Item 01: Sir Charles Rosenthal diary, 25 September 1914-31 December 1918 - Page 462
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[Page 462]
Thursday 12th September
In the morning a scheme was given effect to illustrating cooperation of French and British Tanks including Whippets. Opportunities were given members of the course to take a ride in Whippet Tanks. The afternoon lecture referred to lessons from recent Tank operations and also gave an outline of the operations for to-morrow. In the afternoon we motored to Chateau Thierry via Nangis Mormant, Rozoy, Coulommiers and La Ferte, returning via Rebais, Saint Just, and Nangis. The Marne River both at La Ferte and Chateau Thierry is a very fine stream and the hilly country very beautiful. Chateau Thierry itself, which I had expected to find in ruins, has really not been badly damaged, probably 75% of the buildings being intact. It was interesting to note that the population had returned and the shops apparently doing good business. On the journey from Nangis southward, we saw numerous coveys of Partridge and after dark while passing through wooded country, dozens of rabbits dodged across the road in front of the car.
Friday 13th September
The morning was devoted to an interesting scheme, providing for the assistance of French Tanks actually with the Infantry in attack being preceded by British Mark V Tanks, while British Whippets were employed in exploitation into enemy country. In this and previous schemes, American and Italian troops were employed. The afternoon was spent in visiting the French Workshops at Bourron. Here we saw Renault, Chamond and Schneider tanks being repaired and overhauled, the two latter types being now, however, obsolete. The method of loading and unloading the Renault Tank