Captain Albert Haye Mure

Captain Albert Haye Mure, 1/5th Battalion Royal Scots (Lothian Regiment), witnessed some real horrors during the Third Battle of Krithia. On 5th June 1915, the reaction kicked in.

“At half-past two [a.m.] I gave it up and lay down, but I couldn't sleep. What I did from four till about half-past seven I have never been able to remember. Perhaps I shall some day, but I fancy not. I believe that those three or four hours of my life are dead, and for ever buried in the chalky loam of Gallipoli. At half-past seven I struggled down to the gully for breakfast. It was torture to walk. It was torture to think. It was double torture to be.

“I remember chatting quite cheerfully with some one, I cannot recall with whom, as I began to eat, and then something suddenly snapped, and I collapsed into a sort of maudlin, weeping condition. I was all in.

“I felt that I was going silly, and that I must have a rest, if only for one day. I had been under fire for forty-two days. And during all that time I had had very little sleep, barely tasting it now and then, just enough of it to whet to stronger agony my appetite and need for it.

“I did not require to tell the C.O. when I got back — how I did get back I do not remember; he saw at once what a plight I was in, and he packed me off immediately for three days' leave. And he gave me a note to the medical officer at the beach. I pulled myself together enough to arrange a few matters that I ought not to leave at loose ends, got my bag, and went off by myself, not wishing to see or speak to any one...

“I roamed and groped about forlornly. I was dazed, and for the most part my memory had forsaken me. I remember laughing once or twice when I heard the guns go, pleased as a child. And why not? I was a child again, a stray child, alone in Gallipoli.

“My mind rebalanced itself partly after a time, but not my body. I hunted for the M.O. to whom the commanding officer had given me a chit; but I could not find him, and presently I lay down on my back, feeling absolutely helpless, and wondering peevishly if he'd find me. For two hours or more I never moved. Then I crawled back to the hospital tent. I crawled in and held out my note. An officer took it — not he to whom it was addressed — and, after a sharp glance at me, opened and read it. He directed me to another marquee. It was near enough, and I found it and lurched in. I was swaying now like a man very drunk. An officer got up quickly, and looked at me hard. I held out my note again. The officer in the other tent had written something on the envelope, but I had no curiosity as to what it was, and I hadn't glanced at it. And I believe that I could not have read then, not even very big print.

“This officer never spoke, but just looked at me, wrote something on a ticket, and pinned it on my coat. Then he said regretfully that the place was full up — choked — and that I'd better rest about a bit, and come back at seven in the morning, and that then I'd be put on board a ship. I heard what he said, but it did not mean much to me. He had to tell me a second or a third time to go away until the next day, and then I did stagger out and off again. I remember distinctly that my feelings were hurt. I wanted a home. I desired to be coddled. And I was turned out, and very homeless.

“I meandered about for a while, and by luck I tumbled across the acting quartermaster. He took me to his dug-out, and a glass of rum steadied me a bit. We sat and talked for a long time; at least, he talked, and supplied me with rum ad, lib. Curiously enough — for I was very weak, and had scarcely eaten for I don't know how long — it had not the least effect on me. Finally I lay down, and I dozed off.” [1]

[1] Mure, Albert Haye, “With the Incomparable 29th,” pp. 185-188, W. & R. Chambers (Edinburgh), 1919.

Image: “Walking wounded coming down Gully Ravine to Gully Beach, after passing through the Advanced Dressing Station.” IWM Q 13329.