Jump to content
Free downloads from TNA ×
The Great War (1914-1918) Forum

Remembered Today:

Soldier's Diaries


Guest rsduffett

Recommended Posts

I have repeatedly come across the assertion that rankers were forbidden from keeping diaries whilst on active service, although of course many of them did. Does anyone know if this was an official Army Regulation and if so where I might find details of it?? Thanks.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have repeatedly come across the assertion that rankers were forbidden from keeping diaries whilst on active service, although of course many of them did. Does anyone know if this was an official Army Regulation and if so where I might find details of it?? Thanks.

Welcome to the forum! I believe that it was an official Army Regulation because of the fear that a diary, potentially containing valuable intelligence, could be captured by the enemy. Yet when a regulation is ignored by the Commander in Chief himself it leads one to think that it was probably not enforced quite as rigourously as it might have been.

Jon B)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Welcome to the forum! I believe that it was an official Army Regulation because of the fear that a diary, potentially containing valuable intelligence, could be captured by the enemy. Yet when a regulation is ignored by the Commander in Chief himself it leads one to think that it was probably not enforced quite as rigourously as it might have been.

Jon B)

How true!

I haven't come across any specific regulation banning the keeping of diaries (or the asociated order prohibiting the use of personal cameras), I'm sure other members can elaborate. But it is an interesting point; does the proliferation of diaries in archives around the country reflect the fact that a lot of men kept them , or simply that the relatively few that did, and survived, thought them worthy of preservation (or publication), likewise their families? Were many diaries 'lost in the mud' or were there few to start with?

From what little I do know, it does sem that diary-keeping was far less common amongst the old Regulars of 1914 vintage....a reflection of the 'civilian soldier' mentality amongst duration-boys?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...