Item 01: Sir Charles Rosenthal diary, 25 September 1914-31 December 1918 - Page 311
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[Page 311]
Then in addition the heavy artillery has to be added. This included guns and howitzers of all calibres from 15" to 60 pr. Added to our fire was the Boche barrage which came down very promptly, mostly heavy H.E. shell. Our artillery barrage was excellent, very few shrapnel bursting high. Until daylight nothing could be discerned of our troop movements. Even when the sun arose nothing could be seen, other than bursting shell. The day was very hazy and the spume and dust from the artillery bombardment made an impenetrable screen. I waited till 7 PM and then returned home. While in the sunken road shelling was uncomfortably close. Saw General Howse at the road dressing Station also Capt. Bean.
By night fall the position appeared to be as follows: our 5th and 6th Brigades had taken and were holding the front and support levies of the Hindenburg Line, the 62nd Division had failed to take Bullecourt, and this evening the 7th Division is to try to secure this strong point. Apparently very heavy fighting continued throughout the day and the amount of artillery ammunition expended on both sides was enormous.
Our trench mortar batteries who were to assist the 62nd after the capture of Bullecourt had a bad time. Owing to the 62nd being held up our men had to wait, and came under heavy Artillery barrage from the enemy. The result is that of 48 men, 9 were killed, 8 shell shocked, 13 wounded, and all the remainder missing believe killed. Strangely enough and very fortunately all four officers present were saved, but badly shaken. Lt. O'Reilly with 10th Brigade did magnificent work with the Infantry in the captured trenches as F.O.O., his information being the most consistent and reliable of all that came through, which apart from his was very meagre. Our wounded who passed through our Ambulances up to 6 PM total about 2500 – no estimate can at present be made of killed or missing.
Friday 4th May
During the night our right flank gave a little ground under enemy bomb attack. Bullecourt still held by the evening. The 7th Division is relieving the 62nd, and the 1st Aus Div Infantry Brigades are relieving those of 2nd Aus. Division. Very sorry to learn that last night Lt. O'Reilly was killed. He had done excellent work and I was recommending him for the Military Cross, but under the regulations this cannot now be done. Received reports from Trench Mortar officers of 4th Aus Div They had a most trying experience, and behaved most gallantly. Boche plane dropped several bombs in Baupaume this evening.