Item 01: Sir Charles Rosenthal diary, 25 September 1914-31 December 1918 - Page 72
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[Page 72]
sent to Lord Kitchener by General Birdwood.
All the dead were very poorly clad and all indications point to the troops having had a bad time crossing the desert.
We returned to Ismailia about 7.30, caught train at 8.5, and reached Cairo at 11.15PM. Major King and myself then came out to camp. I met Colonel Semmens of Victoria with this party and incidentally informed him he had got me into trouble by writing letters home from Albany and Colombo. He told me he had personally dodged the Censors. Travelling in the Egyptian railway is very comfortable. Dining saloon very good and meals well served. Transfer of men to Brigade to fill vacancies given effect to.
Sunday 14th February
Feel very tired this morning and not much inclined for Church parade. However I attended. Afterwards I gave a little lecturette to the Brigade giving an account of my trip to the Canal. Working on schemes for Tuesday's shooting. Wrote letters to Nell, Chris, Alvord, Admiralty and Stacy Waddy. Coloured plates for aeroplane signalling. Pow wow with B.C? at night.
Monday 15th February
Brigade working in Camp, preparing for shooting.
Tuesday 16th February
Stayed in camp today preparing for night March, bivouac and tactical shooting. Moved out with B.C? at 2 PM to reconnoitre positions. Selected same also Bivouac. Brigade moved out of camp at 7.30PM reaching bivouac about 9. Major Burgess placed two of his guns for night firing. The D.A.C. failed to supply ammunition, consequently night series was not fixed till midnight. Aiming point was a lamp on top of "Cheops". Zones of front allotted to each battery. (all units spent the night preparing gunpits and observing stations.) Guns in position at 10 AM. Delay in supply of ammunition from DAC caused further delay. Shooting commenced about 11 AM. Excellent results. All batteries did good work. A distinguished Party watched the proceedings. General Sir A. Maxwell, General Birdwood, Generals Walker and Bridges and the Marquis of Anglesey. They all congratulated Colonel Hobbs on the work of the 3rd Brigade, and after the shoot