For anyone interested in the sort of info coming out of the diaries, here are a few of my observations after following 3 Cavalry Division, Signal Squadron for 6 months, from formation in Wiltshire in Sept 1914, through their work around the area of Killebeke, Paschendale and Ypres into early 1915.
The Major is the diary author and he didn't start it off on the standard issue diary form (C2118) but he wrote it more as you'd expect a diary to be written, in continuous prose on a long sheet of paper, dropping in occasional comments of how life was for the soldiers. (Maybe the official blank diary pages hadn't been issued/printed at this early stage). The Major makes one or two emotional references, such as the 'very warm welcome' given to the soldiers on arrival in Ostende. Haven't previously seen this sort of comment in any other diary. But I suppose this was the beginning of the War with spirits very high etc.
Their work was to ensure communications were set up or repaired between units, HQs and Telephone Centres. All this seems to have been carried out, usually, under enemy fire or at night. And they have to keep setting up new lines and Centres each time troop positions change. There's frequent mention of the use of motor cycles or push bikes, very little use of horses. One reported incident was the Major's regret at having to leave behind one of their bicycles when they came under enemy fire. A vital piece of equipment which they recovered several days later. They were also engaged in instructing soldiers in the use of telephones, semaphore, morse and providing map reading training for mounted officers. I'd imagined this would normally have been done at home, so maybe this was a quick fix for those at the Front.
I was surprised to find the use of the word 'Casualties' in a different way to what we'd expect during the War. References to 'Casualties' includes those promoted, sick, off on leave as well as injuried, deaths etc. So the word seems to broadly mean loss to the Unit, one man less etc.
A couple of 'human' touches mentioned:
In Dec 1914 the King visited them and inspected the Division - must have been a big morale boost, but all window dressing of course
Christmas Day 1914, cards were received from the King and Queen and presented individually to each soldier at 10.30 am. Then gifts from the Princesses were presented individually to every soldier at 5.30 pm. So in 1914 those soldiers received a little Christmas cheer of sorts. But then it's business as usual on Boxing Day when they laid out new, enamelled telephone wire, then reeled it all back in again!
I've also looked at the diaries of 3 Division, Divisional Signal Company. Instead of the expected pencil (or sometimes pen) record, these diaries were typed. My guess is it was the officer's own typewriter perhaps.
One interesting incident involves the latest 15" Howitzer gun. There's enormous pride coming from the words in the diary about testing out the gun in the presence of several Generals in March 1915. They first 'practiced' shooting at Wytschaete Tower, near Ypres, and, although it didn't directly hit the target, the Major observes the enormous potential damage to trenches and men by the gun. They can see through 'glasses' that it can create a crater 6,000 yards wide. Sounds horrific. Their nickname for the gun was 'Granny' - don't know why!
It's sad, but amusing, to read this officer's diary entry amongst all the mayhem going on around him: "At 4.00 pm. I rode off and had tea with Sunny Gabb and saw some of the Regiment who were all very cheery".
On that 'cheery' note I'll end here. Could go on, and on, and on.... So much interesting info in the diaries. Now tagged over 150 pages, and well worth every moment spent doing it.
I'm going to try and focus on Midland Regiments next, but it depends of course, on what's been uploaded by NA. Viv.
