Item 01: Sir Charles Rosenthal diary, 25 September 1914-31 December 1918 - Page 116
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[Page 116]
position commenced today. Major Brown preparing an alternative emplacement for no 4 gun. Our aeroplane gain flew overhead this afternoon and dropped a bomb on the Enemy. "Ah, there she lays another egg" is the comment one hears among the Infantry when a bomb is dropped.
Sortie in front of "Quinns post" tonight. Fun commenced at 10.30 with a heavy rifle fire and plenty of trench mortar bombs. Fighting was continued fairly vigorously all through the night. Have not heard result. Heard today a big mail of 350 bags had arrived and would be unloaded this morning.
Tuesday 8th June
An exceedingly hot day. We shall find the summer fairly trying and the flies an awful nuisance. Enemy has been very quiet today and this evening. No artillery fire at all and practically no rifle fire.
Is he changing his dispositions and massing for a fresh attack or is he feeling he has had enough to go on with and wants a rest? Major Burgess completed his new observing station and my new station is under weigh. Artillery road behind position further advanced today. Artillery promotions out. Capt Lloyd will be very dissatisfied, but everybody else will agree the fair thing has been done. A monitor joined the Destroyers here yesterday, but steamed away again in the evening. I understand we are to have three stationed here.
Our big mail has not yet been delivered. The Authorities are very slow.
Wednesday 9th June
Lt Evans yesterday posted to 9th battery, vice Crisp, promoted and transferred to 7th Battery. Lt Pybus attached to 3rd B.A.C. Approval given for Lt Urquhart and Morgan to proceed to Alexandria, to relieve Capt Gee and Lt Hodgens who will report here for experience.
Lts Morgan and Urquhart leave tonight. Several men reported here this morning from Alexandria for the Brigade. Work continued on new observing station. Should be completed tomorrow. Col Hobbs called at my Headquarters this morning re Benson's substantive promotion. I think satisfactory arrangements can be made.
Artillery road for No1 Section now about half completed. Still no sign of our big mail. Monitor fired a number of heavy rounds today. Received news of one of our submarines in Sea of Marmora, sinking a Turkish gunboat, Transports and 3 boats carrying ammunition – in all 11 ships. A fairly smart Artillery duel this afternoon. Our 4.5" Hows and some 18 prs Loosed off at targets we could not see, and for a time the enemy