Item 01: Sir Charles Rosenthal diary, 25 September 1914-31 December 1918 - Page 460
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[Page 460]
Sunday 8th September
Received word today that owing to inability of General MacLagan to attend Allied Tank School at Fontainebleau, it has been arranged by Corps that I am to take his place. Discussion with Corps re the proposal to transfer Captain Grant to this Signal Company and Captain Linkler to Corps Signal Company, when Major Watson goes to Australia on furLough. Informed Corps I could not agree to both C.O. and 2nd in Command being taken from the Div. Signal Company at this juncture. Arranged with General Robertson to assume command of the Division during my absence at Tank School.
Monday 9th September
In early morning left for Fontainebleau in company with Colonel Miles and Captain O'Hara Wood to attend Allied Tank School. On the way down we traversed the old French Somme battlefields at Fay Estrees and Ablainecourt to Chaulnes. Thence via Roye and Lassigny to Noyon. This latter town is very much damaged, the fine old Cathedral particularly so. From Noyon we attempted to journey to Soissons but found the bridges over the Oise had been destroyed and new ones not emplaced, so deflected our course to Compiegne which also has been much damaged by bombing. Thence via Senlis to Paris. Called at Military Hospital Val de Grasse, and made an appointment to see a nerve specialist Doctor Kouindjy for 10 am on 14th inst. Lunched at Cafe de Parisin Avenue de L'Opera, and later in the afternoon continued the journey to Fontainebleau, reporting to the Lower Major at 4.30 p.m. Captain O'Hara Wood made necessary Hotel arrangements, billeting us at Hotel de France et d'Angleterre, while our meals were arranged for at Hotel Francois Ier. The School programme