Item 01: Sir Charles Rosenthal diary, 25 September 1914-31 December 1918 - Page 506
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[Page 506]
Thursday 26th December
With Charley and Pope left Charleroi at 8.15 AM for Boulogne. Travelled via Mons and Tournai to Lille where I introduced Charley to Gens. White, Grant & Hamon. Lunched at Army HQrs. Afterwards met Gen. Hart of NZ Division returning from south of France to his Brigade and promised to pick him up on my return journey tomorrow. Also saw Gen. Eller of Tank Corps in Lille. Proceeded on via Menen, and Ghehurst to Ypres. Very desolate country, absolutely devastated ground nothing but shell holes, trees nothing but shattered stumps, villages effaced, concrete pill boxes smashed, derelict tanks in plenty, masses of wire and many isolated graves. Quite the most suitable spot to take a visitor who wishes to really see what war can mean. Ypres quite flat and absolutely ruined. Went on to Boulogne via Cassell, St. Omer & Desvres. Dined at Folkestone Hotel and took rooms at Hotel de Paris.
Friday 27th December
Charley left by boat at 9.30 AM, having I am sure thoroughly enjoyed his leave. Returned to Lille via Hazebrouck, Bailleul and Armentieres. Bailleul in particularly is absolutely destroyed, so different now from the town we all remember in 1915-16-17 and early 18. At Lille again lunched at Army HQrs. Picked up Gen. Hart and brought him back to Charleroi via Valenciennes and Mons. He will go on from here by rail to Cologne. Arrived at my HQrs. at 8 PM Found Major MacCallum had departed for Australia. A very good officer and a gentleman – whose work has been of sterling value – I am sorry to lose him.
Saturday 28th December
Gen. Hart with us all day. Cologne train late. He did not leave till midnight. About 250 officers and men left for discharge to Australia.
Attended to education and sports matters within the Division.