Anderson, Cecil Stayte

Collection relating to the Second World War service of QX2910 Signalman (Sig) Cecil Stayte Anderson, who served mainly with 'J' Section Signals, 20 Infantry Brigade. Comprises three hard cover diaries with extremely detailed, almost daily entries, written by Sig Anderson from 1941 to 1943. Diary 1 (1941) and diary 2 (1942) contain several pages of illustrated hand drawn colour maps of the areas in which he served including Tobruk, Palestine, Syria, Gaza, Alamane and Beirut. Both of these diaries also show some deterioration from pest damage, but the majority of writing is still legible. The final entry of Diary 3, written on 13 March 1943, the day Sig Anderson married his wife, Beryl. The diary page also contains a small photo of the married couple, as well as a subsequent paragraph titles 'Reflections 1944' in which he describes his wedding day. Collection also includes copies of seven photographs of Sig Anderson relating to his military service. Cecil Anderson's diaries have been transcribed and edited by his daughters Joscelyn Lobegeiger and Jeanie Cox, and published under the title 'Such is war. Diaries of a signalman', in two volumes, The Tobruk Campaign (1941 diary) and the El Alamein Campaign (1942-43 diaries). A copy of the publications is held in the Memorial's book collection, call numbers 940.542312 A545s and 940.542312 A545s 2014.