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Diary, George Kellett, 1918 - Wakefield Museums and Castles
Diary, George Kellett, 1918
Letts's no 26 diary, George Kellett, 1918
Collected in 2006
George Kellett was a joiner from Sandal, who fought in the First World War. In early 1918, he was serving as a Private for the Duke of Cornwall regiment in northern France. He received a Christmas parcel containing a Christmas cake, parkin, a few apples and this diary.
George Kellett in his army uniform
George recorded his year at war. The diary details his everyday life as a soldier in 1918. It begins with him recovering from an injury. Once back with his regiment, George records his daily activities. They include inspections and parades, digging communication trenches, laying cabling, and working on the rifle range. When he's off duty, George spends time writing and reading letters, playing cards and billiards, and training with a tug of war team.
The diary documents the often mundane routine of a soldier's life. But amongst the entries, there are also poignant reminders of the reality of war. George writes of going over the top, seeing his friends wounded or killed, and going out to bury the dead.
Entries inside George's diary
On 11th November 1918, George writes:
"We heard that an Armistice had been signed but we keep hearing explosions and cannot tell whether it is gunfire or not."
His matter of fact account of this historic occasion is typical of the diary's stoic style.
George survived the war and was demobilised in 1919. He came home to marry his sweetheart, Emma. He returned to his work as a carpenter and lived to be 73. His diary survives as a fascinating insight into one ordinary soldier’s experience of the First World War.
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