Ffeil NLW MS 24093A. - First World War diary

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.