Personal Diaries and letters of Officers and Other Ranks - 18th Century to Present day

Within the Regimental Museum archive we have a considerable number of personal diaries and letters written by both Officers and Other Ranks which span from the 18th century right up to the present day and including OP TELIC 2003.

Over the next couple of years it is our intention to reproduce the diaries and letters here for your enjoyment.

Please select a below:

	Name: Edward Stone Rank: Captain Regiment: Queen's Bays (2nd Dragoon Guards) Diary Title: 1914 Introduction: Captain Edward Stone, 2i/c, after Nery OC, B Squadron, The Queen's Bays (2nd Dragoon Guards), 1st Cavalry Brigade, BEF: Original Diary of the Retreat from Mons, Battle of Le Cateau, Nery, the Aisne & Messines 1914. Daily entries written neatly in ink (occasionally pencil) from 14/8/14-28/10/14 (wounded 30/10/1914). The Bays crossed to France 15/8/1914 & moved up to the canal line at Mons. Some Extracts: Diary Ref: CARDG:

	Name: A J R Lamb Rank: Lieutenant Regiment: Queen's Bays (2nd Dragoon Guards) Diary Title: August 1914-October 1914 Introduction: The first war diary of Lt A J R Lamb covers the period August 1914 to October 1914 and covers the following battles:Le Cateau 26th August 1914:Nery 1st September 1914:Sablonnieres 8th September 1914.Braine 12th September 1914. Diary Ref: CARDG:1110

	Name: Canada 1838 Rank: Book Archive Regiment: 1st Kings Dragoon Guards Diary Title: Records of the KDG in Canada 1838-44 Introduction: There is very little written from British sources about the rebellion in Canada between 1837 and 1839. There are some excellent Canadian acccounts which concentrate on the events from a Canadian point of view. Here are some of the records of The Kings Dragoon Guards. Diary Ref: CARDG:3284.1

	Name: Captain E S Chance Rank: Captain Regiment: Queen's Bays (2nd Dragoon Guards) Diary Title: E S Chance Introduction: This collection is made up of a group of letters written and addressed to Miss N Noble between 1914 and 1916. Captain Chance was Killed in Action on the 29th May 1918.Chance was Adjutant of the regiment during the retreat to Marne. He was wounded at the action at Nery on 1st September 1914. Diary Ref: CARDG:14923.Research

	Name: Charles Alfred Newman Rank: Private Regiment: 1st Kings Dragoon Guards Diary Title: China 1860 Introduction: Charles Newman was born in Birmingham 31st March 1841. His diary relates from the time the regiment left India for China up to the time they returned. Unfortunately no dates are given in the diary, it follows on in one continuous story. To help with the reading of the diary we have split it into pages, so the dates at the top of each page are irrelevant. Diary Ref: CARDG:22262 (a)

	Name: F S Riches Rank: Lance Corporal Regiment: 1st King's Dragoon Guards Diary Title: Italy 1943 Introduction: Diary of 5182528 L/Cpl F S Riches 'A' Sqn KDG British North Africa Forces dated 8th Army 10 may 1943. The diary was originally the property of an Italian Lottotente Montish Vies and was taken off him at the farm between Candar and Nabeul when he surrendered. Diary Ref: CARDG:1989.1599

	Name: Fitzhardinge Jones Rank: Captain Regiment: 1st King's Dragoon Guards Diary Title: India April 1862-December 1864 Introduction: Diary Ref: CARDG:1993.3215

	Name: George Allen Rank: Bandsman Regiment: 1st King's Dragoon Guards ; Regimental Band Diary Title: England to Bombay 1882 Introduction: Diary of bandsman George Allen. Diary Ref: CARDG:2003.3891

	Name: J E Dewar Rank: Lt Colonel Regiment: The Queen's Bays (2nd Dragoon Guards) Diary Title: South Africa 6th December 1901 to 31st may 1902 Introduction: Regimental Diary of the South African war from 6th December 1901 to 31st May 1902. Compiled for Letters, States ect by Lt Colonel J E Dewar. Lt Colonel Dewar got a very bad attack of Sciatica and was invalided back to England on the 7th May 1902 and was unable to rejoin the regiment until 5 months after the war was over. In his absence Brevet Lt Colonel H D Fanshawe took over command. Diary Ref: CARDG:1966.13

	Name: James Naylor Rank: Captain Regiment: 1st King's Dragoon Guards Diary Title: April 1815-December 1817 Introduction: 1815; The diary of Captain James Naylor reveals the events leading up to the battle of Waterloo and the subsequent occupation by allied troops of quarters just outside Paris. From it one can piece together a fair account of an officer in a Cavalry Regiment, which at any rate after the battle does not seem to be very onerous. In somethings he is annoyingly reticent: he mentions Court Martials but does not state the offence committed or the punishment awarded, which was most probably floggings. The entries realting to his Troop are interesting showing how the regiment changed its quarters and the length and frequency of daily marches. At the very end of the diary included is a short write up on some of the officers mentioned throughout the diary. Diary Ref: CARDG:1985.1199

	Name: James Russell Rank: Lt Colonel Regiment: 1st King's Dragoon Guards Diary Title: FLANDERS 1793-1796 Introduction: The dairy of Lt Colonel James Russell 1st King's Dragoon Guards kept during the Flanders campaign 1793-1796 Diary Ref: CARDG:1988.1763

	Name: John Nembhard Hibbert Rank: Lt Regiment: 1st Kings Dragoon Guards Diary Title: 1815 Introduction: The diary of Lt John Nembard Hibbert takes the form of letters that he wrote during the Waterloo campaign to his Father, Mother ect. He purchased a commission in the King's Dragoon Guards in 1814. Diary Ref: CARDG:1988.1764

	Name: Llewellyn Palmer Rank: Major Regiment: Kings Dragoon Guards Diary Title: Tripoli to Cape Bon Introduction: This diary was kept for Major Tony Llewellyn-Palmer by his operator Corporal H Ferriby between the 25th Jaunuary 1943 to 31st December 1943 with the landings at Salerno-Capture of Naples-Casino Line. A second dairy for 1944 will follow on from this one Diary Ref: CARDG:3067

	Name: M R Arkwright Rank: Major Regiment: Kings Dragoon Guards Diary Title: A Short Summary of the KDG: November 1940-September 1945 Introduction: This is a short review of the Regiment’s movements during the last five years. We have operated in many climates and in many countries including Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Italy, Greece, Palestine and Syria. We have been equipped with various types of armoured cars-Marmon Herrington, A.E.C.’s, Humbers, Daimlers and finally Staghounds. It has been a period of operating in deserts and heat, in mountains accompanied by wet and cold, in towns and villages; we have experience of both mobile and static warfare; we have fought against first-rate German troops, against second-rate Italian troops and against third-rate Greek troops. At the moment we are preparing to operate against Jewish and/or Arab elements in the maintenance of law and order. In addition to our normal roll of armoured car work, we have operated as cavalry, as infantry, as engineers, and as gunners; we have undertaken the administration and welfare of civilians Diary Ref: CARDG: Archive

	Name: Peterborough's Regt of Horse Rank: Corporal Regiment: Third Regiment of Horse Diary Title: Unknown Corporal, Third Horse Introduction: The following represents extracts from the diary of an unknown Corporal of The Third (or Villiers) Regiment of Horse 1689-1690 Diary Ref: CARDG:1730

	Name: R J C Marter Rank: Lt Colonel Regiment: 1st Kings Dragoon Guards Diary Title: Richard Marter Introduction: Richard James Combe Marter, born 27th March 1832. Passed into the Royal Military Collage, Sandhurst, and gazetted Cornet in the KDG 18th January 1851. After the usual preparatory leave he joined the regiment in Portobello Barracks Dublin. A terrible ordeal awaited him. The regiment was one of the finest in Her Majesty’s service, but amongst the officers the so-called ‘’good old days’’ of hard drinking were in full swing, immorality was bare faced, practical joking of a serious nature common, and the bullying of anyone who did not swim with the tide was carried on unchecked by senior officers. For a year or more his life was almost intolerable, then a new commanding officer joined (Spottiswood from the 9th Lancers) who quickly brought about a much better state of things. Diary Ref: CARDG: Research Files

	Name: R Smith Rank: Sergeant Regiment: 1st Kings Dragoon Guards Diary Title: Sketches of Home and Abroad Life Introduction: R Smith enlisted into the Kings Dragoon Guards 16th May 1874. Sketches of home and Abroad relates from to his enlistement to his servive abroad especially during the Zulu War of 1879 and the eventual capture of the Zulu King Cetewayo. Other stuff he wrote can be seen on the web site at Detailed History/South Africa 1879 Diary Ref: CARDG:3893

	Name: Stanley Walker Rank: Lance Corporal Regiment: REME att King's Dragoon Guards Diary Title: Stanley Walker Introduction: Stanley Walker was called up in July 1940 and after 6 weeks training was posted to the King's Dragoon Guards. He sailed with them to the Middle East in HMT 'Sythia' on 1st November 1940. Diary Ref: CARDG: Vol 6 No 2 1995

	Name: Thomas Hasker Rank: Private Regiment: 1st King's Dragoon Guards Diary Title: Thomas Hasker 1815 Introduction: Thomas Hasker enlisted into the 1st Dragoon Guards at Nottingham on the 1st August 1808 aged 19. A Memoir of Thomas Hasker, entitled ''The Camp and Sanctuary'' by the Rev James Everett, appeared, in 1859. A small booklet by George Luckley, was published in 1875 from a desire to keep alive the memory of an exemplary man, his notable life and experience. From that small publication we have extracted Hasker's account of his experiences at Waterloo Diary Ref: CARDG:2075

	Name: Tuffin Rank: Trooper Regiment: Queens Bays (2nd Dragoon Guards) Diary Title: South Africa 1901 Introduction: Diary Ref: CARDG:738

	Name: Vere Wayte-Wood Rank: Lieutenant Regiment: 1st King's Dragoon Guards Diary Title: South Africa. 1st Jan 1901-11th Jan 1902 Introduction: Diary Ref: CARDG:1996.3570

	Name: Warboys Rank: Sgt Regiment: Queen's Bays (2nd Dragoon Guards) Diary Title: 1899-1901 Introduction: Diary Ref: CARDG:1982.1139

	Name: William Clarke Rank: Private Regiment: Queen's Bays (2nd Dragoon Guards) Diary Title: William Clarke Introduction: Random Collections of Pte William Clarke 3rd Troop 'B' Squadron 1914-1918 Diary Ref: CARDG: