the
Battalion's left and on the opposite side of Malone Gully. Between Happy
Valley and Malone Gully ran a razor-edged spur--descending from Turk's
Head, the extreme left of the Russell's Top position. At the summit
Lieut. Shaw took charge of two machine guns already in position there.
The remainder of his section, now 60 strong, engaged in training on the
hinter slope. The spur itself was known officially as "Wild Cat Sap,"
but more popularly as the "Ghost Walk." During the hours of darkness, up
and down the footway that had been cut, toiled and slipped a patrol,
whilst in the valley itself a platoon was kept in a state of constant
readiness as an inlying picquet.

[Illustration: THE SARI BAIR RIDGE.
Showing Baby 700, the Nek, and Russell's Top. The Nek is shown in the
centre of the picture at the head of the dark patch. The opposing
trenches are to the right of it.
_Photo. lent by Mr. C. E. W. Bean. Copyright by Australian War Museum._]

During the afternoon of the 13th November, the sounds of cheering,
coming from the direction of the beach, indicated some unusual
happening. Shortly afterwards Lord Kitchener, accompanied by Generals
Monro, Maxwell, and Birdwood, was seen ascending the slope to Walker's
Ridge. He had spoken to the men who had "reviewed" him on landing and
had given them a gracious and flattering message from the King. One of
the Battalion "rumourists" returned from the vicinity with the report
that the words spoken included, "Well, boys, you will all be in Egypt
for Christmas." The stay of the Secretary of State for War was brief and
he left Anzac again in a small launch which did not attract even a
single shell from the enemy's guns.

Sickness continued to make its levy on the officers. Lieut. Ruddock went
down with pneumonia on the 13th November, and was succeeded as Adjutant
by Lieut. G. A. Read. Captain Montgomery, who had returned to duty, had
again to be sent away and was followed a few days later by Lieuts. G. A.
F. Smith and H. J. Bowra. Dean Brennan, who had fallen a victim to
jaundice, was also evacuated. Major Leane became ill, but as the
Battalion was in reserve he was granted his plea to be allow