Journal, 26 Nov. 1917-May 1918 (diary entries start at 19 December 1917)
Scope and Contents
The volume is a ruled notebook (with 'Palestine' scratched on upper cover) and mostly comprises diary entries written at Litherland, Limerick, Egypt and Palestine.
Significant entries include: /2r-3r. mentioning his protest against the continuation of the war; /4r. on being posted to Limerick; /7v-8r, /19v-20r. mentioning [Robert] Graves and Craiglockhart; /11v. on being posted to Egypt, with list of points for and against this; /29v. his arrival at base camp, Kantara; /30v. Sassoon posted to 25th RWF [destined for Palestine]; /53v-56v. entries written on board SS Malwa on the return journey to France; /58r-59v. entry concerning [Dr W.H.R.] Rivers and Craiglockhart; /59v. entry concerning Lord Kitchener.
The volume also includes:
- a list of days spent hunting during 1917-1918: /1v.
- lists of books taken away 'To Egypt' and 'Take up the Line': /5v.
- drafts of poetry: /5r. 'A Moment of Waking'; /6r. 'Journey's End'; /6v-7r. 'In Barrack's'; /8v. & /48v. 'Shadows'; /9r. 'To the Unknown Spirit', later called 'Idyll'; /9v.-10v. 'On the Arras Road', later called 'The Dream'; /10v-11r. 'Dead Musicians'; /13v. 'Together'; /14r. 'The Contest', later called 'The Noble Art'; /14v-15r. 'Prelude in the Gateway', later called 'Beginnings'; /15v. 'Memory'; /18r. 'Après le Guerre (To O.M.)'; /18v. 'Remorse'; /37v-38r. untitled, begins 'We pitch our tents among the rock built slopes'; /41r. & /59r. untitled, later called 'In Palestine'; /60r. 'Flamingoes' (sic); /63v-64r. 'Dawn near Brindisi', first draft erased; /64v-66r. 'The Journey', one draft largely erased; / 68v. 'Strombos Horns'.
- sketches and doodles: /23r. 'Birdless Idyll', showing olive trees and sky; /23v. Cypress trees and a church; /24r. a castle; /65v-66r. human or angel figures, one double faced; /61r. preparatory sketch for a water colour of a hilly landscape with trees.
- a list of 'Birds seen in Judea': /60v.
- notes from military briefing meetings: /66v-69v. in part entitled 'Duties of Company Gas N[on-]C[ommissioned] O[fficer]' and including notes on supervised practice drills.
- lists of members of his ?section under headings such as 'Scouts' and 'N[on-]C[ommissioned] O[fficer]s': /62r-63r.
- quotations: /55r. John Lydgate, begins 'Tarry no longer'; /59v. reporting gossip; /64v. Father Paul Bull, 'Peace and War'.
- acquaintances' contact details: /70r.
N.B. After folio /62r entries resume from the back of the notebook. There are no loose enclosures or detached folios. The foliation is the archivist's.
Dates
- 26 Nov. 1917-May 1918 (diary entries start at 19 December 1917)
Conditions Governing Access
This notebook has been digitised and can be viewed in full on the Cambridge Digital Library at http://cudl.lib.cam.ac.uk/view/MS-ADD-09852-00001-00012/1. The original item is currently unavailable for consultation due to its poor physical condition.
Extent
1 volume(s) (1 volume (blue diced morocco with elasticated tie, marbled endpapers, 70 ff.) paper) : paper
Language of Materials
English
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
This item is fragile. The binding is extremely loose and cracked between folios /68 and /69. The front cover is rubbed and the edges of the text block are soft.
Creator
- From the Fonds: Sassoon, Siegfried Loraine, 1886-1967 (poet and author) (Person)
Repository Details
Part of the Cambridge University Library Repository
Cambridge University Library
West Road
Cambridge CB3 9DR United Kingdom
Map Dept enquiries: maps@lib.cam.ac.uk
all other enquiries: mss@lib.cam.ac.uk