Item 01: Sir Charles Rosenthal diary, 25 September 1914-31 December 1918 - Page 428
Primary tabs
Transcription
[Page 428]
the better to fit them for their positions in State life after the war is over. Generally the scheme is to build up a first class teaching staff, run trial classes during the period of the war, and then have skeleton machinery thoroughly tried out and ready to deal with big numbers during the period of peace negotiations when armies must still be retained in the field and also during the time while waiting for necessary Transport to take all our troops back to Australia. The scheme was cordially supported.
Interviewed Capt. Agnew re his desire to return to Australia, on account of inability to stand shell fire. Army Commander called re tonight's operations.
Operations by 7th Bde. against enemy trench system S.W. of Morlancourt commenced at 9.45 PM At the same time 6th Brigade carried out a raid West of Morlancourt.
Tuesday 11th June
After having been up all night I turned in at 5 AM and slept soundly till 8, incidentally found it desperately hard to again turn out at that hour. Last night's operations eminently successful. All objectives were gained according to time table. Consolidation and C.T. work well advanced during the night. As a result of the major operation 310 prisoners were captured of whom about 61 were wounded. Our casualties, in the main consisting of very light wounds total about 350. Concurrently with the main attack which was carried out by 7th Brigade, the 6th Brigade raided a Boche trench, killing 30 of the Garrison, capturing 6 o.ranks and two machine guns, the whole party returning to our lines without casualty. An hour later a second raiding party from 6th Brigade attempted to "clean up" an enemy trench but met with stout resistance from an augmented garrison. A lively bombing encounter took place in which we inflicted heavy casualties on the Boche but had ourselves 18 men slightly wounded, all of which returned to our own lines safely. The whole night's work was very creditable and today I have received appreciation and congratulatory messages from Gen. Birdwood, Gen. Rawlinson, Gen. Godley & Gen. Monash.
Our total captures for the night were prisoners 310, machine guns 23, Trench Mortars 1. Enemy suffered very heavy casualties from our artillery fire in addition to his losses in hand to hand fighting.
During the afternoon I called on all three Brigadiers and arranged details re further raiding operations, should such require to be undertaken by higher authority. Gen. Wisdom with 7th Brigade is doing all in his power to hand over our newly captured territory well consolidated to 5th Aus Div who will be taking over in a few days.