Diary of Henry George Whiting, 1917-1918

Places
Accession Number RCDIG0001322
Collection number PR05609
Collection type Digitised Collection
Record type File
Item count 1
Object type Diary
Physical description 20 Image/s captured
Maker Whiting, Henry George
Place made At sea, Egypt, France, Italy, United Kingdom: England
Date made 1917-1918
Conflict First World War, 1914-1918
Copying Provisions Digital format and content protected by copyright.
Description

Diary relating to the First World War service of 4930 Private Henry George (Harry) Whiting, 1st Pioneer Battalion. This handwritten diary contains daily entries for the period 19 December 1917 to 13 February 1918 and details Whiting’s embarkation through to his arrival in England. While transiting through Egypt, Whiting provides observations on the Suez Canal and the farming and work practices of the Egyptian locals. Afterwards, Whiting records the rail journey from Italy to France through the Alps, noting the French countryside and people. He remarks upon the observable absence of French men, most of them having gone to war. The last diary entry details Whiting’s disembarkation in Southampton after travelling across the English Channel from Cherbourg. On the last few pages of the diary is a letter written by Whiting to his sister Lil and dated 3 March 1918, asking that the diary be kept by her until his return. He also writes that he was able to meet up with their brother Walter in England and of the detrimental effect the cold weather was having on the men in their camp.