The Gallipoli Letter by Keith Murdoch

worse and do not, as expected, return in a few weeks—do not return at all. Our Australian doctors have bearded Porter in his den, and talked open defiance to him, in the vain hope that he would insist on an inquiry, or lay a charge against them. We must make the best of the R.A.M.C., but we surely need not be burdened with Porter’s sins. After having heart and seen something of the awful bungling of the wounded transport arrangements, one wonders how it is possible that the War Office should regard with complacency the prospect of leaving this man the very difficult work of getting sick and wounded from the peninsula during the winter. The only reason I can think of is that professional soldiers stick to each other through thick and thin.
    I hope I have not made the picture too gloomy. I have great faith still in the Englishman. And, as I have said, the enemy is having his own troubles too. But this unfortunate expedition has never been given a chance. It required large bodies of seasoned troops. It required a great leader. It required self-sacrifice on the part of the staff as well as that sacrifice so wonderfully and liberally made on the part of the soldiers. It has had none of these things. Its troops have been second class, because untried before their awful battles and privations of the peninsula. And behind it all is a gross selfishness and complacency on the part of the staff.
    Much more I could tell you, but my task is done, though I shall write again next mail—I hope with better news. This of course is a private letter, but you will show it to George Pearce and Hughes, so I shall say nothing more than the plain goodbye of a friend.
    Sincerely yours,
    [Keith Murdoch]
    Letter regarding Murdoch’s appointment to investigate postal facilities in Cairo:
    Department of Defence,
Melbourne, 9th July, 1915.
    Dear Sir,
    In view of numerous complaints which have reached the Commonwealth Government regarding the non-delivery of letters and cables to members of the Australian Imperial Force in Egypt, and the difficulty experienced by persons in Australia in obtaining information concerning wounded and sick relatives, it is thought that the public uneasiness in these matters would be allayed if a report by some persons unconnected with the Forces could be obtained as to the arrangements that have been made in Egypt for these services. The Government has accordingly authorised Mr Keith Murdoch, an Australian journalist, who is on his way to England, to make enquiries when passing through Egypt with a view to furnishing me with a report upon the matters alluded to.
    Any assistance which you can see your way to render Mr Murdoch in connection with his enquiries will be very much appreciated by my colleagues and myself.
    Yours sincerely,
(Sgd) G.F. PEARCE
Minister for Defence.
    G.O.C. in Chief,
EGYPT.
    Murdoch’s letter of introduction to Sir Ian Hamilton:
    [ handwritten at top of page ]
    My dear Birdwood,
    This gentleman is duly authorised—help him in any way you can.
    Yours ever,
Ian Hamilton
2.9.15
    Department of Defence.
Melbourne. 13th July 1915.
    Dear Sir Ian Hamilton,
    Mr Keith Murdoch, Pressman of Sydney and Melbourne, is on his way to London to fill an appointment there and has been asked by this Government to make certain enquiries in connexion with postal facilities at the Base in Egypt, and as to the disposition of wounded. It might just happen that circumstances will favour him to the extent of meeting yourself and, in case this should be so, I have much pleasure in giving him this letter of introduction.
    Yours sincerely,
G.F. Pearce
    General Sir Ian Hamilton. G.C.B. D.S.O.
General Officer Commanding in Chief.
Mediterranean Expeditionary Force.

    PLATE 9 Two men of the 6th Battalion stand behind a Garland trench mortar near the front line. Note the feet of a resting soldier and some items of kit in the foreground. Photographer John David Rogers, AWM Neg. No. P02276.009
    A letter from Keith