Item 01: Sir Charles Rosenthal diary, 25 September 1914-31 December 1918 - Page 123
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[Page 123]
of our work here and lists of wounded and killed officers. I am sending them on to Nell. Again a glorious sunset. I wish I could paint the colours as we see them.
Tuesday 22nd June
"Fourteenth for tea." This is a call I have just heard. 7 AM. I have slept soundly and no enemy's guns or rifle fire to awaken me this morning.
Inspected pit for new Howitzer. It is now complete. Squaring up gun emplacements generally. Major Hughes very unwell. Was out with the Col Hobbs this morning setting out. Artillery road for the Engineers. He looks dreadfully ill and will I am sure collapse altogether unless he takes a change at once. He has been suffering from dysentery for some days. Making arrangements to fit all our Brigade phones and lines underground, to be safe from big shell fire. Aeroplane over a good deal yesterday. Enemy's plane rose up from Maidos this morning but did not come over our lines. Monitor demolishing enemy's trenches around Gaba Tepe. Burgess had a premature at no 1 gun. No damage done. Enemy got a shell into a water barge this morning. We thus lose 4 days supplies. Well are however giving plentiful supply. We hear the troops in the South have made a substantial advance and taken many Turkish trenches. Also that it is intended by the enemy to use Gas against us as the Germans have done. All ranks however have neutralising respirators, so brother Turk will get a surprise. Benson away making sketch of No 2 Section Anzac position.
We have just received for neighbours in our locality the 9th Battery 3rd Inf Bde, about 1000 men. They May be good soldiers, but they are a terribly rough crowd, and their language is lurid and obscene. The latter alone should scare the Turks. Bligh returned from "Cardiganshire" at Imbros, bringing with him a nice lot of photos from the Chief Engineer and a box of groceries as a present from the Captain. Both very acceptable. He sent condensed milk, cocoa, coffee, peas, tinned apricots, sauce and some butter, the latter being a luxury. We have had none since April 25th. A piece of cake was thrown in.
Wednesday 23rd June
Major Browne came to see me during the morning and stayed to lunch. He says my Headquarters are a wonderful contrast to those of Col Johnstone. He has made no attempt to do things properly. Brown says Col Johnstone has some grievance and he hears while he is at