• Title
  Item 01: Leslie Pownall World War I diary, 1916-1919 / by Leslie Pownall
• Call number
  MLMSS 9591/Folder 1/Part 1
  
• Level of description
  item
• Date
  
  25 October 1916-12 March 1919
• Type of material
  Textual Records
• Reference code
  1232107
• Issue Copy
  Digitised
• Physical Description
  3 items of textual material - handwritten manuscript - typed manuscript ; ; 7.5 x 12 cm ; 30 x 20 cm.
  
• ADMINISTRATIVE/ BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
  
  Leslie Pownall (1897-1962) enlisted in 1916, aged 18 years old. He was assigned Gunner in the 5th Field Artillery Brigade (#28051). From the day of his departure on board the Ascanius, he kept a small diary which recorded events between October 1916 and March 1919. He trained in camps in England before being "ready to proceed to France at any moment". He records the fighting action and fatalities in France and Belgium "15th battery heavily shelled -16 casualties and 6 killed". In October 1917 he describes being "feverish at night" and suffered severe trench fever. After a short time in hospital he returned to fighting. At the famous Battle of Somme he records "Fritz is shelling over our heads with gas & H.E. Had a narrow escape from shell which landed just in front of gun". After two years fighting, he returned safely to Sydney aboard the Plassy in September 1919.
• Scope and Content
  Leslie Pownall World War I diary, 25 October 1916-12 March 1919. Small flip diary, measuring 7.5 x 12 cm. Includes typed transcript and biography of L. Pownall.
• Copying Conditions
  Copyright status:: In copyright
  Copyright holder:: State Library of New South Wales
  Research & study copies allowed: Author has been deceased for more than 50 years
  Rights and Restrictions Information:: No publication without prior written approval of copyright holder
  Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales
• General note
  
  State Library of New South Wales collection of World War I diaries
  Digital order no:Album ID : 1238451
• Creator/Author/Artist
  Pownall, Leslie, 1897-1962
  
• Name
  Australia. Army. Field Artillery Brigade, 5th
  Pownall, Leslie, 1897-1962
  
• Subject
  World War, 1914-1918--Personal narratives, Australian.
  Soldiers--Australia--Diaries.
  
• Open Rosetta viewer
  IE3471821

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