Item 01: Sir Charles Rosenthal diary, 25 September 1914-31 December 1918 - Page 105
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[Page 105]
a launch to take me off to the Hospital Ship "Gloucester Castle". About 20 wounded went off with me. A strong wind and heavy sea had sprung up, and we all got a good wetting and tossing about before reaching the ship. Then there was great difficulty in getting aboard. I managed to scramble up the Companionway but all the others were lying down cases and had to be lifted into the ship in slings with steam tackle. When the doctor came to overhaul me, he found my injuries to consist of severe contusions on head, neck, shoulders and back, (due to the blast of explosion having forced gravel from roof through my coat, woollen vest, shirt and singlet, these garments being a wreck!) a bullet wound under right shoulder in the back, a bullet in upper left arm and another in right knee. He located all three bullets or perhaps pieces of gravel, and luckily my knee joint is not affected. All wounds were very painful during the night. Especially back, which was just as if I had received a severe thrashing. One of Major Hughes men (a telephonist) was hit in the arm with shrapnel about the same time as I was hit. Both Major Burgess and myself cannot understand how we escaped death. The explosions occurred in a "dugout" about 9' X 9' or less. A kerosene bucket in the middle off the room was riddled as also was my Sam Browne belt and other equipment, while the wall opposite where we were sitting is badly damaged and punctured. We have both come to the conclusion that we surely are not destined to be killed by shrapnel. I do not forget the letter I received the other day, in all of which I was told prayers were daily offered for my safety. Is my escape due to them? My head is still in a whirl, due I suppose to the shock of explosion in a confined space. Some of our troops (2800) with 2 batteries transferred tonight to 29th Division, Cape Helles.
Thursday 6th May
About 8 o'clock this morning my servant (Bligh) came off from the shore with my effects, and later went off to the "Cardiganshire" and got the remainder of my kit. The Senior Medical Officer, Col Ryan, has ordered me to return to Alexandria or Cairo as May be convenient, to have X rays applied to my wounds to locate bullets. When extracted perhaps a week will see me fit enough to return. I am very anxious not to lose any of the show. Major Burgess came on board at 10AM with a launch of wounded, included in which was Capt Leslie. Early this morning