|
Date: |
|
Description: | Ms transcription (98pp) of a well-written diary covering his service with the 2nd Divisional Artillery in France, December 1917 - March 1918, initially as a driver to the east of Bapaume, then a month out of the line in February before his work as an Orderly Clerk throughout March, initially in the Bapaume region before moving to the Somme, where he was caught up in the chaotic retreat in the face of the German offensive, containing excellent descriptions of the devastation on the Western Front, particularly during the retreat through Albert which is described vividly, and revealing his romantic attitude towards the war; together with his 3 original ms diaries (total 90pp), February - April 1917 and November 1917 - November 1918, containing brief entries relating to the above, a rough ms draft for a romantic story accompanied by an early version of his ms diary transcript (94pp), and his official service papers and certificates, including a paybook and photographs. Also with the collection are miscellaneous documents which include printed messages from General Rawlinson and Brigadier General Sanders, the first issue of "The Direct Hit", the Journal of the 58th London Division (32pp, September 1916), "The Daily Express" for 10 February 1916 showing damage from a Zeppelin raid, issue 10 of "The Cologne Post" published for the Army of the Rhine (April 1919), a printed booklet entitled "The 2nd Division at Cambrai 1917" (19pp), a 2nd Division Christmas card for 1918, his identity tags and medals, and a Civil Defence Warden certificate from the Metropolitan Borough of St Marylebone (July 1945).
Cataloguer VAF
Catalogue date 1979-02 | Publisher: | http://www.iwm.org.uk | Source: | Imperial War Museum | Creator: | Gyngell, D S H | Identifier: | http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/o... | Go to resource |
|
|