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NOT IDENTIFIED : 1919 ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPT DIARY HAND WRITTEN BY AN ENGLISH OFFICER REVEALING LIFE AND DUTIES BACK IN ENGLAND AFTER THE GREAT WAR

48mo - over 3" - 4" tall. On offer is a very unique and rare diary designed expressly for soldiers in WWI. This small volume measure 4 inches by 2.5 inches and has a slot in the spine for a pencil (included). It contains 61 pages of diary entries plum numerous other pages for memoranda. It is about 90% complete. The cover, binding and pages are all intact. The handwriting is very small and the author's entries are detailed. The author is unknown. This 1919 diary is entitled the Soldier's Own Diary and it is specifically designed for members of the British Army. The frontispiece contains an illustration of all of the major military decorations that can be earned. The inside of the rear cover contains a 2 page map of the Western Front, showing France, Belgium and Germany. The first 64 pages are information sections covering a wide variety of subject such as terms and definitions for a rifleman, direction finding using both a compass and natural phenomena, first aid, signalling, a French language guide, etc. Each diary page contains space for entries plus some useful tidbit of information such as how to make leather bootlaces, how to fold a jacket, make carpet soles for boots, etc. Printed immediately following WWI, from context, this diary appears to have been carried by a still serving officer. He makes frequent reference to 'lines' or inspections of troops. We know that he is an officer from this remark: "AM Inspected barracks" [Feb 22]; "To Millbank Hospital escorted Attwell to Westminster Guildhall commenced about 12 a.m. lunch at A.B.C after court martial ... " [Feb 13]; "Transferred 41 men to 639 MT Coy RASC Wandsworth Bdge Road Fulham. Lunch at [ ] with Elsie …" [Mar 27]; "OO ( Orderly Office) Billets lunch at Euston Station Dining Room. P.M. Billiards with Boyer in Sgts Mess after tea ..." [Mar 28]; "A.M Stiff returned from Unserviceable Board Capt Gallaher, & W. Read & self lunch with Stiff ..." [Sept 4]; "... To Guildhall 11:45 Freedom of the City met new Lord Mayor [ ] Beadle" [Nov 8]. A Beadle is an ancient municipal officer and now officer in each Livery Company in London England. This diary is a fascinating look at the day-to-day life of a returned officer in the months following the end of WWI. For a historian, it is rich in details of specific units and officer as well as painting a picture of a busy social life that was part and parcel of an officer's life in London. Manuscript. Book Condition: Good

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