Obituaries Australia

Fuller particulars have been, received by the mail of the death in action of Lieut. Samuel Rosenthal, of the 58th Battalion, A.I.F., a brief notice of which appeared with portrait in a recent issue.

Captain Rudd, writing from the Hcadquarters 5th Australian Division (3rd October), thus narrates the circumstances leading to the dealth of Lieut. Rosenthal.:— "On the day of the attack (Tuesday, 25th September, at 5.30 in the morning), after a particularly heavy artillery attack on our right, the Germans managed to make an advance into the trenches; of the division on our right. They were thus in a position of being able to envade our fight flank. It being absolutely necessary that the enemy should be dislodged from his position, two platoons were ordered to attack with Lewis guns. Lieutenant Rosenthal called to his platoon, "Come on, boys, now we'll show 'em !" and he led the attack with the utmost gallantry. He successfully reached the edge of a sunken road, where the Germans had concealed sonic machine guns. Turning round with words of encouragement, he led his men over the mounds of earth at the edge of the road. The Germans immediately started machine gun fire and Lieutenant Rosenthal, being in the lead, was hit in many, places, and immediately killed. He died at the moment of victory, however, as he must have known, having got to the road, that the Germans were certain to be dislodged, Knowing him, as I did, I am sure he was smiling as he got to his objective. This is the only happy memory that we can keep. A brave, energetic and extremely capable officer, he died at the head of his men, having led them through such places and such actions that would have very surely won him recognition in high quarters. He died in regaining for us a position that meant everything for this division, and we revere his memory for this. He was buried in the presence of some of his comrades, and as many officers and, man that could obtain leave, and the spot is one which the 5th Australian Division will never forget."