Description
Object description
Detailed and interesting ms entries in a Walker's Diary for 1944 (115pp) given to him by his mother recording his service, January 1944 - January 1945, as a signaller and later storeman attached to an unnamed artillery unit, probably the 23rd Field Regiment RA (2 MGRA), in Italy, which supported the 46th Division in the crossing of the Garigliano (January 1944), the 2nd New Zealand Division at Cassino (February 1944 - April 1944), the 24th (Guards) Independent Brigade (6th South African Armoured Division) breaking the Trasimene Line and pursuing to Arezzo and then Florence (May 1944 - August 1944), and the 43rd Gurkha Lorried Infantry Brigade (1st Armoured Division, later the 56th (London) Division and then the 10th Indian Division) battering through the Gothic Line (August 1944- September 1944) and advancing to the River Senio (September 1944 - November 1944) before coming out of the line to rest; commenting with dry, sceptical (and occasionally caustic) humour on army life and "bullshit"; his duties and daily routine, notably the boredom and constant hanging around, doing his washing, the constant moves and digging in at each new gun position, guard, night and wireless duties, fatigues, kit and FFI inspections; the conditions, food and billets; bartering and scrounging for food and lifts, particularly from the Americans; the weather; his off-duty entertainment, including "brewing up", his gambling, his drinking, watching films, ENSA shows, his reading, staying in bed until late in the morning, and visits to Amalfi, Florence, Naples, Perugia and Pompeii; the mail, notably sending parcels home and receiving one letter 13 months after it was sent; his training and attending lectures; news of progress of the fighting and operations, especially the bombing of Cassino (March 1944), smashing a German counter-attack (5 October 1944), enemy activity, his admiration for the Germans as fighters, his dislike of the frequent enemy bombing, mortaring and shelling, and the casualties inflicted on his unit, including the loss of friends; and his relations with his comrades, notably his criticisms of officers and passive resistance to NCOs; and mentioning David Niven (30 October 1944). Also included are lists of all 49 of the gun positions occupied in Italy giving locations and distances, his correspondence, 'The 8 Requirements of a Wife' by Sir William Beveridge (1943), and the books he had read.
Content description
Detailed and interesting ms entries in a Walker's Diary for 1944 (115pp) given to him by his mother recording his service, January 1944 - January 1945, as a signaller and later storeman attached to an unnamed artillery unit, probably the 23rd Field Regiment RA (2 MGRA), in Italy, which supported the 46th Division in the crossing of the Garigliano (January 1944), the 2nd New Zealand Division at Cassino (February 1944 - April 1944), the 24th (Guards) Independent Brigade (6th South African Armoured Division) breaking the Trasimene Line and pursuing to Arezzo and then Florence (May 1944 - August 1944), and the 43rd Gurkha Lorried Infantry Brigade (1st Armoured Division, later the 56th (London) Division and then the 10th Indian Division) battering through the Gothic Line (August 1944- September 1944) and advancing to the River Senio (September 1944 - November 1944) before coming out of the line to rest; commenting with dry, sceptical (and occasionally caustic) humour on army life and "bullshit"; his duties and daily routine, notably the boredom and constant hanging around, doing his washing, the constant moves and digging in at each new gun position, guard, night and wireless duties, fatigues, kit and FFI inspections; the conditions, food and billets; bartering and scrounging for food and lifts, particularly from the Americans; the weather; his off-duty entertainment, including "brewing up", his gambling, his drinking, watching films, ENSA shows, his reading, staying in bed until late in the morning, and visits to Amalfi, Florence, Naples, Perugia and Pompeii; the mail, notably sending parcels home and receiving one letter 13 months after it was sent; his training and attending lectures; news of progress of the fighting and operations, especially the bombing of Cassino (March 1944), smashing a German counter-attack (5 October 1944), enemy activity, his admiration for the Germans as fighters, his dislike of the frequent enemy bombing, mortaring and shelling, and the casualties inflicted on his unit, including the loss of friends; and his relations with his comrades, notably his criticisms of officers and passive resistance to NCOs; and mentioning David Niven (30 October 1944). Also included are lists of all 49 of the gun positions occupied in Italy giving locations and distances, his correspondence, 'The 8 Requirements of a Wife' by Sir William Beveridge (1943), and the books he had read.
History note
Cataloguer SNR
History note
Catalogue date 2005-05-11