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[Page 507]
Sunday 29th December
Writing letters all day. Received report from 7th Brigade concerning officers conduct in Charleroi. At 8.30 PM visited several cafes and found everything quiet tho' at one Cafe a few minutes before my arrival one of our officers had made himself objectionable. Conduct and deportment of men excellent.
Monday 30th December
In all day - writing letters, arranging details re Educational Scheme for University de Travail, Charleroi.
Loaned my car to my Host and Hostess for the purpose of taking them to visit Madame's parents in Brussels. Capt. O 'Hara Wood accompanied them. They brought me back some glorious hothouse lilac blooms, and a fine plant in flower – red azalea. They have evidently discovered I am found of flowers.
Tuesday 31st December
With Pope visited Army HQrs. at Valenciennes. Saw Gen. Anderson M.G.G.S. who has been appointed to superintend the Staff College about to reopen at Camberley. Visited No. 2 Australian CCS at Ath. Saw Major Matthews who operated on my arm. He expressed his satisfaction at the progress made. Called at Mons and saw Lt. Godley commanding 22 nd Corps. Had a long talk on past and present associations. Returned to Marcinelle at 6 PM
Dinner party at night given by Messeur & Madame Brisall, our hosts. Quite a number of visitors were invited, and we had a very jolly evening finishing up at 2.30 AM on 1st Jan. I had to sing a number of songs.
The passing away of 1918 and the advent of 1919 eventuated under the pleasantest of conditions. We all look forward to a bright and happy New Year – The Year of World Peace.
End of Volume I
Charles Rosenthal.
[Transcriber's notes on place names:
Baupaume = Bapaume
Baizeau = Bazieux
Berques = Bergues
Bertacourt = Bertaucourt
Croix de Bas = Croix du Bac
Dikmude = Diksmuide
Douliou = Le Doulieu
Drancoutre = Drancourt
Gooderswelde = Godewaersvelde
Hanguard = Hangard
Hazebrouck = Hazebrouck
Hendecourt = Heudicourt
Montebrahain = Montbrehain
Nielle Blequin = Nielles les Blequin
Noreiul, Noreuil, Norueil = Noureuil
Ploogsteert, Ploogrstreet = Ploegsteert
Polecappelle = Poelkapelle
Quenit = Queant
Ravelsburg, Ravelsberg?
Rexmoude = Rexpoede
Roeun = Rouen
Sapigny = Sapignies
Steenwerke = Steenwerck
Vauxcourt = Vaulx-Vraucourt
Verbrandenmolen = Verbranden Molen
Vermozeele = Zermezeele
Villers Brettoneaux, Villers Brettonneaux = Villers Bretonneaux
Wardreques = Wardrecques
Winnizeele = Winnezeele
Wyschaate = Wytschaete
[Abbreviations used in diary:
AA (Guns) Anti Aircraft
AAG Assistant Adjutant General
AA & QMG Assistant Adjutant & Quarter Master General
ADA Batteries Air Defence Artillery
ADC Aide-de-Camp
ADMS Assistant Director of Medical Services
ADOS Assistant Director of Ordnance Services
AFA Australian Field Artillery
AFC Australian Flying Corps
AGBD Australian General Base Depot
AGH Australian General Hospital
ALTM Australian Light Trench Mortar
AMC Army Medical Corps
APM Assistant Paymaster
AQMG Assistant Quartermaster General
ASC Army Service Corps
BAC Brigade Ammunition Column
BC Battery Commander
BCS Battle Cruiser Squadron
Bde H Qrs Brigade Headquarters
BGGS Brigadier General General Staff
BGHA Brigadier General Heavy Artillery
BGRA Brigadier General Royal Artillery
BM Brigade Major
BSM Battery Sergeant Major
C in C Commander in Chief
CCS Casualty Clearing Station
CO Commanding Officer
COO Chief Ordnance Officer
CRA Commander Royal Artillery
CRE Commander Royal Engineers
DA Divisional Artillery
DAA & QMG Deputy Assistant & Quartermaster General
DAAG Deputy Assistant Adjutant General
DAC Divisional Ammunition Column
DADMS Deputy Assistant Director Medical Services
Dados Deputy Assistant Director of Ordnance Services
DADRT Deputy Assistant Director of Railways
DADVS Deputy Assistant Director Veterinary Services
DAG Deputy Adjutant General
DAHQ Divisional Artillery Head Quarters
DAQMG Deputy Assistant Quarter Master General
DD of R Deputy Director of Remounts ?
DDST Deputy Director of Supplies and Transport
DDVS Deputy Director Veterinary Services
DHQ Divisional Head Quarters
DMGO Divisional Machine Gun Officer
DMS Director Medical Services
DTMO Director of Transport and Movements
EEFH Qrs Egyptian Expeditionary Force Head Quarters
FA Field artillery
FAT Field Artillery Tractor
FOO Forward Observation Officer ?
GF Grand Fleet (Allied)
GHQ General Head Quarters
GHQEEF General Head Quarters Egyptian Expeditionary Force
GOC General Officer Commanding
Gocra General Officer Commanding Royal Artillery
GSO I General Staff Officer 1st Class
GSO II General Staff Officer 2nd Class
HQrs Head Quarters
HTM Heavy Trench Mortar
IO Intelligence Officer
IOM Inspector of Ordnance Machinery
KCMG Knight Commander Michael and George
LCS Light Cruiser Squadron
LH Light Horse (Australian)
MEF Mediterranean Expeditionary Force
MGCo Machine Gun Company
MGGS Major General General Staff
MGRA Major General Royal Artillery
MLO Military Landing Officer
MTM Medium Trench Mortar
NCO Non-Commissioned Officer
NZDA New Zealand Divisional Artillery
OC Officer Commanding
OP Observation Post
prs Pounders (guns)
QMG Quartermaster General
RA Royal Artillery
RAN Royal Australian Navy
RAP Regimental Aid Post
RE Royal Engineers
RFA Royal Field Artillery
RFC Royal Flying Corps
RGA Royal Garrison Artillery
RHA Royal Horse Artillery
RNUR Royal Navy Unit Review
RTO Railway Transport Officer
Sora Staff Officer Royal Artillery
TBD Torpedo-Boat Destroyer
TM Trench Mortar
TMB Trench Mortar Battery
TMO Transport and Movements Office]
[Transcribed by John Stephenson, Judy Gimbert and Peter Mayo for the State Library of New South Wales]