Item 01: Sir Charles Rosenthal diary, 25 September 1914-31 December 1918 - Page 305
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[Page 305]
While the attack was in progress Ecoust and Longatte were subject to a heavy barrage, and plenty of 5.9" shell. The batteries of "P" group had a very thin time indeed and suffered heavily, especially the 43rd which had its Battery commander and a Subaltern killed (Major Pybus and Lt. Clarke) 10 men killed and many wounded including 2 officers. Others were badly shell shocked. Lt. Rundle wounded a few days since died as a result of an abdominal wound. I shall be very glad when the proposed operations really eventuate. The only three valleys possible for placing of guns are continuously shelled, and casualties in personnel and guns are already abnormally heavy. A battalion is tonight posted in front of Lagnicourt and arrangements have been made for a platoon with a Lewis gun to be attached to each Artillery Brigade as an Escort.
Many of the Boche dead and wounded are boys of 18 or 19. The attack along the Corps front was made with 18 Battalions.
Monday 16th April
This morning I attended the funeral of Major Pybus and Lt. Clarke. They were buried in the Baupaume Cemetery. Coffins being unavailable they were shrouded in their blankets and their Artillery colours sewn on thereto. I tried to say a few words to the officers and men present regarding the service and qualifications of the deceased officers. I am afraid I made a very poor showing for I certainly spoke from a full heart.
The DAC made all the funeral arrangements including provision of a firing party and trumpeters who sounded the "Last Post".
The Boche, in order to make room for his own dead, has exhumed many French bodies, and fragments of bone and coffins are left, lying about in a scandalous manner. In this Cemetery is a fine monument erected by the French to the memory of the soldiers who fell at Baupaume in the "70" war. The boche has erected beside it a large stone monument to the memory of his men who fell in the vicinity of Baupaume in 1915 and 1916. Whether the French will remove this or not remains to be seen.
Gen. Johnstone today held an enquiry into the details of abandonment of guns of 1st Aus Div Artillery during the Boche attack a few nights since.
Lt. Col. Shellshear is to report to me tomorrow from 3rd Aus Div Artillery to take over command of 4th Brigade 2nd Aus Div Arty, vice Col. Watts killed in action.
Gen. Carruthers here re ammunition railheads and supply to guns. New Chaffeur arrived.