Transcript of diary of Ben William Champion, 1915-1918

Champion, Benjamin William (Lieutenant)

Places	Africa: Egypt, Alexandria Africa: Egypt, Cairo Africa: Egypt, Cairo, Heliopolis Africa: Egypt, North Egypt, Mena Africa: Egypt, North Egypt, Tel el Kebir Africa: Egypt, North Egypt, Zeitoun Africa: Egypt, Suez Canal Africa: Egypt, Suez Canal, Ferry Post Africa: Egypt, Suez Canal, Serapeum Asia: Ceylon, Colombo Europe: Belgium, Flanders, West-Vlaanderen, Ypres Europe: France, Haute-Normandie, Seine Maritime, Le Havre Europe: France, Nord Pas de Calais, Nord Europe: France, Nord Pas de Calais, Nord, Cambrai, Boursies Europe: France, Nord Pas de Calais, Nord, Cassel Europe: France, Nord Pas de Calais, Nord, Dunkirk, Pradelles Europe: France, Nord Pas de Calais, Pas de Calais, Bethune, Fleurbaix Europe: France, Nord Pas de Calais, Pas de Calais, Etaples Europe: France, Paris Europe: France, Picardie, Somme, Albert Europe: France, Picardie, Somme, Albert Bapaume Area, Pozieres Area, Pozieres Europe: France, Picardie, Somme, Albert Combles Area, Fricourt Europe: France, Picardie, Somme, Amiens Europe: France, Picardie, Somme, Corbie Albert Area, Dernancourt Europe: France, Picardie, Somme, Vignacourt Europe: France, Provence Alpes Cote d'Azur, Bouches-du-Rhone, Marseilles Europe: France, Toulon Europe: Gibraltar Europe: Greece, Aegean Islands, Imbros Europe: Greece, Aegean Islands, Lemnos, Mudros Europe: Italy, Sardinia Europe: United Kingdom, England, Greater London, London Mediterranean: Malta, Malta (island), Sliema Mediterranean: Malta, Malta (island), Valletta Middle East: Ottoman Empire, Turkey, Dardanelles, Gallipoli, Anzac Area (Gallipoli), Olive Grove Middle East: Ottoman Empire, Turkey, Dardanelles, Gallipoli, Anzac Area (Gallipoli), Shrapnel Gully Area, Shrapnel Gully Middle East: Ottoman Empire, Turkey, Marmara, Chanak, Gallipoli Peninsula Middle East: Yemen, Aden Oceania: Australia, New South Wales, Sydney, Liverpool Oceania: Australia, Victoria, Melbourne Oceania: Australia, Western Australia, Fremantle
Accession Number	RCDIG0000977
Collection number	2DRL/0512
Collection type	Digitised Collection
Record type	File
Item count	1
Object type	Typescript, Diary
Physical description	208 Image/s captured
Maker	Champion, Benjamin William
Place made	At sea, Australia, Ceylon, Egypt, Malta, Ottoman Empire: Turkey, Dardanelles, Gallipoli, United Kingdom: England, Western Front
Date made	1915-1918
Conflict	First World War, 1914-1918
Copying Provisions	Digital format and content protected by copyright.

Description

Transcript of diary relating to the First World War service of Lieutenant Ben William Champion, 1st Infantry Battalion. In this diary, kept between 11 May 1915 and August 1918, Champion describes life on board his troop ship, the conduct of a burial at sea, the daily military routine in camp in Egypt and details his sightseeing around Cairo. Champion describes his time at Gallipoli, his subsequent wounding and evacuation and the break up of the 1st Battalion to form the 53rd Battalion. He also describes his experiences on the Western Front, in particular the battles of of Lagnicourt, Broodseinde Ridge and Passchendale in October 1917. Champion also details the fighting around Amiens in the early part of 1918. On 15 April 1918 whilst at Pradelles he sustained a shell injury to his left leg, which was consequently amputated, and returned to Australia on 30 June 1918. This diary is also interspersed with copies of military orders, details on the promotions and character of fellow soldiers, and analyses of battles and tactics. Ballads and songs written by the unit about various engagements and personalities are also included. Of particular note, he describes a grave next to his trench on the Western Front of a German soldier that was erected by the Royal Sherwood Foresters. It was the grave of a German soldier that had bandaged an English soldier and who was then killed.