WORLD WAR ONE DIARIES AND EPHEMERA
Sapper G.D. Zenovich 37476 – New Zealand Engineers [Tunnelling Corp]
Two handwritten diaries, written while on active service in France, with short daily entries. Much of his time spent on the Arras Front, ‘Wednesday 15 [1916] Arr Wellington 6.30am marched straight from station on to transport 68 [Maunganui]. At 3pm marched through streets of Wellington back to boat. Boat left wharf at 5pm …’ ‘…Saturday 3rd March 1917 left camp for the Docks, hundred of soldiers coming to France with us, ’ he arrived at the camp in Etaples Sunday 4th. Spent days underground training in the ’Bull Ring’, winter time snowing every day, ill with bronchitis in hospital, seconded to act as cook, ‘…Sunday 15th July still in the cook house. Had a look over Arras French Cemetery Awful destruction by German shells, Awful sights…’. Sent back on Monday 13th and in the trenches East of Arras, descriptions of shelling, soldiers killed including his mates many wounded in the ‘Scabbard’ and ‘Bayonet’ trenches ‘…and I don’t like it, We are up to our neck in it now…’ constant mentions of the cold, snow, wet and mud. The diaries end on Monday 23 Dec 1918 on the way home ‘24 days from Panama, 44 days from England. Feel very happy’.
2. Collection of postcards – Approximately 100 postcards, most with messages to his wife and child while overseas, some novelty some real photographs [military related].
3. Thirty-two embroidered W.W. 1 postcards most with messages headed ‘Somewhere at the Front, France’ written to his wife Lizzie and his child. One card with a silk panel of Nurse Edith Cavell.
4. Documents include his Discharge Papers ‘In consequence of being no longer physically fit for war service’. Dated 21st January 1991; War Veterans Allowance Certificate; Card of Authority to wear Silver War Badge; Soldiers Paybook for use on Active service; Two Prayer Books [1914] issued ‘To the Members of the Expeditionary Force; Family photographs.
5. His Victory Medal with ribbon, engraved with his details around the edge.