Ray, Cathy, and Patrick Jackson, Winton, Queensland.

 

‘It was about 4 pm, and I'd just had a mouthful of bully beef. I'd have loved a swig of water to wash it down, but that'd have to wait. I peered around the corner of my cave and saw a Turk looking down towards me. I didn't think he saw me because I moved so slowly, but I knew he'd be ready when I joined the attack tonight.

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‘I could see our sergeant and a couple of the lads getting ready to make their assault up the ravine. There was an Aboriginal soldier in that little group, and I recognised him as a stockman I'd worked with in Winton. Bloody good horsemen, those blokes were. I gave him a grin and a nod, and the toothy smile he returned seemed to light up the whole ravine. I gave him a thumbs up and went back to concentrating on the task at hand. When they move, my Turk will be distracted, and I’ll have him, I thought. Then I’ll have a chance to join in with our boys.

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‘There was constant withering fire from the top of the cliff. It mostly bounced off the iron shield, but Billy Sing was giving them what for. I saw one Turk fall for every shot of his. I rolled out of my position and aimed upwards with my .303.

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‘I saw my Turk and nailed him. His mate, who I hadn't seen earlier, shot at me and I felt my right shoulder get hammered. I tried to reload, but I couldn't use my shoulder. I felt something going on inside me, a sort of heat with a lack of pressure and a weakening of my muscles.

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‘It was getting towards night. The sky had darkened and I suddenly realised that I wouldn't be going home. The right side of my face was buried in the sand of that ravine.

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‘I'm so sorry, Mum. Sorry, Dad. I did my best, so be proud of me for that, please,’ I thought. ‘I be tried so hard in this bad, bad place, but I won't be seeing you again on this side of Heaven, anyway. Bugger! I thought I had that Turk covered, too.’

‘It’s so dark now and getting colder. I wish I were back in the bar with my mates in Winton. I can just feel a little smile starting at the memory, as fine sand blows across my left check.’