Diana Siriwardena

World war one Assignment

1.
Photograph of Australian sleeping in Possie during the fighting for Bullcourt, May 1917
Unknown Photographer
The WESTERN FRONT 1916 1918, Peter Cochrane (Book)
This photograph proved useful as it informs us of the crowded trenches that soldiers had to
experiences and thus the uncomfortable living conditions. This is accentuated in this
photograph particularly as there is an abundance of strewn equipment and supplies such as
weapons and cloth which indicate additionally that the conditions were dangerous as bricks,
weapons, shovels and other equipment could fall down onto the soldier. The expression of
the soldier reveal the exhaustion experienced and the level of dirt indicate that the trenches
were very unhygienic.
2.
Photograph of Australian Infantry Brigade Parading through the Grand Place, Bapaume
19
th
March 1917
Unknown photographer
The WESTERN FRONT 1916 1918, Peter Cochrane (Book)
This photograph symbolises the fighting spirit and the strong sense of pride the Australians
felt. This is despite the smouldering ruins in the town behind them that also reveals the cruel
and harsh reality of destruction that war brought upon. Furthermore, this image conveys the
sense of unity and harmony that the Australian Infantry Brigade had which animated the
troops in the times of monotony and downfall.
3.
We reached the open valley and flung ourselves upon a sloping bank, oblivious of the driving rain
and biting wind. This was the lowest depth to which my physical powers had even sunk. I felt that by
a slight effort of the will I could die and end it all. Our officers were in a bad way, too, telling us to
keep moving lest we die of exposure.
Diary Entry Extract , 22 November 1916
Sergeant A.A Brunton
The WESTERN FRONT 1916 1918, Peter Cochrane (Book
This extract informs us of the harsh weather conditions ANZACs had to endure such as the
driving rain and biting wind. Furthermore, it indicates the level of harsh physical activity
soldiers experienced as portrayed through this was the lowest depth to which my physical
powers had even sunk. The vain offers indicate that often, officers did not care much of
the conditions of the soldiers and only of achieving a goal and thus reveals the little
attention soldiers received. This is despite the potential death these soldiers could
experience due to this harsh physical endurance.
4.
I was dead beat, and wishing to goodness something would hit me so that I could go down with a
clear conscience
Diana Siriwardena

Diary extract at the Western Front 5 August 1916
Private T.J Cleary
The WESTERN FRONT 1916 1918, Peter Cochrane (Book)
This source indicates the sense and extremity of depression some ANZACs had experience
as displayed through wishing something would hit me so that I would go down. It is also
suggestive of the extremity of suffering ANZACs went through to result in their such
judgement. The reference to a clear conscience implies that so far the soldiers mind is
insane almost and confused by the inhumanity of murder through war.
5.
Photograph of a Captured German Trench August, 1918
Photographer unknown
World War 1, Day by Day Ian Westwell (Book)
The open trench indicates that the trench had considerable exposure and thus opens to rain
and other weather elements. This would have made living conditions uncomfortable for
ANZAC troops along with the mud and the crumbling walls illustrated. These crumbling walls
would have made it difficult to climb up trench walls to fire at the enemy and increase
ineffectiveness of attacks.
6.
it was a truly awful sight. Once more the long procession of wounded, dirty, ragged, torn and
bloody men came down to the dressing station others lay just 25 yards in front of the trench in the
hot sun not daring to move till night when some of them might be able to crawl slowly back to the
lines.
Diary entry written at Gallipoli, 6 August 1915
Corporal Alec Riley
Gallipoli Diaries The Anzacs Own Story Day by Day Jonathon King (Book)
This entry is useful as it exhibits some of the suffrage and consequences of the Gallipoli
campaign had on ANZAC troops. It also reveals a sense of hopelessness in some of the
troops who had been wounded or injured as displayed through when some of them might
be able to crawlback. The reference to a procession hints that the dressing station had
hundreds of wounded soldiers and troops had to wait a considerable amount of time to be
treated.
7.
Letter extract written at Gaba Tepe, 11
th
December 1915
Fred Carthew
Voices from the Trenches, Letters to Home Noel Carthew (book)
This letter exhibits other interest troops picked up to distract themselves from the
monotony and grief of warfare. It also reveals that despite the health issues associated with
tobacco and cigarettes, the troops were issued these by their superiors which hints that
their superiors also felt that the troops should have a distraction to the harsh experiences of
the fighting in the war. This letter also reveals that water rations and conditions troops had
such as the limit of a bottle of a day and the wind exposure the trenches had. The reference
to the pipe as the ANZACs only friend and only hobby hints that many of the troops friends
were killed and thus is left with the pipe.
Diana Siriwardena

8.
Diary Entry from Gallipoli, 1915
Lance Corporal Lawrence
Sorry Lads, but the Order is to go- The August Offensive Gallipoli 1915 David W.
Cameron (Book)
This extract expresses that not only the men in the trenches suffered by enemy fire and
bombs. Cooks also endeared danger running from bivouacs to the trench as portrayed
through whilst dodging shells, bullets and fragments, to make a decent stew for tea. It
also exhibits that one man did not only have one role, e.g cooking, but many. In this extract,
it specifies they will be called upon to dig trenches. This source is further useful as it hints
the level of confusion troops experienced due to very little information passed to them as
depicted through we hsall have a better idea of what is going on.
9.
I would not care a rap if 75 percent of our officers had a wooden cross over his head. Half of our
duty men are taken up digging most secure dugouts for officers or washing shirts for them in half a
bucket of water while other men are almost famished for a drink. By god if ever I am asked to dig a
dugout of one or wash their shirts I will be shot at day break for refusing to obey an order on Active
Service.
Diary Entry 25 July 1915
Pte. J.K Gammage, 1
st
Battalion, AIF
Gallipoli Diaries The Anzacs Own Story Day by Day Jonathon King (Book)
This quote is useful as it exhibits the harsh treatment ANZACs had to endure in attending for
the officers and their superiors. Specifically, some ANZACs were deprived of water, an
essential for survival, due to the fulfilment of unreasonable demands from their officers and
superiors. It also depicts the inhumanity officers and superiors had towards privates as
displayed through the punishment of death for not obeying orders as irrational as cleaning
the officers shirts.
10.
Stretcher bearer! Stretcher bearer!! but a messenger running past replied You wont see them
tonight my boy theyre rare than gold. You wont get them along here which was an idiotic thing
to say prompting one of the wounded to reply You might let us think we will I saw one poor devil
out of the hundreds lying there crawling along who had been hit in both legs trying to get back to
cover so I dragged him by both legs into a ditch got hold of two packs put them around him and
left.
Diary entry from Gallipoli, 1915
Lt F.T Small
Gallipoli Diaries The Anzacs Own Story Day by Day Jonathon King (Book)
This diary entry is beneficial as it reveals the undignified manner that the wounded and
murdered soldiers were treated in the Gallipoli campaign. Also, it displays the amount of
deaths that the soldiers experienced as implied by the deficiency in stretcher bearers due to
the numerous deaths. Additionally, this source shows the sense of decency troops had for
each other in aiding them reach cover.