Description: | Ms transcriptions of a diary (255pp), with ts transcription (66pp), written during his military service with the 1st South African Infantry in Egypt and on the Western Front, 1915 – 1916, describing embarkation on the LASCONIA (23 December 1915), sickness experienced on board and arrival at Alexandria (12 January 1916), the march to Mex Camp, his duties, embarkation on the BOROULOS (31 January 1916) and arrival at Mersa Matruh, the conditions in the camp, the advance into the enemy line, marching with no water to drink, their voyage from Alexandria to Marseilles (15 - 24 April 1916) and move to the Somme sector, the conditions of the trenches, the death and burial of friends, being held under enemy fire, watching men develop shell shock, his wounding in the hand from a shell and his initial medical treatment.
Cataloguer APR |