Bradshaw, Edward Charles (Sapper, b.1894 - d.1962)

Diaries kept by Sapper Edward Bradshaw during his service with the 5th Troop, Field Squadron Engineers, Australian Mounted Division (Aust Mtd Div) in Egypt, Sinai and Palestine. Entries in the first diary, a 1917 Australian Pocket Diary, commence on March 27 and cover the period until March 25 1918; entries in the second diary, a 1918 Allies Diary, start on March 26 1918 and run until March 25 1919; finally entries in the third diary, a 1918 Australian Pocket Diary, commence on March 26 1919 and cover the period until July 1919 when Bradshaw arrives back in Australia. The fourth diary in a notebook appears to relate to a trip to England and France by Bradshaw in 1930, as Bradshaw describes attending the funeral of victims of the `R103' (actually R101) Airship disaster, which occured in October of 1930. In the earlier diaries Bradshaw describes his service as a Driver with the Aust Mtd Div in some detail. The diaries include a description of a visit to an Armenian refugee camp, Cairo, Jeruselum, Jericho and other places of interest in the "Holy Land". In addition Bradshaw's duties such as supplying water to troops and horses in forward areas, means that his diary includes first hand descriptions of the lead up to and results of many important operations, including the battle at Beersheba in October 1917.

• Wallet 1 of 4 - Diaries of Edward Bradshaw