Item 01: Sir Charles Rosenthal diary, 25 September 1914-31 December 1918 - Page 141
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[Page 141]
Wanliss Valley. Made a reconnaissance during the evening with the object of selecting new position near Chatham Post for No1 gun 7th Battery. No Success. Will try again during the morning. General MacLagan and General Ryrie expressed admiration of the work done by 7th and 9th batteries. Lieut Evans slightly wounded. I understand two Divisions landed at Suvla.
Sunday 8th August
Very heavy bombardment by our guns this morning of position in front of Hill 971. Howitzer Shells were passing my HeadQrs like Express Trains, and the noise generally was terrific. At 4.15 AM our NZ & A division together with new troops attacked along line 161-971. The rifle and machine gun fire together with our guns and guns of the navy made the place an inferno. Our flank is the pivot so matters are comparatively quiet here. 7th Battery again doing good work against Turks in the open. 9th Battery engaged silencing Wine Glass and Olive Grove. Selected new site for No1 Gun 7th Battery and got party to work on it. Informed Gen Hobbs accordingly. Major Anderson returned to duty today, just in time to join in the chorus. Enemy's Artillery fire on this flank much reduced. Heard that 200 bags of Australian mails had gone down with a trawler. Also heard that we had captured 1500 Turks. Sad burial parties at work. Very many killed on both sides.
Got the No1 Gun 7th Battery into new position and reported to general Hobbs at 8AM that it was ready for action. Mr Forrest very ill. Had to be sent to Hospital Ship. 7th Battery put in a lot of shrapnel during the night. Our forces making good progress.
Monday 9th August
Worked up till 2 AM this morning with detachment for No1 gun, 7th Battery. We got the new emplacement bagged up on the exposed side; the balance of the work being carried out today by gun detachment. B.A.C. party making the approaches and communication trenches. Hope to do good work with this gun. Extra men reported from Alexandria for this Brigade. Very glad to see a/Br Mitchell, our Brigade Clerk. In Mr Forrest's absence he will be a very great help. Could not write a decent letter home this week. Work here much too strenuous to admit of any time for oneself.
I have had 3 hours sleep in the last 3 nights. Terrific volume of shell over us since early morning. Before lunch the 7th Battery had over 600 shell landed into its position smashing down gun emplacements. Strange to say our only casualties were 1 man killed, 1 man wounded and Lt Ross wounded. His work has been most meritorious throughout and I am putting in a special report and recommending him for the Military Cross.