Lot 250
World War I - Allan, Private James
Rare Books, Manuscripts & Photographs
Auction: Rare Books, Manuscripts & Photographs | 09 May 2007
Description
Diary of the Great War, Private James Allan 2/1 Fife & Forfar Yeomanry, Home Unit 29th January 1917 to 14th October 1917, Overseas unit 8th Batt. Black Watch (9th Division) 15th October 1917 to 21st April 1919, approx 13 x 21.5cm, 27 pages of manuscript text, pasted in postcards, illustrations and photographs, identity discs and kilt sample pasted onto front pastedown, original cloth, rubbed, some chipping to page edges
Footnote
Note: An detailed diary of the life of Private James Allan of the 8th Black Watch (9th Divison) overseas in Germany the later years of First World War. Private Allan made an effort to record a clear, factual account of his time overseas, from his arrival in Boulogne in October 1917 to his demobilisation in April 21st 1919 with harrowing descriptions of movements on the front line, "20th July [1918] 7am. Barrage starts. Troops over. Machine guns, shells, etc, men dropping thick. Barbed wire uncut. Solitary German approaches "Hand's up" at the double. Drops dead, shot from his Kamerads. Alarming toll of machine guns, few men left. Advance of 200yds. Wheatfield reached, supposed objective... Three stragglers arrive take shelter in the wheatsheaves 5 yds in front of trench. One shot through the head. Another in the knee, third man rushes for the trench and falls dead head first into the trench."