t and melted it with a view to supplementing the water
supply, but it soon became apparent that the visitation was going to
have very serious effects. Traffic turned the snow into mud and the
inclines used by the mules became almost impassable. Snow continued to
fall until midday, and towards evening, with the thermometer down to
24 deg., a hard frost set in, accompanied by a keen wind. This removed the
mud difficulty for the time being, but rifle actions became rigid and
machine guns refused to work. On Turk's Head for twelve hours the
garrison was almost defenceless.

These severe conditions existed until the last day of the month, when
the sun re-asserted itself, gave off some warmth, melted the ice, and,
for a period, restored the muddy conditions. The visitation of the
blizzard had dire consequences, especially to the men in the trenches,
where there was such little room for movement. Cases of frost-bite were
numerous--a few only in the 28th--whilst many men who had been bravely
hanging on to duty now found their last ounce of vitality forsaking them
and were impelled to parade sick. The troops to the north of Anzac fared
the worst. The snow had been preceded by heavy falls of rain, converting
the low-lying trenches into watercourses and in some cases obliterating
them altogether. With the advent of the frost, men previously wet
through had their garments frozen on them. Two hundred deaths followed
from exposure and exhaustion. Some sentries were found still at their
posts with the last spark of life departed. Altogether some 10,000 sick
were evacuated from the Peninsula, one British Division losing 50 per
cent. of its strength. Nor did the enemy, it is believed, fare much
better, as many of his dead were washed down the deres into our trenches
near Suvla.

The month closed for the Battalion with a record of five died of wounds
and 111 evacuated sick. In consequence of further casualties in the
commissioned ranks, Sergt. F. Sears was promoted to be a platoon
commander.

Since near the middle of November there had been a noticeable increase
in the enemy artillery fire. The beach received special attention. Not
only was there an increase in the number of rounds fired, but it seemed
that more large calibre guns were being brought into use. Intelligence
reports also, from time to time, mentioned additional heavy German guns
reaching the Turks _via_ Bulgaria.

The dawn of the 29th November revealed a series of small