File NLW MS 24093A. - First World War diary

Identity area

Reference code

NLW MS 24093A.

Title

First World War diary

Date(s)

  • 1916 (Creation)

Level of description

File

Extent and medium

ii, 97 ff. (original pagination [1]-63 continued to end) ; 100 x 70 mm.

Cloth covers with back-loop pencil; 'The BRITISH RED CROSS SOCIETY'S DIARY' (gold on front cover).

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

Archival history

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

John Underwood Antiquarian Books; Carleton Rode; Purchase; July 2017; 99757016602419.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

British Red Cross Society's Note Book and Diary for 1916, of Corporal Howard Ll[oyd] Roberts of Borth, Cardiganshire, serving on the Western Front in France and Belgium with the 129th Field Ambulance of the RAMC, attached to 15th Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers, part of the 38th (Welsh) Division, containing diary entries for 16 January and 2 February-31 December 1916 (pp. 74, 78-174). The frequent references to water tanks and carts indicate Cpl Roberts was part of the 129th Ambulance's Sanitary Section.
The Division began the year in the Neuve-Chapelle sector, between Merville and Bethune (pp. 78-116), then in June was ordered to the Somme, taking part in the Battle of Mametz Wood during the 1st Battle of the Somme in July (pp. 121-124). On 31 July (p. 130) Roberts's battalion arrived at Poperinghe, Belgium, and spent the rest of the year in the vicinity of Ypres (pp. 130-174). Roberts was on leave in Birmingham and Borth, 3-10 April (pp. 96-98), and was hospitalised at St Omer with German measles, 4-15 May (pp. 104-108). As an artist Roberts contributed sketches to the New Year Souvenir of the Welsh Division for 1917 (see pp. 160-165). A sketch map of the British lines at Windy Corner, [Neuve-Chapelle sector], is on p. 65; a very small pencil sketch is on p. 124.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Conditions governing reproduction

Usual copyright laws apply.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

Language and script notes

English.

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

Covers worn.

Finding aids

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related units of description

A number of artworks by Howard Lloyd Roberts are in NLW. For digital images of his personal papers see the People's Collection Wales website (https://www.peoplescollection.wales) (viewed November 2018). For the War Diary, 1915-1918, of the 15th Battalion of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers see NLW MS 10436E.

Related descriptions

Notes area

Note

Title based on contents.

Alternative identifier(s)

Alma system control number

99757016602419

Access points

Place access points

Genre access points

Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

Rules and/or conventions used

Description follows NLW guidelines based on ISAD(G) 2nd ed.; AACR2; and LCSH

Status

Level of detail

Dates of creation revision deletion

November 2018.

Language(s)

Script(s)

Sources

Archivist's note

Description compiled by Rhys Jones.

Accession area