Hi Given the date, I thought I would share my father's WW1 diary, as transcribed by my eldest brother. George Harry Newton was born in Portsmouth on 28 July 1898 and died in Elson, Gosport on 29 September 1980. He would talk about his experiences in WW2 but never talked about WW1 - this diary was found in his papers after his death. Rita Army Number 1854358 Sapper NEWTON G. H. Regimental number 314258 ROYAL ENGINEERS This is a Diary partly rewritten in Dublin on the 3rd day of February 1922 (1933?) Signed G. H. Newton - Sapper R. E. This covers the period 27/ 8/1914 to 5/3/1932 1914 Enlisted upon the 27th day of August 1914 (aged 16 yrs 1 month) in the Corps of Royal Engineers (Territorials, Hants). Was posted to No. 4 Company and served more or less uneventfully at Portsmouth and Gosport until the 1st day of January 1918. 1918 Upon that date (1 January) I proceeded to Christchurch and joined The Royal Naval Divisional Engineers for a course of field engineering. I had not been there very long before I was sent to the Tank Corps, Wareham, but was rejected because of my eyesight. On returning to Christchurch the R N D E was renamed the 5th Reserve Battery of the Royal Engineers. Half way through my infantry training, having previously passed through a course of earthworks, I was put on a draft for Egypt and sent on leave, but on returning my draft was cancelled. Continued training until June 12th 1918 and left Southampton for France, arriving at La Havre on June 19th Left La Havre on the evening of June 19th and arrived at Rouen in the morning of June 20th. Here I was issued with full marching order, steel hat etc., and passed the medical examination. On June 21st passed through teargas chamber and on following day passed through chloride gas chamber. June 23rd was spent sandbagging No 8 Hospital, and on June 24th was posted to No 460 Field Co R. E and transferred from 7a Co. to No 2 Co. On June 26th was again medically examined and then paraded in full marching order etc., and left Rouen at 5 pm. Arrived at Orville Reinforcement camp at 6.15pm on the 27th June. Have I got a good tasting of active service as Jerry was around bombing all night. On June 28th I proceeded to Famerham to join the company and arrived at 5.00pm. On the 29th paraded for bath etc., and afterwards cleaned the tool carts up. Joined No 2 Section June 30th, the section proceeded to Sonastre and arrived at 12.30pm and built bivouacs. July 1st finished the bivouacs and started on dugouts near the Chateau de la Hague. Worked eight-hour shifts clicking the 12.00midnight shift. This continued until July 14th when the Company packed up at 2.00am on July 15th and left Sonastre for Doulongs where we entrained at 9.00am. Passed through Paris at 2.00am on July 16th and arrived at our destination at 5.30pm on July 16th After resting for a while the Company marched to Sommesour, a distance of 12 to 13 kilometres away arriving there at 2.00am on July 17th. Here we rested until 1.30pm, and then marched to village 2 which was about 20 kilometres away. Arrived at 9.45pm. July 18th rested until 1.30pm, and marched to village 3 another 20 kilometres away, arriving at 2.00am on July 19th. Rested until 5.00am and moved off at 7.30am for village 4 where we arrived at 4.00pm. On July 20th we left at 3.00am and arrived at village 5, really only a forest, at 1.00pm. Moved off again and arrived at village 6 (Chamery) at 5.00pm On July 21st. Here we dumped into an old sandpit and rigged up some shelters (ground sheets etc.). Here we rested until 6.00pm when we proceeded to the line to make a mule track. Lively place, nearly stopped a H V. Returned at 2.00am on July 26th upon which night I was gas guard. July 27th we paraded in full marching order and shovels at 5.00pm and proceeded to Farfaux repairing roads, billeted in Marfaux. July 28th (my birthday 21st) paraded at 8.00am and marched to wood near Farfaux. 2.00 in battle order and shovels marched to Farfaux to repair roads. Nothing doing as Jerry was busy, so sat in a ditch all day. Got a touch of gas. July 29th paraded at 9.00am and salvaged some French shells etc. 5.30pm paraded for burying the dead, but it was cancelled. July 30th paraded at 9.00am and went burying our dead. Rotten job as the bodies were badly decomposed. Recalled at 3.00pm and the Company proceeded to wood near Farfaux, and stayed there until August 1st when we paraded at 12.45pm and marched to the wood near Eponary on Mairne, stayed until Aug 3rd when, after rifle inspection and cleaning Pontoon wagons etc. we marched to Vertax where we loaded trains with Brigade transport. August 4th on same job loading until 7.00pm on August 5th and stayed the night in the village. August 6th paraded at 9.00am and proceeded to bus where we arrived at 5.00pm. Clicked some decent billets in wood. Here we stayed until August 19th doing odd jobs etc., had a fairly easy time of it too. At 8.30pm on August 19th we moved to Humbercourt and arrived there at 3.00am. August 20th paraded again at 10.00pm and proceeded to La Bouche arriving at 2.00am. August 21st. On again at 8.00pm to Vauchelles arriving there at 12 30 a.m. August 23rd paraded again at 8.00 am and proceeded to Senlamant, arriving at 1.00am. On August 24th Off again at 8.00am to Caucelles and arrived at 1.00pm. Paraded at 7.30am on August 27th and proceeded to Gomsicourt. On repairing roads. September 1st moved to Behagnius where we did road repairs, and repaired a bath at Suprenies. September 6th proceeded to Vaulx. On September 7th was put along with Section cook, some job. September 11th moved onto Valu. September 12th on to Havrincourt wood. Lively place again and on September 18th had to move to a place near the banks of the Canal du Nord, as Jerry made things too hot. September 28th moved off to Flesquiers. October 1st Returned to Section and worked on bridge at Masniers. October 10th Moved into Masniers. October 14th Moved to Camiens and on October 17th moved on to Quievy, working at Soliemes on bridges. October 25th moved into Soliemes working on bridges, roads etc. Taken queer on November 2nd and sent to Casualty Clearing Station. On November 3rd sent on to No 1 South African General Hospital. November 9th marked for Blighty and went down the line on 10th, landing in Southampton on November 11th at The University War Hospital. Discharged from there on December 21st 1918. 1919 Home on leave until January 3rd 1919, then proceeded to Conway to join the 4th Reserve Battery R. E. Posted to C Company. Re-engaged for four years on January 15th, then proceeded home for 12 days Xmas leave. Returned and was sent to Fovant on February 1st for demobilisation leave, reporting to St Marys Barracks Chatham on March 2nd. Posted to the Tunneling Depot Company. On March 25th sent on Re-engagement leave. Returned on May 25th. Clicked a cushy job in the Company Office and stayed until September 6th when I was sent to Horsham. September 24th sent to the Anti-Aircraft Searchlight and Sound Location School at Ryde, Isle of Wight. 1920 February 2nd 1920 moved with the school to Gosport.

Rita: Thank you for posting this - it certainly gives some insight into a soldier's life. He was so young. Debi -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]]On Behalf Of Rita Newton Sent: Saturday, November 11, 2006 11:22 AM To: [email protected] Subject: [PORTSMOUTH-GOSPORT] WW1 Diary of George Harry Newton Hi Given the date, I thought I would share my father's WW1 diary, as transcribed by my eldest brother. George Harry Newton was born in Portsmouth on 28 July 1898 and died in Elson, Gosport on 29 September 1980. He would talk about his experiences in WW2 but never talked about WW1 - this diary was found in his papers after his death. Rita Army Number 1854358 Sapper NEWTON G. H. Regimental number 314258 ROYAL ENGINEERS This is a Diary partly rewritten in Dublin on the 3rd day of February 1922 (1933?) Signed G. H. Newton - Sapper R. E. This covers the period 27/ 8/1914 to 5/3/1932 1914 Enlisted upon the 27th day of August 1914 (aged 16 yrs 1 month) in the Corps of Royal Engineers (Territorials, Hants). Was posted to No. 4 Company and served more or less uneventfully at Portsmouth and Gosport until the 1st day of January 1918. 1918 Upon that date (1 January) I proceeded to Christchurch and joined The Royal Naval Divisional Engineers for a course of field engineering. I had not been there very long before I was sent to the Tank Corps, Wareham, but was rejected because of my eyesight. On returning to Christchurch the R N D E was renamed the 5th Reserve Battery of the Royal Engineers. Half way through my infantry training, having previously passed through a course of earthworks, I was put on a draft for Egypt and sent on leave, but on returning my draft was cancelled. Continued training until June 12th 1918 and left Southampton for France, arriving at La Havre on June 19th Left La Havre on the evening of June 19th and arrived at Rouen in the morning of June 20th. Here I was issued with full marching order, steel hat etc., and passed the medical examination. On June 21st passed through teargas chamber and on following day passed through chloride gas chamber. June 23rd was spent sandbagging No 8 Hospital, and on June 24th was posted to No 460 Field Co R. E and transferred from 7a Co. to No 2 Co. On June 26th was again medically examined and then paraded in full marching order etc., and left Rouen at 5 pm. Arrived at Orville Reinforcement camp at 6.15pm on the 27th June. Have I got a good tasting of active service as Jerry was around bombing all night. On June 28th I proceeded to Famerham to join the company and arrived at 5.00pm. On the 29th paraded for bath etc., and afterwards cleaned the tool carts up. Joined No 2 Section June 30th, the section proceeded to Sonastre and arrived at 12.30pm and built bivouacs. July 1st finished the bivouacs and started on dugouts near the Chateau de la Hague. Worked eight-hour shifts clicking the 12.00midnight shift. This continued until July 14th when the Company packed up at 2.00am on July 15th and left Sonastre for Doulongs where we entrained at 9.00am. Passed through Paris at 2.00am on July 16th and arrived at our destination at 5.30pm on July 16th After resting for a while the Company marched to Sommesour, a distance of 12 to 13 kilometres away arriving there at 2.00am on July 17th. Here we rested until 1.30pm, and then marched to village 2 which was about 20 kilometres away. Arrived at 9.45pm. July 18th rested until 1.30pm, and marched to village 3 another 20 kilometres away, arriving at 2.00am on July 19th. Rested until 5.00am and moved off at 7.30am for village 4 where we arrived at 4.00pm. On July 20th we left at 3.00am and arrived at village 5, really only a forest, at 1.00pm. Moved off again and arrived at village 6 (Chamery) at 5.00pm On July 21st. Here we dumped into an old sandpit and rigged up some shelters (ground sheets etc.). Here we rested until 6.00pm when we proceeded to the line to make a mule track. Lively place, nearly stopped a H V. Returned at 2.00am on July 26th upon which night I was gas guard. July 27th we paraded in full marching order and shovels at 5.00pm and proceeded to Farfaux repairing roads, billeted in Marfaux. July 28th (my birthday 21st) paraded at 8.00am and marched to wood near Farfaux. 2.00 in battle order and shovels marched to Farfaux to repair roads. Nothing doing as Jerry was busy, so sat in a ditch all day. Got a touch of gas. July 29th paraded at 9.00am and salvaged some French shells etc. 5.30pm paraded for burying the dead, but it was cancelled. July 30th paraded at 9.00am and went burying our dead. Rotten job as the bodies were badly decomposed. Recalled at 3.00pm and the Company proceeded to wood near Farfaux, and stayed there until August 1st when we paraded at 12.45pm and marched to the wood near Eponary on Mairne, stayed until Aug 3rd when, after rifle inspection and cleaning Pontoon wagons etc. we marched to Vertax where we loaded trains with Brigade transport. August 4th on same job loading until 7.00pm on August 5th and stayed the night in the village. August 6th paraded at 9.00am and proceeded to bus where we arrived at 5.00pm. Clicked some decent billets in wood. Here we stayed until August 19th doing odd jobs etc., had a fairly easy time of it too. At 8.30pm on August 19th we moved to Humbercourt and arrived there at 3.00am. August 20th paraded again at 10.00pm and proceeded to La Bouche arriving at 2.00am. August 21st. On again at 8.00pm to Vauchelles arriving there at 12 30 a.m. August 23rd paraded again at 8.00 am and proceeded to Senlamant, arriving at 1.00am. On August 24th Off again at 8.00am to Caucelles and arrived at 1.00pm. Paraded at 7.30am on August 27th and proceeded to Gomsicourt. On repairing roads. September 1st moved to Behagnius where we did road repairs, and repaired a bath at Suprenies. September 6th proceeded to Vaulx. On September 7th was put along with Section cook, some job. September 11th moved onto Valu. September 12th on to Havrincourt wood. Lively place again and on September 18th had to move to a place near the banks of the Canal du Nord, as Jerry made things too hot. September 28th moved off to Flesquiers. October 1st Returned to Section and worked on bridge at Masniers. October 10th Moved into Masniers. October 14th Moved to Camiens and on October 17th moved on to Quievy, working at Soliemes on bridges. October 25th moved into Soliemes working on bridges, roads etc. Taken queer on November 2nd and sent to Casualty Clearing Station. On November 3rd sent on to No 1 South African General Hospital. November 9th marked for Blighty and went down the line on 10th, landing in Southampton on November 11th at The University War Hospital. Discharged from there on December 21st 1918. 1919 Home on leave until January 3rd 1919, then proceeded to Conway to join the 4th Reserve Battery R. E. Posted to C Company. Re-engaged for four years on January 15th, then proceeded home for 12 days Xmas leave. Returned and was sent to Fovant on February 1st for demobilisation leave, reporting to St Marys Barracks Chatham on March 2nd. Posted to the Tunneling Depot Company. On March 25th sent on Re-engagement leave. Returned on May 25th. Clicked a cushy job in the Company Office and stayed until September 6th when I was sent to Horsham. September 24th sent to the Anti-Aircraft Searchlight and Sound Location School at Ryde, Isle of Wight. 1920 February 2nd 1920 moved with the school to Gosport.