The Road to Chunuk Bair » B Woodhead

Monday 7th June 1915

lynley — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 00:00:11 +0000

In support bivouac.

6 a.m. S.M. Woodhead wounded in foot by stray bullet.

8 a.m. Privates Ford & Frankland wounded by sniper.

Serg Anderson returns from Base Hospital (wounded on Walker’s Ridge 27/5/15).

2 p.m. Company takes over section of fire trench for another turn of duty.

Quiet afternoon and evening till 10.30 p.m. when fire is opened on enemy’s trenches in front to cover operations on Quinn’s Post on left. Fire slackens off at 1 a.m.

Remainder of night quiet.

Monday 8th March 1915

lynley — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 23:00:44 +0000

The Battalion marched to Mataria and spent the day in musketry instruction. There was a stiff wind blowing all day and heat and dust had everyone in a bad temper by 11 a.m. A D.C.M was held for trial of S.M. B Woodhead.

Tuesday 26th January 1915

lynley — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 23:00:26 +0000

A warm cloudy morning. Other regiments moving out ahead of us, judging from noise in their lines.

Tuesday January 26^th 1915. At Kubri, 8p.m. We paraded at 6.45 a.m. 240 all ranks including attached, and proceeded to Palais de Kubbeh station about 1½ miles. We entrained at 8 a.m. and train was dispatched at 10.30 for Kubri. Kubri is a small siding on the railway 5 miles from Suez on West Bank of Canal. We arrived at Kubri at 5 p.m. after an uneventful journey. Of our own strength 22 were left in camp including storeman and base officer and S.M. Woodhead under arrest. 217 effectives of all ranks of our own strength being present. We are bivouacing tonight on the West side of the Suez Railway, the Otago Regiment being on the East. We have heard that the enemy are not very far away, some 10-15 miles. That our Regiment is for the trenches in the morning. The men are eagerly looking forward to action and have settled quite quietly into their bivouac. Hawkes Bay Coy & ourselves arrived 6p.m. Taranaki and Ruahine by a separate train at 8 p.m. The men are all carrying 150 rounds ball ammunition. The sick in camp and Hospital were very disappointed at being left behind.

Tuesday August 18th 1914

Gillian Tasker — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Major W.H. Cunningham and Lieut F.K. Turnbull left Wanganui by the 7am. train and reported in camp at midday. They then learn’t of the misfortune which had over taken Capt. Cameron the previous day. They found plenty of work awaiting them in the way of organization which had to be tackled at once. S.M. B. Woodhead was in charge in the absence of Capt Cameron, while Q.M.S. Davidson was attending to the domestic arrangments[sic]. At this time it was quite expected that the force would be leaving N.Z. before the end of August. Consequently all efforts were directed towards getting equipment completed and between whiles doing a little towards consolidating the different detachments into the resemblance of a Regiment irrespective of the efficiency of the individual man in the ranks. The first afternoon a medical Board of three solemnly inspected the men’s feet and condemned two men as medically unfit on account of flat feet. Pvts Irwin and Steere. They were promptly despatched out of camp. Enquiries for Capt Cameron that night revealed the fact that he had most acute appendicitis and his restoration to health would be a matter of months.