Item 01: Sir Charles Rosenthal diary, 25 September 1914-31 December 1918 - Page 65
Primary tabs
Transcription
[Page 65]
Thursday 21st January
Stayed in camp today. Gave all units of Brigade an opportunity to make all adjustments, clean harness, guns, etc, prior to shooting on Friday. Shooting of 1st Brigade on Wednesday appeared to be very unsatisfactory. Shooting of 2nd Brigade today proved to be good. It is up to us to do well tomorrow.
General Birdwood today sent me an invitation to dine with him at Shepheards Hotel on Saturday night at 7.30. Hope I shall be able to get some information concerning our future movements. Put in strong report today regarding condition of horses. They are perceptibly getting poorer and weaker. Major Matson thinks they get too much work – Absurd – The ration is the trouble.
Friday 22nd January
Left for training area at 8.30 with 7th Battery. This battery shot first. Reconnaissance exceedingly well carried out. First round off very quickly. Fire discipline good. Second series by Capt Leslie not too good. Observation very faulty. If shooting had not been checked ammunition would have been wasted. Retirement from action good. Major Brownes battery shot second. Good reconnaissance and occupation of position. Ranging first series rather muddled. Second series better. Fire discipline good, retirement from action good. Major Burgess' battery last to shoot. Rather long advance to position, Battery staff not kept well in hand. Occupation of position good. First round off very smartly. Ranging good, retirement good. Work of batteries uniformly good and very satisfactory.
General Bridges and Colonel Hobbs tendered their congratulations.
Saturday 23rd January
Rest for horses. Men cleaning lines and horses. Inspection by Colonel at 12 noon. All satisfactory excepting a few points in 7th battery. Went to town late in the afternoon, did some shopping, getting Kiwi, and ribbon velvet for my crowns. With Col Johnstone went to dinner with genera Birdwood at Shepheards Hotel. We had a very interesting time. Met Colonel Knox, Chief Supply Officer for our Army Corps. He has just returned from France and gave us a great deal of valuable information. Returned to camp about 1 AM. I saw an interesting sight in Cairo during the afternoon. A man bearing a cow, and carrying a calf. He stopped in front of a man, put down his calf, and