Diary transcript of Percy Ernest Nimmo, 1916-1919

Nimmo, Percy Ernest (Lieutenant)

Places	Africa: Egypt Approximate locations: At sea Europe: Belgium, Flanders, West-Vlaanderen, Ypres Europe: France, Haute-Normandie, Seine Maritime, Rouen Europe: France, Nord Pas de Calais Europe: France, Picardie, Somme Europe: Germany Europe: Gibraltar Europe: United Kingdom, England, Isle of Wight Europe: United Kingdom, England, Leicestershire, Rollestone Europe: United Kingdom, England, Wiltshire, Salisbury Plain, Salisbury Europe: United Kingdom, Scotland Oceania: Australia, South Australia, Adelaide Oceania: Australia, Western Australia
Accession Number	AWM2018.19.35
Collection number	PR00524
Collection type	Digitised Collection
Record type	File
Item count	1
Object type	Diary
Physical description	107 Image/s captured
Maker	Nimmo, Percy Ernest
Place made	At sea, Belgium, Egypt, France, United Kingdom: England, United Kingdom: Scotland
Date made	1916-1919
Conflict	First World War, 1914-1918
Copying Provisions	Digital format and content protected by copyright.

Description

Diary transcript relating to the First World War service of Lieutenant Percy Ernest Nimmo, 48th Infantry Battalion, 11 April 1916 - 3 July 1919.

In this diary, Nimmo commences to document his active service after embarkation from Adelaide. He outlines his own duties as well as general routines aboard HMAT Aeneas during the voyage to Egypt. Nimmo subsequently describes his first impressions of camp at Tel el Kabir, and training in challenging conditions at various locations in Egypt before proceeding to England. During this voyage, Nimmo comments on the presence of German spies on board the ship posing as Y.M.C.A. representatives, strict procedures enforced during the voyage, and expectation amongst the troops as the ship approaches England.

Whilst in England, Nimmo records his training activities and broader experiences exploring much of the country over a period of eleven months. He describes his initiation to Rollestone Camp, stints at Codford and Tidworth Camps, and training at bombing and rifle schools of instruction at Hayling Island and Lyndhurst. He also notes attending a number of large parades including on occasions where King George V inspected troops at Bulford in September 1916 and April 1917, offering his impressions of the resultant pageantry and the bearing of the King.

After departing England, Nimmo records his journey to the Western Front and his first experiences on the front line during the Battle of Messines. He subsequently details his observations of active service in Belgium and France, describing scenes following the Battle of Polygon Wood, accounts of action relating to the German Somme offensive and his recollections of the Battle of Hamel and the Battle of Amiens amongst other events. After the Armistice, Nimmo remarks on the plight of refugees returning to ruined towns, and provides an insight into the broader state of affairs after travelling through France, Belgium and Germany on a period of leave. Concluding diary entries largely document Nimmo's journey from France to England and his voyage back to Australia.