Item 01: Sir Charles Rosenthal diary, 25 September 1914-31 December 1918 - Page 167
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[Page 167]
Plenty of women and children still remaining in what perhaps is to them their only home. Saw 8" Howrs (converted from 6") in action against Country left of Loos, known as Wingles Towers, also 4".7 and 9".2, the latter on railway mountings. Enemy shelling our Front line very heavily. Saw French 6" guns adjoining our 8" also section of 13prs on special carriage as Anti Aircraft guns. Just beside DAHQ and on the right front also close to DAHQ are batteries of French 75s. Enemy had 4 captive observation balloons up while we had one. After lunch enemy's Artillery fire was very brisk for about an hour, and during this time I counted 18 Aircraft overhead, about 12 being British.
The "Archies" were busy on them from both sides but did no damage. Lavish use of steel rails and joists, also timber beams from buildings in dugouts. Plenty of bricks available. Generally "dugouts" very deep and comfortable. Gunpits sunk about 2'.6" and embrasure about 2.6" high from original ground surface. Overhead cover of steel joists, brick and earth, generally about 5 feet thick. Batteries generally worked as a whole, the Major being forward. Country very flat. Dumps from mines serve as vantage points and observation stations. Chalk underlying soil. Fuzes now numbered to 100. New delay action percussion fuse for H.E. Shell. The 9".2 guns are on Railway mountings on mine lines. Met Capt Hanbury Davies (from Sydney) with 8" Howrs. He enquired after Major Watts with whom he attended a course. Another Subaltern (whose name I have forgotten) from Sydney University is with the 25th Brigade. Quite nice day. Roads very muddy and fields very soft.
Arranged with General Cartwright to visitLoostomorrow, where I shall be able to see the village, which has suffered bombardment from both sides and is a veritable shambles.
Last night the whole country was brilliantly illuminated with the enemy's and our own flares. Very little Artillery fire during night and nearly all came from our guns. Wrote today to GHQ and to Base Commandant re wire concerning place and date of departure.
I have asked permission to return via Boulogne and Folkestone instead of via Havre which would mean a much longer journey.