Initialling the daily entries in War Diaries

[dfaulder]

When reviewing the War Diary of the 14th Bn Y&L I came across a period (e.g. Sept 1916 onwards) when each day's entry was initialled. This particularly caught my eye because not only were the initials 'HF' my Grandfather's but the style (with reversed F) was almost identical to my late father's. When he (HF) was seconded to Brigade HQ as Intelligence Officer, he also initialled the daily entries.

How common was this practice (I am not familiar with other regiments' diaries)? If it was unusual, was it just a characteristic (e.g. punctiliousness?) of the author or does it reflect the practice at the place of officer training? (My Grandfather was accelerated through the Inns of Court OTC in 1915)

TIA

David

[GrandsonMichael]

Hi David,

There were official instructions as to how the War Diaries were supposed to be written. One of these instructions stated that the Officer Commanding was supposed to sign the War Diary after the last day of the month and the Adjutant, who mostly wrote the War Diary, was supposed to initial every day.

From the Canadian War Diaries:

Canadian Corps.

A-27-157

1st Canadian Division.

2nd Canadian Division.

3rd Canadian Division.

Camp Commandant.

WAR DIARIES.

All Units both British and Canadian, serving with the Canadian Corps, should prepare War Diaries in triplicate.

(2) SEE AMENDMENT BELOW

The Original made up separately by itself and clearly marked “Original” and “Confidential” should be addressed to the Officer i/c A.G’s Office at the Base, and forwarded on the first day of each month. It should also be clearly marked as follows:-

(Name of Unit)………………………

War Diary for the month of…….

(3) SEE AMENDMENT BELOW

The Duplicate, made up separately by itself and clearly marked “Duplicate” and “Confidential” should be addressed to the Officer i/c A.G’s Office at the Base and forwarded on the first day of each month. It should also be clearly marked as follows:-

(Name of Unit)………………………

War Diary for the month of…….

(4)

The triplicate copy may be retained by the Commanding Officers of Units for a period of three months, before being forwarded to the Record Office concerned:

Canadian Unit and Staffs to Canadian Record Offices,

Westminster House, 7 Millbank, London, S.W.

British Units to British Record Offices in the United Kingdom.

(5)

Diaries should be made up into volumes by complete months. The Officer Commanding the Unit will sign the Diary monthly. The daily entries are to be initialled by the Officer making them at the time of entry, i.e. daily.

(6)

The following is an extract from a War Office letter:-

“For historical purposes it is very necessary that the position of the

“trenches occupied should be capable of being identified on the Map.

“It would be very advantageous if the units wherever possible made a

“practise of stating what Units were on their flanks, or elsewhere in touch “with them.

The above supersedes all previous instructions regarding the submission of War Diaries. All General Routine Orders regarding War Diaries will apply to the Canadian Corps if the word “Triplicate” is substituted for “Duplicate” in General Routine Orders No. 1097 and 1125.

(Sd) W.B. Anderson.

Major,

D.A.A. & Q.M.G. Canadian Corps.

7.2.16

AMENDMENT:

Extract from Can. Corps. A.51-4, d/- 25.8.16

“Canadian Corps A-27-157 dated 7.2.16 is ……..

“now modified and Units submit their Diaries through their Divisions.”

Cheers,

Michael

Hi David,

There were official instructions as to how the War Diaries were supposed to be written. One of these instructions stated that the Officer Commanding was supposed to sign the War Diary after the last day of the month and the Adjutant, who mostly wrote the War Diary, was supposed to initial every day.

From the Canadian War Diaries:

Canadian Corps.

A-27-157

1st Canadian Division.

2nd Canadian Division.

3rd Canadian Division.

Camp Commandant.

WAR DIARIES.

All Units both British and Canadian, serving with the Canadian Corps, should prepare War Diaries in triplicate.

(2) SEE AMENDMENT BELOW

The Original made up separately by itself and clearly marked “Original” and “Confidential” should be addressed to the Officer i/c A.G’s Office at the Base, and forwarded on the first day of each month. It should also be clearly marked as follows:-

(Name of Unit)………………………

War Diary for the month of…….

(3) SEE AMENDMENT BELOW

The Duplicate, made up separately by itself and clearly marked “Duplicate” and “Confidential” should be addressed to the Officer i/c A.G’s Office at the Base and forwarded on the first day of each month. It should also be clearly marked as follows:-

(Name of Unit)………………………

War Diary for the month of…….

(4)

The triplicate copy may be retained by the Commanding Officers of Units for a period of three months, before being forwarded to the Record Office concerned:

Canadian Unit and Staffs to Canadian Record Offices,

Westminster House, 7 Millbank, London, S.W.

British Units to British Record Offices in the United Kingdom.

(5)

Diaries should be made up into volumes by complete months. The Officer Commanding the Unit will sign the Diary monthly. The daily entries are to be initialled by the Officer making them at the time of entry, i.e. daily.

(6)

The following is an extract from a War Office letter:-

“For historical purposes it is very necessary that the position of the

“trenches occupied should be capable of being identified on the Map.

“It would be very advantageous if the units wherever possible made a

“practise of stating what Units were on their flanks, or elsewhere in touch “with them.

The above supersedes all previous instructions regarding the submission of War Diaries. All General Routine Orders regarding War Diaries will apply to the Canadian Corps if the word “Triplicate” is substituted for “Duplicate” in General Routine Orders No. 1097 and 1125.

(Sd) W.B. Anderson.

Major,

D.A.A. & Q.M.G. Canadian Corps.

7.2.16

AMENDMENT:

Extract from Can. Corps. A.51-4, d/- 25.8.16

“Canadian Corps A-27-157 dated 7.2.16 is ……..

“now modified and Units submit their Diaries through their Divisions.”

Cheers,

Michael

[dfaulder]

There were official instructions as to how the War Diaries were supposed to be written. One of these instructions stated that the Officer Commanding was supposed to sign the War Diary after the last day of the month and the Adjutant, who mostly wrote the War Diary, was supposed to initial every day.

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Thanks - that probably indicates that he was not being overly zealous in leaving his initials all over the War Diaries.

David