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WW1 Soldiers Diary

Article about: Hi Guys I thought I'd share this story with you. I was contacted by a young lady, asking if I would be interested in buying a soldiers diary from 1914-15 that her Nan had. She said she "

  1. #1

    Default WW1 Soldiers Diary

    Hi Guys
    I thought I'd share this story with you. I was contacted by a young lady, asking if I would be interested in buying a soldiers diary from 1914-15 that her Nan had. She said she "wanted to get as much as I can to help my Nan". Being the sceptical type. i asked for some scans, and some idea of a price. To cut a long story very short, she listed it on e bay, for a very high price (I told her to drop the price and it would sell for more than she wanted, but she didn't) I ended up giving her a reasonable bid, and she accepted. The photos are hers, not mine, but it came today, and it is a little gem. Even comes with a letter from the Imperial War Museum saying how important this diary is!!!! And I can't believe that she sold it!

    Anyway, here's a few extracts, and It's staying with me, there's no way i would sell it. It's just too important.

    It is a Journal written by W Moss – Gunner serving with the 24th Brigade Royal Field Artillery (6th Division) in WW1
    It has personal accounts of various battles in WW1 including Ypres

    “A church in Houp line was shelled by the germans, the poor people running away for safety & for there lives. Some homes were knocked down by the explosion of the shell, little damage was done to the people, but many home was a complete wreck. I think there have been a 100 civies all told in houpline & amentieres.” Dated 1914.

    “what the hums did in another. A family living in a house at crayole-lock, father mother & daughter 17 insulted by 5 German officers & another 14 years the same. The father kicked up a row, was shot out in the yard, the mother in the habit of striking out was shot where she stood, the only one left was a married daughter who told us & showed us where Huns were leaving behind a young girl with her left breast cut off. She also showed us where they cut her leg off from the knee, it was a dealy sight to see the old mother after showing us this took us further down a few doors away & there we saw two little babies 12 months & the other 3 years. The 12 moths had a leg & arm off and the other had 2 arms off. A few yards on further was a jewelers shop which had been smashed, there was valubles of all sorts, but we were forbidden to touch”. Dated 1914.

    There are around 30 odd pages at the front written in pencil then around 6 pages in the middle written in pen which the easiest bit to read and about 10 pages at the back, which included the killed and wounded list.

    There is also a loose note included which is giving the Gunner permission to leave his billet on 14/10/1915.

    Some of the had writing can be a little hard to read, as it was written mainly in pencil and it is a little smudged over the years…….but mainly it is in good condition given its age.
    Click to enlarge the picture Click to enlarge the picture WW1 Soldiers Diary   WW1 Soldiers Diary  

    WW1 Soldiers Diary  

  2. #2
    ?

    Default Re: WW1 Soldiers Diary

    Great find mate, i would kill for a good diary. Do you have his name? if so the research potential would be fantastic.

    Nice one! Donnie

  3. #3
    OKW
    ?

    Default Re: WW1 Soldiers Diary

    I've read the bit about the childrens arms and legs being cut off in a published work somewhere and i believe about the jewelers shop also.

  4. #4

    Default Re: WW1 Soldiers Diary

    Mmmmmmmmmm That's interesting. This has been authenticated by the IWM. I have the letter from them saying they want to keep it

  5. #5

    Default Re: WW1 Soldiers Diary

    things like that are great, I've got my Great Grandfather service book, it tells its own little stories of what he was involved in and where he was at certain times during the war.

  6. #6

    Default Re: WW1 Soldiers Diary

    Awesome piece , priceless . cheers Raymond

  7. #7
    OKW
    ?

    Default Re: WW1 Soldiers Diary

    It may have been one of the forgotten voices series, which surprisingly enough is published by the IWM.

  8. #8

    Default Re: WW1 Soldiers Diary

    Sorry for bringing this up again, but since I posted this a couple of years ago, I have been able to do some research on the soldier in question, and have come up with 38 copies of his service record, during WW1 He joined in Sept 1911, aged 17 and survived the war with one minor wound incurred in 1918! He was de-mobbed in 1920!
    Because he was under 19 when he joined he had to have a letter sent by his father to the recruiting office in Stratford London, stating that he gives permission to join. I have attached only a couple of documents and they are fascinating to read
    Click to enlarge the picture Click to enlarge the picture WW1 Soldiers Diary   WW1 Soldiers Diary  

    WW1 Soldiers Diary   WW1 Soldiers Diary  

    WW1 Soldiers Diary   WW1 Soldiers Diary  


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