| The date of the auction for this item has passed, and the item is no longer available. The lot details are displayed for information only.  Click on the image to view a larger version | | Lot No. | | *** | | Description: | An Historic Wwi Period Diary (in a Notebook) kept by 58079 Pte John Joseph O'Connell, who was a window dresser from Ponsonby, who embarked with the 31st Reinforcements (Auckland Infantry) on 16 November 1917. The diary covers his service with the 15th Coy, 1st Bn Nzef documenting the march of Nz troops from France through Belgium and to Germany. O'Connell was one of the few members of the Nzef involved in service as part of the occupation force and so such a record is very rare. The diary commences 26 November 1918 at Fontain and concludes 21 December 1918 in Germany. He makes reference to his bleeding feet and the general hardship of the march "18 December 1918 'up at 4.15 and had 1/2 slice a bacon with a raw turnip. Then started off on the march again in the mud and the hail'. " On one occasion he sees the King and other members of the Royal Family. He makes mention of his numerous billets as well as stating that on at least one occasion his party were the first Allied troops to arrive (and thus one would presume) 'liberate' the area. When they entered Cologne he states "we were starving and had nothing to eat. We then made a start on the march again through the town and got a poor reception and the huns shut their shops and doors in our faces....". A complete document relating to just the march and sadly whilst not covering the earlier service of O'Connell, it is a scarce and important day to day account of one of the lesser known aspects of Nzef's involvement in Wwi. On 20 October 1918 2nd Brigade was the first Nz formation to cross the Rhine into Cologne as part of the Allied Army of Occupation | | Estimate: | *** | | Price: | *** | | Category: | Printed & Written Material — Historical Documents | | | | | |
