Item 01: Sir Charles Rosenthal diary, 25 September 1914-31 December 1918 - Page 302
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[Page 302]
Tuesday 10th April
Arras show proved very successful yesterday. A splendid advance has been made and three lines of defence pierced. Some 6000 prisoners have been taken and 30 guns. Cavalry of three Divisions now hope to get through. A day or two since a great aerial battle took place near Cambrai. A large number of our planes went out on a bombing expedition and were attacked by Boche machine, they losing 46 planes while we lost 26. Operations this morning postponed, the tanks not having reached their starting point on time owing to their having lost their way during a heavy snow storm in the night. Solid artillery work went on all day yesterday. The 1st Aus Div captured Hermies, Demicourt and Boursies.
Wednesday 11th April
Early this morning (4.30 AM) the 12th and 4th Infantry Brigades attacked the Hindenburg Line between Bullecourt and Queant supported by 12 tanks. These latter were discovered by the enemy just as the advance commenced, and six were put out of action. The Infantry got into the enemy's trenches and a large number of our men pushed on to Riencourt and later, following two tanks, went into Hendicourt. Meanwhile the 62nd Division on our left which was to attack Bullecourt was waiting for its allotment of tanks to come to their flank after helping our Division. Only one got to Bullecourt and was there made a derelict. The Infantry (4th Aus Div) were having a thin time in the trenches owing to the difficulty of getting up supplies of bombs etc. Our Artillery was ordered not to barrage Eastern edge of Bullecourt because of Tank operations, and these latter being held up, the enemy was able to use his machine guns against our carrying parties. Finally the enemy bombed our Infantry out of the trenches and forced them to retire on their original line. Though the Brigadier 4th Infantry Brigade affirmed none of his troops advanced to Riencourt and Hendecourt our Artillery observers everywhere reported such to be the case, and confirmation came in later for an aeroplane observer who had seen 300 of our men being marched along the road north East from Cagnicourt under escort. He came down low and machine gunned the escort causing many casualties. This observer also reported seeing a tank, evidently captive, moving along road north from Hendecourt. The whole operation was a costly one, casualties passing through field Ambulances by evening totalling 32 officers and 1065 other ranks. This inclusive of our men