Riggall, Harold William (Lieutenant Colonel, b.1882 - d.1930)

Collection relating to the First World War service of Lieutenant Colonel Harold William Riggall, 1st Australian Divisional Artillery, Australian Imperial Force, Egypt and France, 1916.

Wallet 1 of 1 – Consists of one diary of Lieutenant Colonel Harold William Riggall, containing entries dated between February and August 1916. This diary was written by Lieutenant Colonel Riggall during his service with the 1st Australian Divisional Artillery in Egypt and France. Lieutenant Colonel Riggall describes daily camp life, being given command of a battery, unit organisation, transferring to another battery, preparing his men for service, embarking for France, his impressions of France, arranging for the care of the unit’s horses, being billeted, weather conditions, living close to the front lines, setting up artillery, being gassed and shelled by German forces, and going on leave to England. He continues, writing about supporting Allied infantry units, changing to a new position, living in old German trenches, the fighting spirit of the Australian soldiers in the midst of battle, fighting at Pozieres, positions of artillery, seeing large numbers of dead and wounded, and the destruction caused by war. Lieutenant Colonel Riggall’s diary entries are addressed to his wife, Mrs Elsie Mary Riggall (née Appleton).

• Wallet 1 of 1 - Diary of Harold William Riggall