Description
Object description
Manuscript diary covering the service of Robert Hawkins as a signaller with 188 Heavy Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery bertween 1917-1919. This includes the Salonika Campaign and time immediately after the end of the First World War whilst awaiting demobilisation. Also copies of Army Forms Z.11 and Z.18, a telegram form with message in Greek and a short letter from the Vicar of Tilford to his counterpart in a new parish to where Robert Hawkins moved in 1920.
Content description
Ms diary covering service of 248223 Signaller Robert Hawkins with 188th Heavy Battery (RGA) during the First World War. The diary covers the journey of the battery out from Southampton on HMT Australind to Salonika in early April 1917. Movement of the battery into the Struma Valley as part of XVI Corps the following month. Hawkins records his work in ewstablishing communications for the battery and typical battery activity. In October and November 1917, Hawkins reports the attacks on kite balloons by Leutnant Rudolf von Eschwege and his being brought down by an explosive charge in the balloon basket on 21 November. There is a break in the diary between 30 November 1917 and 20 August 1918. When Hawkins resumes he covers the battery's move to the Doiran sector of the front and its part in the Second Battle of Doiran (18-19 September 1918). The diary then covers the British pursuit of the retreating Bulgarian army up to the armistice on 30 September 1918. Hawkins also covers the movements of his battery in the months following the end of the Salonika Campaign and his awaiting demobilisation in camps near Salonika, playing football, watching films and visiting the YMCA in between duties. His process of demobilisation and journey back to Britain, March - April 1919 including sea journey on board HMT Danube between Salonika and Taranto, followed by a rail journey up through Italy and France (all locations passed through are noted in the diary) to Le Havre where the diary ends withj an entry on 4 April 1919.
Also part of the collection are copies of Artmy Form Z 11 'Protection Certificate and Certificate of Identity' and Artmy Form Z 18 'Certificate of Employment During the War' issued to Hawkins along with a Greek telegram form (signed by Corporal Theodoros or Napoleon Souris, working in the telegraph office of the Greek 1st Division), letter of introduction for Hawkins from the vicar of Tilford, dated 30 June 1920, and accompanying envelope.