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Many years ago I was given a box containing, amongst other items, a series of notebooks written by my Great Uncle Alfred of his time in the Trenches in the First War
I am currently transcribing them and then trying to cross reference them to people and places using records, trench-maps etc
I have only worked on the first book so far.... He leaves England late August 1915 and is soon in the trenches in Ypres
Would anyone who is interested in the Great War like to be sent a copy?
[Post edited 25 Feb 13:47]
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Uncle Alfred's WW1 Diaries on 18:00 - Feb 24 with 1250 views
Uncle Alfred's WW1 Diaries on 19:44 - Feb 24 by MattinLondon
Sounds absolutely fascinating- first hand account from the trenches.
What is the overall tone of Alfred’s diaries?
Would love a copy when you’re finished and able to send on.
There is a note attached to one of the later diaries asking his Mum to keep them safe until he returns... so he has written them in a non-dramatic style so as not to worry her I guess
Nonetheless, he does describe some of the drudge of fatigue party carrying stores up to the front line via muddy trenches in the dark
And being in a forward observation trench about 20-30 yards from the German trenches
A few years ago I read a slightly revisionary history of WW1 that cut through a lot of popular misconceptions of how the war was fought...
I have a lot of interest in WW1 as a subject, the land campaign, war at sea and the development of aviation. But I have personal interest too. My grandfather was at a place called La Boisselle on the first day of the Battle of the Somme in 1916 serving in the Royal Engineers 208 Field Company (Norfolk) in support of the Northumberland Fusiliers, 34 Division.
The Tyneside Scottish and Irish, Suffolks and Grimsby Chums (all Kitcheners army) attacked after mines were blown at Y Sap and Lochnagar at 7.28am. The Germans, as was the case along the line, had dug deep and survived the bombardment and in the case of one of the explosions a telephone call wishing them luck the night before meant Y Sap was evacuated and re occupied as the British attacked.
The Lochnagar explosion was the loudest man made explosion in history to that point and was heard in London. The battalions attacked and suffered something like 85% casualties - the worst of the first day.
My grandfather survived the Somme, was at Arras and was wounded out of the war September 1917 through shrapnel wound and shell shock. I’ve traced where his field company went through the company record, plus other information out there. Endless tedium sprinkled with what must have been abject terror. Brave people.
The war is fascinating because of how it evolved. It was not the zero progress picture Blackadder paints
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Uncle Alfred's WW1 Diaries on 22:01 - Feb 24 with 948 views
Uncle Alfred's WW1 Diaries on 21:56 - Feb 24 by Churchman
I would absolutely love to read it/see it.
I have a lot of interest in WW1 as a subject, the land campaign, war at sea and the development of aviation. But I have personal interest too. My grandfather was at a place called La Boisselle on the first day of the Battle of the Somme in 1916 serving in the Royal Engineers 208 Field Company (Norfolk) in support of the Northumberland Fusiliers, 34 Division.
The Tyneside Scottish and Irish, Suffolks and Grimsby Chums (all Kitcheners army) attacked after mines were blown at Y Sap and Lochnagar at 7.28am. The Germans, as was the case along the line, had dug deep and survived the bombardment and in the case of one of the explosions a telephone call wishing them luck the night before meant Y Sap was evacuated and re occupied as the British attacked.
The Lochnagar explosion was the loudest man made explosion in history to that point and was heard in London. The battalions attacked and suffered something like 85% casualties - the worst of the first day.
My grandfather survived the Somme, was at Arras and was wounded out of the war September 1917 through shrapnel wound and shell shock. I’ve traced where his field company went through the company record, plus other information out there. Endless tedium sprinkled with what must have been abject terror. Brave people.
The war is fascinating because of how it evolved. It was not the zero progress picture Blackadder paints
In the 60s and 70s the popular perception of the First War was advanced in books such as "Lions Led By Donkeys" and the rather wonderful musical " Oh, What A Lovely War".... brave British and Commonwealth Tommies being needlessly sacrificed by heartless Generals
Although I enjoyed the film thoroughly, the truth was slightly more nuanced
Nonetheless.....how about a couple of cheerful tunes
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