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Alexander Surplice was born in Fitzroy, Victoria and enlisted for service in the Imperial Light Horse from 4 July 1901 to 6 June 1902. Unusually for this time, his parents were not married. As a member of 1st Imperial Light Horse he would have been recruited in Australia and then given a free fare and bounty on enlistment

During World War One he enlisted at Morphettville South Australia on 24 August 1914, He was taken on strength with B Squadron of the 3rd Light Horse Regiment. He had stated that he was a 31 year old butcher from Broken Hill.

He landed at Gallipoli in May 1915 and kept a very detailed diary of his service there. In his he reports on the horrors of close quarter trench warfare and the many near misses he had. These are some excerpts:

Saturday, May 15. Went out to the trenches to reinforce the 16th infantry. Just heard that the large Turkish reinforcement is on the way to give us fits. I suppose we will have a bad time of it tonight. The Turkish trenches are about 30 feet from us and nearly all night they give us bombs and hand grenades. One who hasn’t seen these things can’t imagine what that is. It is truly horrible. The number of men we have lost is appalling. I haven’t heard a thing about any of the E Hawk boys since we have been here. But I believe they have suffered terribly. The smell here, from dead bodies is overpowering and I believe there are a lot of our wounded home we can’t get it so the poor beggars have to remain there and trust to luck. Last night the 2nd regiment made a charge.

Sunday 16 May. I’ve just come out of hell. I call it hell because I don’t think a man could put in a worse night than we did. It was something awful. From 7 o’clock last night and til 12 am today they gave us a continual stream of bombs. We had to crawl into any hole and just wait until we were nearly driven mad with suspense. Two of our troops were literally smashed to pieces and nearly a whole company of the 16th. I helped to carry the poor buggers out to the stretcher bearers. The trenches are so narrow and crooked that it is impossible to get a stretcher in. Their trenches are only 20 feet from ours and when we fight we have just to put our rifles over the top and not show our heads at all. I saw one of the 16th chance a look and got his head blown off. It is almost impossible to show the least mark without being hit. The space between our front is filled up with heaps of dead Turks and Australians all and heaps and the smell is sickening. One can see only did on almost any hill one looks at. I guess our toll must be a very heavy one. They are rifles and equipment smashed to smithereens lying all over the place. Tonight we are in reserve just behind the trenches. I hope there is no need for us to be wanted as we are nearly all dead beat for sleep. The two chaps Butler and Houlgrave died from the result of their wounds .

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Friday, June 4, 1915. I’ve been attached to Colonel Rowells headquarters with Lieutenant Messop since Monday 31st. There has been nothing much doing except improving the trenches etc. Today there has been very heavy bombarding on our right. The din was something awful. I believe the place they were firing at was just like a fountain with the Earth etc flying up. The Turks must have been having a pretty rough time of it. We lost our first officer yesterday (Mr Powrick, a real fine fellow). He was shot through the head in the trenches at Popes Hill. Today we had two shot dead. Sergeant Paul and Lance Corporal Brown. Sniping has been very bad today. Tonight at 10 o’clock there is to be a night attack. Some of the New Zealanders have volunteered to hold the trenches. Previously we have just driven them out and left them alone to come back again. Their machine gun fire has been too heavy for us. Tonight we rejoin our troops.

Saturday, June 5, 1915. New Zealand infantry attacked last night at 11 o’clock. We were in reserve at Popes Hill. Drove the enemy out of the trenches at Courtney‘s Hill and filled most of them in. Our force then returned back into our own trenches. From then until daylight (about 4 am) a fierce bomb duel was kept up. At 4:30 the enemy counter attacked and took Quinn‘s post. Fighting very fierce all the morning. Eventually Turks driven back. But we could not occupy Quinns on account of the plastering they gave us with bombs. The Turks must have lost a great many. In the afternoon they bombarded Courtney’s Hill with howitzers but did not do much harm except knock out trenches about. Things gradually quieting down.

Sunday, June 6, 1915. There was some rumour of an armistice today but nothing came of it as far as I know. We continued a slow fight all day. A few Jack Johnstons dropped into the camp but no damage. Caught a spy at Quinn’s today. One of the fellows who came over with our engineers. He was taken to headquarters. Have not heard what they are going to do with him. Heard he has been shot.

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Tuesday, June 29, 1915. Bombardment still continued today also an infantry assault on the left flank trenches. At 12 o’clock we made an attack on our right flank in conjunction with our ships. It was more of a demonstration although it cost us nearly 300 casualties. Our boys held their trenches until nightfall and as they were of no value to us. Returned back to our own at 9:00 pm. A great dust storm broke over the camp. It seemed as if it was the signal for an attack. The Turks opened with heavy rifle and machine gun fire on our right and then extended it right around the line. Our half squadron was supports and we were moved to the left overlooking the valley which extended up to the Turks trenches. It was down the valley the real attack took place but we were waiting for them. They jumped over their trenches with loud cries of “Allah” and charged our position. We gave them something to write home about. Our machine guns simply mutilated them. Those who were lucky enough to get back again will not be in a hurry to attempt the same thing again. Things quietened down at daybreak.

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Sunday, August 1 1915. Was on outpost last night. Three others and myself were sent to occupy position on the side of a hill in the gully and full view of the enemy trenches. I reckon I got the hottest time of my life. We were behind wire entanglements but no other cover and the Turks started to bombard the trenches above us. We got all that missed. Bombs shells and bullets and not only that we caught the dropping from the rear (that is the right of the line). I thought I would never come out. I had to lay for eight hours with my knees nearly up to my chin and not move a muscle. When I had to leave the place the Sergeant couldn’t find me. I was almost buried. It was perhaps just as well because in the bright moonlight I would’ve easily been seen. Infantry made an attack on two lines of took trenches at 10 o’clock last night. They got the trenches above but lost 21 killed and 75 wounded. The Turks counted three times but were beaten off each time. There is some night movement on this next week or so. Guns are being placed in every conceivable place. Dressing station being erected and ammunition reserves being increased. German taubes Have been seen a couple of times daily and are continually dropping bombs and darts. Our cruises have been heavily bombarding the last few nights. Water beginning to get scarce. Malta Garrison getting into position. Also a lot more RE landing. Things very quiet last night. First night sleep I’ve had for five days I was nearly worn out.

Saturday, August 14 at 9:15. Just a fortnight since I last made an entry in my diary and what a fortnight we have heard of it. The first week was nothing but work day and night without post by the way of a change of course. I am writing now in just a short breathing space. We have an hour or two. Some of the Tommies are in our places for experience while things are quiet.

Last Saturday morning August 7 a big fight took place and lasted without a break for four days and nights. Since then small attacks and counters. The list of killed and wounded must be terrible and the fighting according to the reports is fiercer than anything on the continent. We were holding popes and Quinn’s 1st ALH Brigade and from there the 2nd and 1st made their charge to draw the Turks reinforcements away from the left so the rest of the division could make headway to their objective (Hill 971) our Brigade did what was required but with terrible loss. We were weak enough before but I almost non-existent. All around our line the rest of our fellows suffered badly. Also some Tommys who charged up the gully behind popes but never got there. Machine gun fire annihilating Australian and New Zealand division.

Took 971 and left Tommys to hold it but who were nearly wiped out and lost it again. Those of the fellows who are left who are giving us a spell this morning. Received Fannys letter last Tuesday night in the trenches at Quinns but could not read it for two days. Our Brigade is nearly exhausted and want a spell badly but there is no one to take our places. I don’t know how long we will have to wait. The smell of our dead in front is something sickening and the flies are nearly driving me silly. It is impossible to leave food exposed for the shortest space of time.

Sunday, August 15, 1915. Have just had 24 hours spell in the reserve. I can’t tell you we wanted it badly. We’ve not had two hours sleep at a time since we came to Quinn‘s post. Some of the Tommies (KA) relieved us. I think they are afraid to trust them in the trenches by themselves. By all accounts they made a mess of things at 971. I believe the Australian and New Zealand took the hill and left the Tommys in the trenches while they had a spell. They had no sooner left them then the Turks counted and chased the Tommys right down the hill. In fact they were regular panic stricken. These fellows who are in the trenches with us now are a few who we are left and are very nervous. Poor beggars. I feel sorry for them. They seem as if they have all the spirit broken in them. I am in the trenches now (six o’clock until 12 tonight) this is a very bad post but the trenches are better constructed than Pope’s although nearer to the Turks about 12 yards at places. The weather is very warm and the flies unbearable combined with the stench of the dead and cordite fumes life is not too pleasant.

Alexander was wounded at Quinns Post on 17 August 1915 and evacuated to Malta. He returned to Gallipoli in October and was evacuated on the withdrawal in December.

September 11, 1915. I thought I would give up keeping this diary. I was just wondering how long since I made the last entry and find it just a month. I see my last entry that I was expecting a warm time that night (15th). When we got it precisely as far as machine gun fire bombs and incendiary bombs went. We were not harassed in day light as at night .

Monday 16th was fairly quiet but was just as well for we were utterly knocked out. At 6:00 pm we were relieved by Tommys and were congratulating ourselves on a good nights rest. We were doomed to disappointment because as soon as it was dark the text started to bomb heavier than ever and we had to go and reinforce the Tommys until 12 pm.

At about 11:45 pm a bomb landed right on the parapet. I saw the Turk throw it (through the periscope) and was just wondering where it was going to land. It must’ve been short fused and timed to the tick. I saw a flash and heard a roar and that was all I could recollect for a few minutes. The rest was being led down to the doctor. I thought my eyes were knocked out. The doctor after cleaning and picking out the splinters and sand etc said they would be alright in a week or two. However I couldn’t see for three days afterwards.

Tuesday morning 17 August I was put on a mine sweeper and took out to the hospital ship. From there we were put on another mine sweeper and took to the island of Embros. We didn’t go ashore but onto a boat George and that night we started for Lemnos which we reached early next morning. We were anchored in Mudros until the following Sunday when we left at 8 o’clock pm and arrived at Malta on the Thursday 26 August. On Friday afternoon we were taken ashore and split up among the various hospitals.

Alexander served in the Sinai and Western Front campaigns, progressing through the ranks to Squadron Quartermaster Sergeant with A Squadron. He was commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant on 1 January 1919. He discharged in May of that year.  He died in Bendigo in 1974 aged 91, a year after the death of his wife.