Item 01: Sir Charles Rosenthal diary, 25 September 1914-31 December 1918 - Page 353
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[Page 353]
other Corps on the North and South are to attack on the morning of 9th inst. My Brigade is to move to Berthen area tomorrow to be ready for entraining on the morning of 10th inst. Wrote letters.
Monday 8th October
Conference at Divisional HQrs. with Brigadiers and G.O.C. re forthcoming operation. Reconnoitred front as far as within 300 yards of existing front line. Major Wooten and Lt. Broiler also "Signals" accompanied me. Very heavy going and we returned home very tired having walked about 5 miles through shell torn and muddy area. Gained much useful information. British Division (66th) not very clear as to position of its front line. Move to Berthen area cancelled, also possible rapid advance through 66th Division.
Tuesday 9th October
At 5.30 AM British and French attacked over a wide front. The 66th Division on an old front also included but progress very uncertain and position not clear. Conference at Divisional HQrs. in the morning and at 1 PM in company with the Assistant B.M I went forward to reconnoitre for a Brigade HQrs. in newly captured area from which I could direct and control my share of the 3rd Division attack now decided for morning of 12th inst. Many dead both British and German to be seen, but when just reaching the first objective of this morning's advance I was cautioned by an officer and a party of 197th Bde. against showing myself because of Bosche snipers. The position was most obscure, but it appeared that the final objective had not been gained and Bosche were still located among our troops, having not been properly mopped up. As a consequence I could not reconnoitre Augustus Wood where are placed the concrete block houses I intended to use for Brigade HQrs. Numerous isolated parties of British troops were scatted around in shell holes, making no effort to clear up the situation or to reorganise. Altogether the impression given of these troops was most unfavourable. We found two badly wounded men of the Brigade who had lain for two days and nights without food or water. The Brigadier himself admitted to me that his men had received no hot food or drink for 4 days. On our return journey we had to pass through a fairly stiff Bosche barrage and we were thankful to reach the rear in safety. S.O.S. signals were being sent up all