Diary of first world war used in War Horse research
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by Ian
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A manuscript which sat unread for years has been published
thanks to two experts who advised Steven Spielberg on his new film
War Horse.
Military historians Andy Robertshaw and Steve Roberts discovered
the document was actually a detailed account of day to day life in
the trenches recorded by Joseph Johns Steward, who served
continuously for two years on the Western Front in World War
One.
He was a distant relative of retired geography teacher Jean
Gray, 64, from Boughton whose children inherited the document in
the Seventies.
Mrs Gray said: “We thought about throwing it away but decided
not to because it appeared to be a story about life in the trenches
and might be of interest to a war museum.
“What we didn’t realise was that it was virtually a diary of the
experiences of Private Steward, who served with the London Regiment
from 1916 to 1918.”
His words came to light in 1974 when the author died and
relatives cleared his home in Croydon. But it then they stayed
neglected on a bookshelf until Mrs Gray mentioned it to a history
teacher during a Kent College school trip to the battlefields of
Ypres a couple of years ago.
He later showed it to Andy Robertshaw when he came to give a
talk at the school and he realised it was a unique
document.
Pictures to accompany
story on book The Platoon
Called 'The Platoon’ it has now been turned into a book, which
Mrs Gray says the family are delighted to see.
Although Stewards changed names in his draft, Andy and
fellow historian Steve were able to compare it to his unit’s war
diary which survives.
They were able to cross check incidents in the book to real life
events in the trenches.
Andy said: “There are not many manuscripts written by private
soldiers.They are very few and far between. Most of the books
written about the trenches were by officers. We are lucky to have
this record as it was nearly thrown away twice.”
Researching World War One battlefield history has given Andy and
Steve a great insight into the realities of trench life.
The
Image of men in trenches
from book The Platoon
Platoon shows how random life and death can be in the trenches.
In one moving passage a soldier receives a letter from home and
he’s shot in the head as he reads it.
Joseph Johns Steward was a drapery clerk in a store before he
joined up. He arrived in the midst of the Battle of the Somme and
fought at Arras, Ypres, Passchendaele, Cambrai and the bitter
battles following Germany’s last offensive.
Apart from two short leaves he was on active duty throughout and
miraculously survived unscathed.
Steve said:”We cross checked everything page by page and it was
an accurate account of life in the trenches. But he was very
lucky to have gone through all that fighting and not suffered a
wound. Lots of his comrades were killed or seriously wounded around
him.”
Steward is thought to have set down his recollections following
the loss of his only son, Eric aged eight. They stayed in an attic
and eventually were passed to Jean.
The Platoon is published by Pen and Sword, priced
£19.99.
Tuesday, January 03 2012
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