Item 01: Sir Charles Rosenthal diary, 25 September 1914-31 December 1918 - Page 140
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[Page 140]
detonations from Howitzer shell. Navy also cooperated. Our old friend , H.M.S Bacchante again assisting. 1st Brigade attacked at 5.30 and succeeded in securing Lone Pine, the enemy retreating. Plenty of Shrapnel shell on Tasmania Post and 7th Battery. Three Casualties in BAC at 7th Battery, and Sergt Major Handford killed. Enemy reinforcing right flank to extent of about 1000 to 1500 men. Fully expect they will heavily counter attack tonight. Several Casualties in 5th Lowland Battery in front of my Head Quarters, including one of their officers. Many casualties among new English (Kitchener Army) arrivals in Victoria Gully. I understand these troops have at last been moved. Received letters from Olding and Selwen re transfer to 3rd F.A. bde.
Saturday 7th August
Heavy shelling by Navy and our guns during night. I have not yet heard if our operations were successful against German Officers Trench, but on Lone Pine our position is good. At daybreak Suvla Bay and vicinity presented a fine sight, innumerable craft of all kinds moving about, Men o War, Transports, trawlers etc carrying out landing of troops. The Turks must have received a terrible surprise when day dawned. It reminded me of our first day at Gallipoli. The casualties in this show must of necessity be very great. Heard that Turks had reinforced the Right Flank by about 1500 men towards dusk last night. We shall have to keep a sharp look out against Counter attack. A pretty incident at 6AM.
A German Aeroplane flew overhead, and presently one of our biplanes gave chase, manoeuvring for position. The Taube had the better speed and was able to get away. He certainly wasted no time about his departure. The Captive balloon is up watching and reporting effect of Navy shooting. At 6.30AM seven hospital ships were lying off Anzac and Suvla.
A shell landed 2 yards in front of my dugout doorway during the night but luckily did no damage. Lent Sergt and 20 men to Col Shepherd Lowland Brigade at 6.30 AM for transport of Ammunition.
Our troops now entrenched in Lone Pine. 7th and 9th Batteries did excellent work, the former against Infantry targets and the latter doing Counter Battery work. Very interesting to watch landing and movement of Troops at Suvla. An absolute picnic as compared to our first landing. They are pushing well forward, also New Zealand and Australian Division; and we hope soon to have Hill 971. An enemy battery got on to No 4 gun 7th Battery about 7.30 PM and put in 15 H.E. shell. Parapets were smashed to pieces, but neither personnel nor gun suffered damage. This gun kept up fire all night against Snipers Ridge, Weir Ridge and