| Accession Number | AWM2022.6.320 |
|---|---|
| Collection number | 2DRL/0457 |
| Collection type | Digitised Collection |
| Record type | Wallet |
| Item count | 1 |
| Object type | Diary, Letter |
| Physical description | 15 Image/s captured |
| Maker |
Berthon, Eric |
| Place made | France |
| Date made | 1918 |
| Conflict |
First World War, 1914-1918 |
Wallet 1 of 1 - Papers relating to the First World War service of Gunner Eric Berthon, 1918
Description
Collection relating to the First World War service of Gunner Eric Berthon, 38th Battery, 10 Field Artillery, A.I.F. The collection contains typed extracts from letters dated 8 January, 6 May 1918 and typed diary extracts dated 15 April to 6 September 1918.
The letter dated 8 January written from Heytesbury Camp to his father, describes Gunner Berthon’s travel from Colombo to Southampton, impressions of Suez and the Port of Alexandria, a risky boat crossing of the Mediterranean, the Italian navy at Taranto, train travel along the Adriatic, from the Alps to Lyon in intense cold, and through Normandy, Caen and Cherbourg. The letter dated 6 May is written from a dugout and describes its construction.
The diary extracts are short notes of locations, bombing and observations on his progress from Havre to Daours, France, with a detailed description of the events of 8 August 1918 on the successful Allied offensive at Daours.