'The Soldier's Own Diary - For Freedom's Cause'

This British officer's pocket diary, is an example of the diaries produced by publishers especially for soldiers. This British example, comes 'With useful Information to Soldiers going to the Front.' The book belonged to Lieutenant George Middleton Turner (15th Royal Warwickshire Regiment, United Kingdom), who served on the Western Front in the First World War. 

Turner has written his basic details inside the diary, dating it November 1915. However, very little else is written inside. He records the serial number of the revolver he was issued with ('173627') and his binoculars ('86777'). He has also recorded names and addresses of friends and relations. In the last few pages, Turner recorded some duties of a period he spent as Orderly Officer, possibly in January 1916. These included organising rations, meat and groceries. All billets, field kitchens, transport and pioneers were to report by 9am and Turner had to report on visiting guards by day and night and billets by night after 10 pm.

Turner survived the war and after travelling widely through the 1920s, he settled in New Zealand. He retired to Nelson and died 1973.