| Place | Europe: Western Front |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | PR01549 |
| Collection type | Private Record |
| Record type | Collection |
| Measurement | 2 wallets: 6 cm. |
| Object type | Diary |
| Maker |
Wilson, Arthur |
| Place made | Australia, Belgium, France, United Kingdom: England |
| Date made | 1917-1919 |
| Access | Open |
| Conflict |
First World War, 1914-1918 |
Wilson, Arthur (Sapper, b.1896 - d.1985)
Description
Collection relating to the First World War service of 17319 Sapper Arthur Wilson, 1st Divisional Signal Company. Collection consists of two volumes of typescript diaries written by Sapper Wilson covering May 1917 - August 1919. The diaries describe the voyage from Australia to England on HMAT Shropshire, life onboard and ports visited. This is followed by time in camp in England and places visited including Scotland. He embarked for France in September 1917 and describes active service on the Western Front in both France and Belgium, with detailed descriptions of his activities, observations of live action, his physical surroundings and the routine of life at the front. Later entries cover Armistice Day in France and the post Armistice period. He remained in France until April 1919, returning to Australia on board the 'Ormonde' on 4 August 1919, via England.
The original hand-written diaries are held as AWM2016.271.1.