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A letter from J. F. Rudd
Description
TitleA letter from J. F. RuddSummaryA letter written by Lance-Corporal J. F. Rudd formerly of Greendale, who was wounded at Gallipoli in 1915.DescriptionA letter has been received from Lance-Corporal J. F. Rudd formerly of Greendale, who was wounded at Gallipoli in 1915 and returned to the field. He was wounded at the battle of El Rom. For some time he was on the 'dangerously ill list' but has sufficiently recovered to be on the way to New Zealand. Writing in August, he gives an interesting account of his experiences in the fighting with the Turks in their attack on the Suez Canal. What follows is a transcript of his letter.
'There was great excitement the day we hopped away to meet the Turks. We were given an hour to prepare, and then away. We engaged the enemy on August 4, in the act of surrounding one of our advanced camps, and we gave them fits, and by evening we had them completely beaten. They streamed out of their trenches by hundreds. I understand that over 1000 prisoners were taken in our sector and altogether over 3000 prisoners were taken for that day. It was a good day's work, and I am pleased I was there to do my whack in the fight. As my mounted machine-gun was the first one to be sent up, I had the privilege of firing the first shot. It is a hair-raising business, galloping over a battle-swept zone into a position. We lost several horses, but not one man until afterwards.
'I am afraid T. M'Cahon of Waddington, was badly wounded whilst tending the gun. We had in our section three other men wounded. That for the day completed our casualties. Next day (Saturday), in conjunction with infantry, we attacked a Turkish position. We met with strong resistance and had a warm time. Next morning, however, Lieutenant Harper had his horse shot dead under him and we had several other horses killed. We had a good bit of luck that day. Sergeant Barr and I decided to shift down to another mound with our gun, and we were no sooner in our new position than our old one had three shells right into it. We had evidently been spotted. Dusk came on and we withdrew, and had an exciting time getting back to our horses. It seemed a miracle none of us was blown up. The Turks pumped shrapnel in by the score, F. Smith was shot through, the heart while helping to strap my gun on the pack saddle.
'We went through our usual performance of watering and feeding, had sleep for an hour or so, and next day went further on. But we did nothing, for which most of us were thankful, as hitherto we had precious little time to eat or sleep. Monday was practically the same. Our little lot was in reserve. We lay back in a gully all day. I counted eighty-two high explosives in an hour and a quarter directed at our battery while we were resting. On Tuesday we advanced again, land found the enemy had evacuated their main position. I took one or two 'snaps' there, and also have the copies of two letters the German officers left for us. We went further on and camped for the night, only a few miles from where the enemy had a strong position, and in the morning we attacked. They were ready for us. Canterbury seemed to be unlucky and were just in the line where the Turkish gunners directed most of their shells.
'Their machine-gunners got round where they could just enfilade our particular gully, and I assure you it was not healthy to lift one's head. I had my hat whisked off my head with a bullet, and it was only the hot sun that made me put it on again. High explosives landed as near as ten yards, and only the fact of its being soft sand saved us from being blown to atoms; a score of times. Barr and I had quite made up our minds that it was to be the finish of us. It was while firing in this position that I got knocked out. Sergeant Barr did the field dressing while No. 2 carried on with the gun. I had the pleasure of lying there for another hour, expecting anything at any moment. Mr Harper was wounded a few yards off. The order was given to retire and we carried it out, though God only knows how the four of us got away without being hit. When we got back to the horses my pony was missing, and I was keenly distressed to think my old companion probably had been killed. They put me on an old wounded horse, and on my way back Neill, of the signalers, joined me. After riding beside him for some time I gradually woke up- to the fact that it was my nag he was on. You can imagine my delight.'
The writer describes travelling hack to the railhead for hospital on camelback, a journey which occupied twelve and a half hours, as a very trying ordeal.
It is thought that J.F Foster is most likely to be James Foster Rudd.
First NameJ. F. Last NameRudd
'There was great excitement the day we hopped away to meet the Turks. We were given an hour to prepare, and then away. We engaged the enemy on August 4, in the act of surrounding one of our advanced camps, and we gave them fits, and by evening we had them completely beaten. They streamed out of their trenches by hundreds. I understand that over 1000 prisoners were taken in our sector and altogether over 3000 prisoners were taken for that day. It was a good day's work, and I am pleased I was there to do my whack in the fight. As my mounted machine-gun was the first one to be sent up, I had the privilege of firing the first shot. It is a hair-raising business, galloping over a battle-swept zone into a position. We lost several horses, but not one man until afterwards.
'I am afraid T. M'Cahon of Waddington, was badly wounded whilst tending the gun. We had in our section three other men wounded. That for the day completed our casualties. Next day (Saturday), in conjunction with infantry, we attacked a Turkish position. We met with strong resistance and had a warm time. Next morning, however, Lieutenant Harper had his horse shot dead under him and we had several other horses killed. We had a good bit of luck that day. Sergeant Barr and I decided to shift down to another mound with our gun, and we were no sooner in our new position than our old one had three shells right into it. We had evidently been spotted. Dusk came on and we withdrew, and had an exciting time getting back to our horses. It seemed a miracle none of us was blown up. The Turks pumped shrapnel in by the score, F. Smith was shot through, the heart while helping to strap my gun on the pack saddle.
'We went through our usual performance of watering and feeding, had sleep for an hour or so, and next day went further on. But we did nothing, for which most of us were thankful, as hitherto we had precious little time to eat or sleep. Monday was practically the same. Our little lot was in reserve. We lay back in a gully all day. I counted eighty-two high explosives in an hour and a quarter directed at our battery while we were resting. On Tuesday we advanced again, land found the enemy had evacuated their main position. I took one or two 'snaps' there, and also have the copies of two letters the German officers left for us. We went further on and camped for the night, only a few miles from where the enemy had a strong position, and in the morning we attacked. They were ready for us. Canterbury seemed to be unlucky and were just in the line where the Turkish gunners directed most of their shells.
'Their machine-gunners got round where they could just enfilade our particular gully, and I assure you it was not healthy to lift one's head. I had my hat whisked off my head with a bullet, and it was only the hot sun that made me put it on again. High explosives landed as near as ten yards, and only the fact of its being soft sand saved us from being blown to atoms; a score of times. Barr and I had quite made up our minds that it was to be the finish of us. It was while firing in this position that I got knocked out. Sergeant Barr did the field dressing while No. 2 carried on with the gun. I had the pleasure of lying there for another hour, expecting anything at any moment. Mr Harper was wounded a few yards off. The order was given to retire and we carried it out, though God only knows how the four of us got away without being hit. When we got back to the horses my pony was missing, and I was keenly distressed to think my old companion probably had been killed. They put me on an old wounded horse, and on my way back Neill, of the signalers, joined me. After riding beside him for some time I gradually woke up- to the fact that it was my nag he was on. You can imagine my delight.'
The writer describes travelling hack to the railhead for hospital on camelback, a journey which occupied twelve and a half hours, as a very trying ordeal.
It is thought that J.F Foster is most likely to be James Foster Rudd.
First NameJ. F. Last NameRudd
Connections
CollectionSoldiers of Selwyn World War One
Attribution
Taken FromAugust 1916
A letter from J. F. Rudd. Selwyn Stories, accessed 08/11/2025, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/530
