Item 01: Sir Charles Rosenthal diary, 25 September 1914-31 December 1918 - Page 356
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[Page 356]
could be seen of 10th Brigade on the Left, and that the casualties had been so heavy as to make it impossible to advance to the Green LINE.
Acting on the personnel instructions of my Divisional Commander orders were issued at 1.30 PM that Blue Line was to be consolidated and held at all costs, while my Left flank was to be refused to join up with the 10th Brigade in vicinity of Deck Wood.
These orders were definitely received by Company Commanders in the Blue Line. Lt. Col. Milne O.C. 36th Battalion was placed in Command of all Blue Line troops and 33rd Battalion was held in Reserve in D.H.C., two of its Companies being placed at the disposal of Lt. Col. Milne to assist if necessary in repelling counter attacks while the remaining two Companies were held as Brigade Reserve.
During the afternoon information was received that Bosche shelling and machine gun fire on Blue Line was intense, and that 10th Brigade had withdrawn to original "jumping off" line. Later I was informed troops of 9th Brigade had also fallen back to position running from D.17.b 30-30 to enemy block houses at D.11.c. 30-05. The remnants of 34th, 35th and 36th Battalions were posted on this line under Lt. Col. Milne as O.C. front line, while the 33rd Battalion was held in reserve at D.16.b.
This was the situation up to and during the night 12th – 13th.
Saturday 13th October
Early this morning I was informed by my Divisional Commanders that one of our planes flying very low and very early this morning, reported our troops still on the Red Line.
I immediately sent out my Intelligence Officer with written orders to Lt. Col. Milne to personally verify this information, taking necessary covering party with him. This was attempted but on reaching the vicinity of Dealine Copse they were fired on by machine guns from the Copse where Germans were actually seen, and were also fired upon from AsSyria.
I personally interviewed all Battalion Commanders at Seine Block houses and was assured by each one that all men excepting perhaps wounded and a few possible stragglers, had fallen back to line above given.
This line was in process of consolidation and was last night handed over by Lt. Col. Milne to relieving 11th Brigade.