It’s not fair! Dozy Derek Dudds was late for parade, and when he finally turned up his boots were hideously muddy. It would have been OK, because Sergeant Shackleton didn’t notice. But then Sergeant Wilkes turned up.
Gosh was he angry!
Derek is currently peeling potatoes for the whole battalion. As he will be doing for the next month or so. AND he has to run laps wearing double weights! It’s all his own fault though.
We haven’t been allowed to fire any guns yet. The war could be near. I’m a little scared.
23rd July 1914
We started gun training two days ago, and I am the second worst in the whole platoon. The only person worse is Dozy Derek Dudds so that doesn’t really count. At least I can just about hit the targets but on the first day we had rifle training, he broke his gun, and when it was fixed he shot Sergeant Wilkes in the foot.
You could hear the yelps from the other side of camp!
I didn’t see Jeff today, but I did see a white bird flying over the rifle range. The other birds don’t dare but this one showed no fear. I wish I could. We were told we are going to war soon. I’m positively very nearly terrified.
2nd August 1914
I wish I could shoot better. Some of the lads in my platoon could hit a shilling at 100yds. Absolutely amazing. Me? I can hardly hit a cut out of a man at 50yds. I’m even putting in extra training with Sarge. He’s a hard bastard that one.
France has declared war. Britain is likely to declare soon. Our battalion will be deployed to France soon after.
I saw the white bird again today. It gave me courage, but I am still nervous. They say the Germans are cannibals.
4th August 1914
I saw Jeff today and he told me that Britain has declared war!!!
I am very excited. However I am also rather apprehensive.
And I’m terrified. We get deployed to the front line in three days.
7th August 1914
Deployed today. Very little time to speak. Haven’t seen Jeff for a while.
23rd August 1914
Jeff is dead. Hit directly by a shell. He died on the 10th. I could be next.
19th October 1914
The war is dragging on. I’m absolutely terrified.
23rd December 1914
A peace treaty has been called for Christmas. Halle-bloody-lujah.
2nd February 1915
It was my birthday yesterday. 19 now. Don’t feel at all different.
17th September 1915
The war has lasted for ages. What have we achieved? Nothing. Nearly all my friends are dead. Why?
28th June 1917
Why the hell did I sign up for the bloody army? The pay is terrible, when it gets here, which is rarely. Sergeant Wilkes died today. He died during the taking of an enemy trench. He and 3 others held off a whole bunch of the buggers for an hour while they waited for support. I was in the rescue crew. It was horrible. The dead and dying were everywhere. I don’t know how anyone could of done it.
I know for certain I have killed at least 15 Germans, possibly more. Not that it really achieves anything.
2nd January 1918
God help me. I am in hospital. I need to have my whole right leg amputated. I got most of it torn off by the blast of a shell. At least this way I am not in the fighting. But I can still hear the cries of men.
What is this war for? The Germans are suffering as much as us surely?
I still remember the words of the recruiting sergeant; don’t worry, the war won’t last 6 months. We will be sitting in Berlin by Christmas.
Boy was he wrong.
29th August 1918
My leg has long since healed and I am back fighting again. I have had to become a sniper because I don’t have the speed to run through trenches anymore. Sniping is dangerous, as they are the targets of enemy snipers. I hope this war ends soon.
Sometimes while I am sniping I can watch the birds flying. It is so strange. While all this fighting goes on, sometimes birds still fly across. Unfortunately for them, most of them get hit. This is fortunate for us, as it is quite good meat on a bird. We are told it is chicken but I can see the birds being fetched for the cooks.
10th November 1918
I realised today that I am the only surviving member of my old regiment. I am a sergeant. This title was officially given to me a few months ago, but I was only told today.
While I was sniping today, I saw a white bird fly over from the German side of the trenches onto our side. Then a few minutes later, another bird flew from our side onto the German side.
Could this be an omen of peace?
12th November 1918
Peace was called yesterday morning at 11 o’clock but we weren’t told until 8 at night. I have been made into an officer, after another lieutenant died last night. I am going to sell my commission and move back in England. It has been ages since I heard from my mum.
Finally the war is over!
