 | | Lot No. | | *** | | Description: | WWI Diary of Magnus Burns Clarke, 23rd Reinfs. who was a porter and embarked New Zealand in April 1917. The SS Corinthic went via America and arrived at Cape Town 2 May 1917, finally docking in England 10 June 1917. Although of Scottish descent, Clarke was in NZ at the time of the war. This 1918 diary details the service of Clarke as a member of the Canterbury Infantry Battalion in France. It seems that Clarke may well have been wounded as the diary commences in a Casualty Clearing Station before Clarke commences light duties including carrying supplies and signalling. Clarke is shortly thereafter sent back to the line and comments on encountering gas as well as the day to day mundane nature of military service, including fatigues and carrying rations to the line. Anzac Day 1918 is like any other day, and probably the last time it would go unmarked by Clarke and his fellow soldiers - 25 April 1918 "in ft (front) line. Going as usual. Boys doing some sniping at Bosh. Weather fair." In early May Clarke appears to become a batman to an officer as he makes continued reference to "Boss" and having got his meal or having cleaned his equipment. This is a role he retains for the remainder of the war. "Boss" is in fact Captain Walker M.C., the Adjutant of the 2nd Bn Cant Inf. In June 1918 Clarke contracts influenza and is sent to the Nz Influenza Camp. He was fortunate not to have been a casualty of the epidemic of that year and leaves shortly after his admittance. As Clarke was a Scot, he had the distinctly unusual chance to go "home" on leave in Scotland. Private Clarke returns to the front in time for the September "push" against the Germans. He refers to them as "Hun" or "Bosh" and remarks on the progress of the movement forward - "29 September 1918. Moved up. Stopped in open trench all night. Things miserable. 30 September 1918. Stopped in trench all day. Waiting to move further up. Lots of prisoners coming down". His diary also includes a period at Le Quesnoy - where the Nzrb distinguished themselves. Peace is declared 11 November 1918 "at last Peace. At 11am all hostilities ceased". Clarke then goes on to form part of the Army of Occupation in Germany and his service is briefly detailed. At the end of the diary is a list of friends of Clarke with whom he served. Whilst Clarke survived the war the reality of war is reinforced with Clarke's notations over some of the names where he simply puts a line through them and states "Killed In Action" with a date. He has also kept meticulous lists of letters written and received as well as his rations and a summary of his service and signals he would have used as a signaller. This diary is important as it provides a comprehensive day to day summary of service of a front line soldier of 1918. On 21 March 1918, the German Army began its final offensive of the War. The Allied lines crumbled and the Nz Division was flung into the gaps. They fought at Serre on the Somme on 25 March and held the Germans from the strategic centre of Amiens despite heavy bombardment on 5 April. The Allies now went on the attack and the Nz Division was involved in many battles such as the Battle of Bapaume (21 August), Havrincourt in September, Le Cateau and Selle River in October. The most famous of the 1918 battles was that of Le Quesnoy on 4 November when the Rifle Brigade scaled the 60 foot ramparts of this walled town using ladders. The Armistice came into effect on 11 November. At this point New Zealand had 58,129 troops in the field and another 10,000 in training. On 20 December 2nd Brigade was the first formation to cross the Rhine into Cologne as part of the Allied Army of Occupation | | Estimate: | *** | | Price: | *** | | Category: | Militaria & Weapons — Ephemera | |
