Father Finn 275 - 



shells crashed into her from the shore, machine-guns were turned 

 on to the two exits made in her sides from which the men were 

 emerging, mine-sweepers with boats in tow packed with men were 

 leaving the transport for land, covered by a fierce bombardment 

 of the enemy's shore position from our battleships and cruisers. 



When the men were disembarking Father Finn was observed 

 to be preparing to go with them. The Colonel advised him to 

 stay on board and attend to the wounded as they were sent 

 back, but he was determined to go with his beloved Dublins. 

 Again the Colonel tried to stop him, saying, " You are very 

 foolish, it means certain death." Father Finn replied, " My 

 place is with the dying soldiers, I must go," and he stepped on 

 to the gangway to share the fortunes of the men. He had only 

 moved a yard or two when he was struck by a bullet in the chest. 

 Nothing daunted, .he stepped into the boat with the Colonel. 

 Before the shore was reached Father Finn received two more 

 wounds, one in the thigh and another in the arm, rendering it 

 almost useless, and the Colonel was dead. Out of that boatload 

 of forty-five men five only lived to reach the shore. 



Father Finn, driven to tears with the sight of his men falling 

 in crowds as they reached the beach, while others died in the 

 boats without even landing, jumped out of the boat and waded 

 through the water towards the men — a brave struggle for a 

 thrice- wounded man — and he had to climb half-sunken barbed 

 wire amid a storm of shrapnel, machine-gun and rifle fire. He 

 succeeded in joining the men on the shore, where already the 

 water was crimson with the lifeblood of brave men. 



Those that were left of the Dublins M^ere lying on their faces 

 on the open shell-raked beach, trying to work forward by short 

 rushes, yet scarcely gaining a foot of ground, for as they rose 

 they were mown down. 



The Turks tried hard to drive all into the sea and nearly 

 succeeded, but the 29th Division were there, and those who were 

 left held their ground. The men dug and scraped frantically 

 with their hands to try and make a little cover, until their nails 

 were gone and fingers bleeding, and what use was it in that 

 exposed position ? 



Amid these shambles Father Finn dragged himself from 

 group to group of wounded and dying men. He was seen 

 crouching down by a man who was mortally wounded, holding 



