Cyril R.G. Bassett

Born Auckland on 3 January 1892 and formerly employed by the National Bank, he trained with the College Rifles and Territorial forces before volunteering for overseas service. He recalls the Gallipoli campaign from the landing, describing dead and wounded along the foreshore, heavy Turkish fire and shrapnel, severe thirst, and taking over additional signalling duties after his sergeant was wounded. Attached to brigade signals under General Johnston, he was responsible for maintaining telephone communications between brigade headquarters and the battalions. During the August offensive on Chunuk Bair he advanced through gullies towards the Apex under fire and, on 8 August, volunteered to lay a telephone line to the Wellington Battalion position with a small party. One man was wounded; the remaining signallers continued forward, repeatedly repairing broken wire under shelling and sniper fire. At one point he had to mend a break while lying exposed on the ground as a sniper fired at him. He eventually returned to brigade to find the line still out and prepared to go back again at dusk. The account provides a detailed first-hand description of the hazardous and improvised work required of military signallers during the Gallipoli fighting.