Summary

Volume two of the diary of Bombardier L.E. Clarke, 40th Battery, 4th Brigade, AIF. Entries date from 13 November 1916 to 11 July 1917. This volume also contains a collection of songs.

Langley Edward Clarke (regimental number 1015) was a 22-year-old labourer from Pontville, Tasmania, who enlisted on 21 September 1914. He was assigned to the 15th Infantry Battalion, 4th Infantry Brigade, G Company. He was sent to Broadmeadows for training, then embarked from Melbourne on the 'Ceramic' on 22 December 1914. He became a gunner and was wounded at Gallipoli. In March 1916, after his recovery, he was transferred to the 4th Australian Division Artillery and sent to fight in Fance, where he was promoted to bombadier. In January 1917 he was transferred to the 10th Field Artillery Brigade and subsequently was posted to the 38th Battalion. On 18 July 1917 he was severley gassed, and after treatment in England was shipped back to Australia unfit. He was discharged from the Army on 29 January 1918.

Physical Description

Hand-written volume of a diary, with hard cover bound in blue cloth (new very deteriorated, particularly at edges). The diary opens vertically, and is written down each pair of open pages. Each page is off-white, and ruled with faint lines. A black elastic strap (now with little elasticity and over-stretched) is intended to hold the diary closed. Some notations made in a purple-coloured pencil, which may be indelible pencil (releases a purple dye when wetted)

Significance

Personal diaries provide a valuable insight into the daily life in the Australian armed forces. Some diarists record the mundane routines of daily life in military camps, or ports visited during voyages on transport ships; others provide graphic details of battles and medical treatments. Welcome letters and parcels from home are described, and friendships are recorded. Many soldiers complain about the food, or record welcome or festive meals such as Christmas. The diaries show many of the ways servicemen and women coped with the discipline, stress and tragedy of war.

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