Item 01: Sir Charles Rosenthal diary, 25 September 1914-31 December 1918 - Page 98
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[Page 98]
Monday 26th April
Early in the morning 1 gun of 1st Battery under Major Sweetland and 1 gun of 4th Battery under Lieut Siddall came into action on the extreme right of ridge (Low Scrub Hill) overlooking Gaba Tepe. The 4th Battery did excellent work all day against Infantry targets ranging from very close ranges to about 1000 yards. Lt Irwin did good work with 1st Battery gun, but the Major in charge proved a great disappointment, but I do not want to say more here. Later in the morning 4 guns and wagons of 7th Battery came ashore and I at once ordered two of that Battery's guns into position, making a complete Composite Battery. There also came ashore 2 guns of 3rd Battery and 4 guns of 8th Battery. These latter had evidently come ashore in error and were ordered back to their Ships by Col Hobbs. I also, later in the afternoon, ordered back 1st Battery and 4th Battery guns, replacing them with the remaining two guns of 7th Battery, thus having this Battery complete on the position. The Infantry was very happy to see Artillery. Our position was absolutely in the Infantry trenches and on the sky line and of course there was no Infantry in front of our guns. It would have been quite useless to come into action behind the Infantry as then in order to clear the crest we should have had to fire at nothing less than 3000 yards, and our chief targets were from 500 to 1000 yards. The day was very exciting, and our shooting was a marked contrast to Practice camp work where every round is husbanded most carefully. Each gun fired during the day about 400 rounds. All our officers and men stood up to the ordeal splendidly. Got our Telephone communications established with Head Quarters. I was with my orderly Bligh lying down on the crest in a small hole which is later to become my Head Quarters when an Infantryman came rushing over to me bringing a message from Brigadier McKay. Just as he reached within a few yards of me he fell mortally wounded with a rifle bullet. The next instant my two linesman who were completing the laying of telephone cable came to the spot with their heavy reel, and hearing bullets singing past, they made one leap into my hiding place, and with their reel fell in a heap on top of me – and they weren't very light either.
We spent the night entrenching. Beautiful sight, Search lights and big fleet of Transports and Men O' War making an ensemble that will never be effaced from the memory of those who were privileged to see it. On the one side Peace – on the other rifle, machine gun and artillery fire.
The fleet bombarded the enemy's position during the evening. Quiet night. I am in a strong position, though a tactically unsound one, my guns being actually in the Infantry firing line. Colonel Hobbs this evening seemed much affected, and expressed his sincere thanks for my assistance.