Item 01: Sir Charles Rosenthal diary, 25 September 1914-31 December 1918 - Page 58
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[Page 58]
will then look quite Oriental. We sat down to a sumptuous dinner of about 15 courses, all exquisitely cooked. The table was set out in faultless British style, but the foods were prepared in Egyptian style. We left at 9PM and were escorted on foot through old Cairo.
He showed us many old historic buildings. The streets are very narrow. I am hoping to get one of my Head Quarters men who is good at water colour work to do me a few sketches. Altogether it was an exceedingly interesting evening.
The house is fairly pretentious, of three floors. The basement is used for the servants, the ground floor for guests, and the upper floor as the family's private quarters. The women folk do not appear. All servants on first floor are Soudanese Eunuchs. I was placed in the post of honour at the head of the table while the father sat on my left. The sons waited at table, this being an especial way of honouring a guest. They afterwards dined by themselves. The father made a very interesting picture smoking his "hubble bubble'. In fact I had a try but was not very successful. Reached camp at 11PM.
Monday 28th December
Head Quarters at work on Telephone Construction. Several men are expert electricians so we should have no trouble in maintaining our phones in a high state of efficiency. With Capt Waite paraded Mr Jenkinson before Col Hobbs. I had to report against him. Col Hobbs asked him if he was prepared to resign, and he agreed. The matter is now going before General Bridges. He has proved totally unfitted for his job. A good deal of trouble with B.A.C. defaulters. They seem to have a bad lot among them. Have now to arm the guard. Lecture tonight by Major Hughes on "Battery Tactics". Plenty of discussion afterwards.
Tuesday 29th December
Battery and Brigade Headquarters at work on Telephones. All units at battery drill. Went out with O.C to inspect routes to manoeuvre ground. Area proved to be very satisfactory, but roads leading thereto very bad indeed. Interview with Col Hobbs and Brigade Commanders re training areas. Jenkinson paraded before Colonel Hobbs. He agreed to resign. General lecture to all units at 2.30PM regarding conduct of troops in Cairo and behaviour generally. Members of 3rd Inf Bde not implicated. Rumours that howitzer Brigade to be formed.