Item 01: Sir Charles Rosenthal diary, 25 September 1914-31 December 1918 - Page 400
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[Page 400]
I could. Unit then commenced their march to Mondicourt. I rode ahead with CO 33rd and 34th Battalions to Henu where they were to be billeted and established an outpost line – the real front line was some three miles Eastward and held by British troops. The two Battalions above mentioned reached Henu at Dusk – and the 35th Battn. later in the night marched into and billeted at Famechon. Machine Gun Co. at Couin.
Wednesday 27th March & 28th March
During the night orders were received that Brigade was to be bussed to Franvilles on the Amiens-Albert road. Accordingly orders were issued and the Convoy of 160 Busses left Famechon at 7.45 AM and reached FranVillers at 9.45 AM The 10th and 11th Brigades had preceded us to the same destination – and had been ordered to go at once into the line holding from Sailly Le Sec to Mericourt while the 9th Brigade went into Reserve in open fields north West of Heilly. The 33rd and 34th Battalions were later ordered to take over the line from Mericourt to Amiens Road, but had barely completed the move before the Brigade was ordered to move to Bonnay and hold a defensive flank along the Somme. The 36th Battalion had not yet arrived from Doullens so 35th Battalion was ordered to move at once (about 8 PM) and hold a line from Sailly Le Sec to main roadway through Corbie, while 33rd Battalion was ordered to hold line from main roadway through Corbie to Aubigny, the role of the Brigade being to prevent the enemy from crossing the Somme and from taking Corbie. The 36th Battalion arriving before midnight and bivouacked just north of Bonnay, while 34th Battalion moved into Bonnay.
Thursday 28th March
Called at Division and discussed many matters. Brigade HQrs. established at Bonnay at 9.30 AM Here also are HQrs. of 34th, 35th, 36th Battns, Machine Gun Co. & T.M. Battery, also a cyclist company attached to us from Corps, 33rd Battn. HQrs. in La Neuville with advanced HQrs. at Corbie. Made a personal reconnaissance of our line, called on and established liaison with 1st Cavalry Division and 16th Division whose HQrs. are at Fouilloy. It is pitiable to see the evacuation of the civil population. As an instance the morning of our arrival at FranVillers I saw an old man of over 70 years wheeling away his old wife of similar years in a wheelbarrow, and just a few of their most treasured possessions with them also in the barrow.