Item 01: Sir Charles Rosenthal diary, 25 September 1914-31 December 1918 - Page 410
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[Page 410]
and one cannot help being dominated by a feeling of revenge against the country and the people who were responsible for the dreadful war. Called at new Brigade HQrs. on my return journey. They will be ready for occupation by us on 19th inst. Called on Colonel Erskine commanding the Artillery Group covering our front. Arranged working parties for tonight to bring cable from new Bde H Qrs. to connect with line Battalions.
Upon my return to HQrs. met Gen. Cator GOC 58th Division who informed me our arrangements for taking over the line on 19th inst. cancelled and that on 20th inst. my Brigade would return to 3rd Aus Div and bivouac temporarily to Camon and Lamotte near Amiens. I presume we shall have two or three days in which to bathe and generally clean up the men and then take over part of 3rd Aus. Division front. Tho' we have had an interesting time here we shall be glad to rejoin our own Division. Dined with Divisional Commander near Boves at Fort Manoir.
Appreciated letter received from French General concerning assistance of British troops including our 9th Brigade. Charley transferred to RAN and appointed to HMAS Melbourne. Work on buried cable route not very satisfactory owing to delay in bringing up tools and to an insufficient number of men.
Wednesday 17th April
Boche shelled Villers Bretonneux very heavily in the morning and again in the afternoon with gas shell of all calibres. At the same time he also gassed Bois L-Abbe. Altogether he put in about 8000 rounds into the town and 4,000 in the wood. As a result he casualted practically the whole of a British Battalion held for counter attack work and every Brigade he caused casualties to 11 officers and over 300 other ranks with more still being evacuated. The 33rd particularly in the town had a very bad time indeed. As a result of these casualties I had to push up my 35th Battalion for counter attack purposes and also send up one company of 36th to reinforce the 33rd in the town. Working parties on burying of cable had therefore to be abandoned, tho' I had hoped to have it all finished before leaving the Sector.
During the morning Gen. Haig commanding 24th Battn. of 8th British Division called to see me. He is to take over the Villers Bretonneux front on night 19th-20th April. Gen. Grogan commanding 23rd Bde. of same Division will on the night 20th/21st take over from my Battalion in Villers Bretonneux. Strangely enough I took over from this Brigadier at Brune Gaye in December last.