8th Army RE Grouping - Normandy Diary.

Ephemera grouping to 1809708 Pte.Arthur J.Roberts RE. Clearly a veteran of the Desert campaign ( Africa Star 8th Army clasp endorsement to paybook ) with numerous copies the 8th Army newspaper ' Crusader ' and various photographs, CMF passes etc.Wallet containing more photographs, military and personal with a printed Canadian artillery divisional sign ( briefly attached to CRE GHQ )a collection of banknotes, Italian, French and German and paybook. However, the nicest item is a pocket diary that is filled in from his landing at ' St.Come de Fresne ' on July 12th 1944 through Normandy and France, Belgium and Holland. Daily entries often very detailed mentioning burning German corpses, air raids, RAF and US bombing, RAF ALGs, Russian Generals, seeing Monty, ' Jerry making a fight of it, lobbing shells over ' etc. Also covers the more mundane, letters written and received, sleep, rations and the acquisition of cider and Calvados and a dislike of the latter. Very interesting and worthy of further research with a large number of place names mentioned throughout. It would appear three entries having been deliberately removed for reasons unknown. All items in good, used condition with some wear, minor tears etc.

Code: 7511