Item 01: Sir Charles Rosenthal diary, 25 September 1914-31 December 1918 - Page 269
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[Page 269]
Friday 1st December
In early morning went out to Naours re School. Called at Albert, saw HQrs. billets and stables. They are fairly comfortable. Called at Army HQrs. Querrieu, to see DD of S & T re Claxton Horn for car. Found his office some distance out of the village. Lt. Col. accompanied me. Reached Naours a little after noon. With Col. Rabett had a look at Hall, School, Chateau etc., in relation to use for lecture purposes. Had lunch at 41st Battery HQrs. Found nothing had been done by Corps in anticipation of School; so on my way back I called at Corps and strafed everybody concerned. Came through Amiens on the way to Heilly. Had afternoon tea with General Hobbs. Road near Pommier Redoubt triple banked by British How. Batteries. Road and traffic blocked for an hour.
The coldest day and night we have yet experienced. Boche strafing with Heavy Artillery.
Saturday 2nd December
Interviewed Engineer Corporal at Gen. Birdwood's request re proposed new design for Fuze.
Gen. Hobbs called at 10 AM and together we rode to Delville Wood where we left our horses. Then walked towards Brigade HQrs. but as shelling was going on in the vicinity we skirted Delville Wood to the N.E. and thoroughly inspected a tank in the vicinity. They are very ingeniously designed. Here are plenty of evidences of the heavy fighting which took place – plenty of German F.A. ammunition lying about indicating hasty retreat, also arms and equipment of all kinds, British as well as Boche. Very many dead still lying unburied.
We inspected several batteries and went into Flers, passing one of our own wrecked aeroplanes as we went.
A bitterly cold day – much below zero; and for the last three days and nights the temperature has been much below freezing point. Received very nice letter from Nell. Rather a serious matter occurred to day. We had prepared a nice Artillery Scheme for a proposed operation in taking a certain trench. An Infantry Brigadier and a Battalion Commander were so indiscreet as to allow the document to be carried up to the front line by a runner for the information of a