1919 ORIGINAL SUPERB DIARY OF THE LAST YEAR OF WORLD WAR 1, HANDWRITTEN BY THE ACTING CAPTAIN OF A MACHINE GUN CORPS COMPANY, FIGHTING AND LIVING THROUGH THE LAST GASPS OF THE GERMAN ARMY IN NORTHERN FRANCE AND BELIGUM

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On offer is the exemplary and fascinating wartime diary of Lieutenant Charles Sanderson of the Machine Gun Corps of the British Army. The diary covers the entire year of 1918, the last of World War 1. Kept against orders, it is very rare to find such a detailed diary outside the archives of the Imperial War Museum or regimental collections. Sanderson notes all the place names and identifies brigades so that it is possible to follow in detail the final stages of the war. In the beginning of the diary, Sanderson is in Amiens, France. "Wednesday January 1918. Went into Amiens by Lorry from D.H.Q. Arrived at 9.00am. Bought Christmas Dinner for Company. Stayed all night at the Hotel de L'Univers. Coy. relieved in line by 7th Coy." The diary entries are most often short and concise, matter-of-fact jottings on what was done by his company that day and the movements of other companies and officers: "Received orders for Coy. to go into line tomorrow. Won 35 fr. at Bridge."; "Rode toward Bgde. 195 Coy. in morning to 200 Coy. A.S.C. in afternoon. Went to Benatre at night to fetch in broken down G.S. wagon belonging to Bgde. H.Q."; "Rest of Br. Transport turned up in late morning. Nothing doing all day."; "Marches from Bois de Courton at 4.00 am and arrive at Germaine about 9.0 am. Entrains at 5.30 pm and detrains at Fere en Champenois at 9.30 pm. Went in lorries to Bn. at Corroy." There are also numerous entries of the fighting around him and his company. "Heavy bombing again at night. Bombs all round us but nothing hit at all in our Brigade."; "Aeroplanes about again but no bombs dropped near us."; "Badly bombed at night. 199 Coy. A.S.C. lost all their horses." In March, Sanderson has leave for two weeks. He travels back to London to be with his family. "March 1. Arrived Boulogne about 6.15am. Had breakfast at E.F.C. embarked 8.30 am. Rough passage. Arrived London 2.30 pm. Went to palladium at night with Uncle + Laura."; "March 9. Played golf with Dad, Upjohn and T. Roman. Went to Upjohn's afterwards to play cards"; "March 15. Crossed to france in afternoon and stayed the night at the Cafe de la Pork." He is back with his company by the 17th. His company then moves onto Bucquoy, France, then Bonneville then Armentieres in Flanders. Here they see combat. "April 8. Attack south of Armentieres began. Part of 74th Coy. went up at night. Rode over to Free's Cashier at Ravesburg in morning." This is the beginning of the "Battle of the Lys," (also known as the Lys Offensive, the Fourth Battle of Ypres, the Fourth Battle of Flanders and Operation Georgette) which would last from April 7 to the 29th. The month of April is filled with entries about this battle. "April 10. Still at Ravelsburg but expect to move at any time. Took ammunation up to Petite Monque Farm at night."; April 14. Moved from field near Berthen to Boechepe - Abelle Road. Mess in (?) at Boechepe. Took rations up to Dranoutre but could ot find men."; "April 22. Walked over to R. E. Park and to 199 Coy. A.S.C. in afternoon. Played bridge in evening with Dr. and Aycock and won 5 fr."; April 26. Attacked in morning & retook Kemmel Hill. Had to come back on French did not move." April 30. Heavy bombardment during day but no infantry attacked." After the Battle, Sanderson takes leave in Paris: "May 17. Still in Paris having a hell of a time. Bolam & Markielle returned in evening. Went to Casino de Paris but had to leave early as there was air raid warning." After Paris, he returns to his company and the trials and tribulations of war return: "May 27. Bosche attack started at 10 am. Drove us back. Moved transport back to Bourancourt and then to Lonchery Roady & then to Grevy. Out all night. Looking for Br. H.Q. and rations." (Boche is a French slang word for 'rascal' first applied to German soldiers during World War One) "June 16. Italians came to reconnaitre line to relieve us tomorrow night night. Major Courtaullo came up to take Command of Coy." Much of the diary follows this pattern. There are long days of his company's movement, going to where they are needed, and there are days where attacks and battles are witnessed and fought. In between all the moving and fighting, Sanderson has his leaves from the military. These passages are much more detailed and jubilant than all the others, for obvious reason. Whether in line or on leave, Sanderson is quite the gambler, and many passages end with him playing poker and winning or losing money. As the war nears its end, there are still occasional entries of battle. In the end of October and the early part of November (the last weeks of the War), Sanderson sees heavy fighting in Northern France and Beligum. "October 16. Did attack with 55th Div. not a big success and had lot of casualties. Stayed with S.A. Bgde. in tavern W. on Montay."; "October 17. Still in same place with guns gradually pushing forward."; October 23. Operated with 7th 75th Bgds. in attack east of Le Calean. Took L'Eveque Wood. Moved from Quenette Farm to Pommereuil in morning, living with combined Bgde. H.Q."; "November 4. Started fresh attack from neighbourhood of Fontaine au Bois. All going well. Went up to take over 'C' Coy. after Lime was wounded. Move in evening from Le Fause.; "November 6. Advanced again with guns moving behind advanced guard. Moved up with 7th Bgde. in evening to Faisniere. Put 8 guns in outpost line in evening + Rept. 8 in reserve in Dompiere." The war ends on November 11: "November 11. 'Cease Fire' went at 11.00 am. So nothing more done except 'Celebration.'' The rest of the diary is comprised of pretty short entries: of parades, church, salvage duty, and other post-war activities. On December 31st, he writes: "Very wet all day & nothing doing. Months leave approved by XIII Corps. Made money in the evening at bridge." After the diary entries, there are a number of detailed pages of 'Cash Accounts" that show all the money Recieved from and Paid to throughout the year. The book is roughly 100 pages long, with almost every single entry on every page written in. There is a green cloth cover, and structurally the book is in very good shape. Sanderson writes in pen, with no smudge marks, and his handwriting is very easy to read. Included as well is thin blue "Army Book 439" which was issued to every combatant officer below the rank of Lieutannt-Colonel. It has much personal and military information of Sanderson, including army courses taken, service record, promotions received (1st Lieutenant - June 1st, 1917; Captain - May 29, 1918) and an employment form for when discharged from the Machine Gun Corps. The book is also in very good condition and is 12 pages long.; Manuscript; 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall; KEYWORDS: HISTORY OF, CAPTAIN CHARLES SANDERSON, ACTING CAPTAIN, LAST YEAR OF WW1, WORLD WAR ONE MACHINE GUN CORPS, BRITISH M.G.C., BELGIUM, NORD FRANCE, BATTLE OF LYS, FERE EN CHAMPENOIS, ARMY BOOK 439, KEPT AGAINST ORDERS, LYS OFFENSIVE, FOURTH BATTLE OF YPRES, FOURTH BATTLE OF FLANDERS, OPERATION GEORGETTE, END OF THE GREAT WAR, NON COMMISSIONED OFFICER, ARMISTICE DAY, WRITTEN DEPICTIONS OF BATTLE, BRITANNICA, HANDWRITTEN, MANUSCRIPT, DOCUMENT, LETTER, AUTOGRAPH, WRITER, HAND WRITTEN, DOCUMENTS, SIGNED, LETTERS, MANUSCRIPTS, HISTORICAL, HOLOGRAPH, WRITERS, AUTOGRAPHS, PERSONAL, MEMOIR, MEMORIAL, ANTIQUITÉ, CONTRAT, VÉLIN, DOCUMENT, MANUSCRIT, PAPIER ANTIKE, BRIEF, PERGAMENT, DOKUMENT, MANUSKRIPT, PAPIER OGGETTO D’ANTIQUARIATO, ATTO, VELINA, DOCUMENTO, MANOSCRITTO, CARTA ANTIGÜEDAD, HECHO, VITELA, DOCUMENTO, MANUSCRITO, PAPEL, Show more