Item 01: Sir Charles Rosenthal diary, 25 September 1914-31 December 1918 - Page 229
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[Page 229]
Friday 30th June
Took Colonel Vernon to 1st Anzac Ammunition Park to meet Col Tunbridge re ammunition supply to Division. Drew full supply. Met Gen Johnstone and discussed with him necessity for getting more B.Cs. He has promised to let me have Major Williams and Capt. Aiken. Gen. Cunliffe Owen called and explained proposed operations up north.
Arranged to put into 2nd Div Area 8 Batteries on July 4th. Took Gen Johnstone to La Motte. With Col. Griffiths discussed re getting two officers from 1st D.A. Wrote official letter to DHQ, got General Cox to minute it, and had it sent by special messenger to Corps. I think this will all be satisfactorily arranged. Officers reported having left Southampton for 4th D.A. Col. King and Col. Hughes completed Court Martial.
All Brigade Commanders going to our Battle Zone tomorrow. Pitiable to see little children going to School, all carrying gas helmets. Raid last night very successful. Killed 100, captured 7 and a number of trophies such as rifles, grenades, revolvers, helmets, etc. Our losses 8 killed 17 wounded.
Saturday 1st July
All Brigade Commanders took up quarters with 2nd Division and commenced to learn their groups. Capt. Richards and myself moved into Erquingham pending taking over from General Johnstone. Called on Col Grimwade re his gun positions and O.Ps. D.A.C. took over all ammunition complete from Park and will issue tomorrow to Brigades.
Capt Asher from Abbeville called to see me. His transfer not yet through. Lt Fox from Gen Holmes Brigade – a Trench Mortar Officer – called to see me re transfer to 4th Div Arty. I interviewed General Holmes and agreed to take him. Intense bombardment commenced at about 9.30 PM and continued till 1 AM I do not know whether our guns or the enemy's were causing the disturbance, but detonations were one continuous roll like thunder with occasional heavy bursts, the latter rattling the windows and doors.
I returned to Caestre during afternoon and remained there the night. A peculiar type of aeroplane was towed past our billet about 10.30 PM, nationality I could not discover.