Places | |
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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. |
Diary of Henry George Whiting, 1917-1918
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.