Arthur Lucas Oxer kept this diary from his Gallipoli landing on 25 April 1915 until he was killed in action on 21 August 1915.

The first diary entry states: 'Landed at Anzac on the 25 of April under heavy schrapnel [sic] and rifle fire had to charge up the cliffs'. The horrific realities of Gallipoli warfare including bayonet charges, fighting in the trenches, bombardment, and deaths of hundreds of men are described vividly by the 21 year old. However, Oxer's laconic sense of humour is also evident: for example, 31/5/15 'Heading for a holiday down the beach' followed by the realistic 1/6/15 'Still down the beach doing fatigue'. The qualities of courage, fortitude and mateship that are associated with the term 'Anzac' are evident in Oxer's account.

Oxer was a member of the 16^th Battalion. His diary also records a poem 'The charge of the 16^th Battalion' composed by fellow soldier 'Private Chabrell' [Chabrel] that details 'a hellish fight' in which the battalion 'upheld the Australian name'.

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