Date: 15.11.1915
Battalion relieved at dawn by Suffolk Yeomanry. Rest camp shelled by 5 howitser about midday and one man wounded. Day and night otherwise quiet. 5 men to hospital. Routine parades and inspections.
Date: 16.11.1915
A few shells burst during day over camp but no damage done. Parades and Physical drill as usual. Bombing course restarted. Some names of various officers, N.C.O.s and men submitted for trench war decorations allotted to Division. Uneventful night. 2 men to hospital.
Date: 17.11.1915
Some shelling throughout day without result. Parades as before. Bombing course continued. Day quiet. About 1930 heavy firing all along line and at 2000 at urgent request of Suffolk Yeomanry half battalion sent to left sector as supports, of night: our men did not come into action. Four men to hospital. Weather very bad. Much rain and wind and very cold.
Date: 18.11.1915
Some ineffectual shelling during morning, otherwise day and night very quiet. Parades inspections as before. Bombing course continued, 2 men to hospital.
Date: 19.11.1915
Quiet day and night. Routine as usual. No men to hospital.
Date: 20.11.1915
Suffolk Yeomanry relieved in centre section at dawn. Trenches somewhat heavily shelled during day, particularly left-half sector but little damage done. Patrols out throughout night but no enemy movements reported. BULGAR BLUFF apparently unoccupied. Considerable work done in draining STAFFORD GULLY. 1 man to hospital. Much colder.
Date: 21.11.1915
Quiet morning but considerable shelling in early afternoon. No damage done. Trench improvements carried on generally. Patrols out at night as before. Second one fired on from neighbourhood of BEDFORD RIDGE but retired without casualties. No men to hospital. Weather very cold and damp.
More Information
The Turks were taking advantage of the quiet days . Forces opposite the Finsbury Rifles’ trenches were reorganised; fresh troops were brought into the frontline. Ever more complex and secure defences were constructed in the high ground.
The Turks could take advantage of the high ground above the beaches. They had modern heavy artillery and plentiful ammunition from Germany. After 20th November, these guns started bombarding the British and their allies based below them. There were fewer and fewer places where soldiers could hide from the blasts of the enormous shells. The Finsbury Rifles were fortunate to avoid most of these attacks.
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