[Retlaw]

[quote=Eric;601411]What intrigues me about the war diary is that added sentence, mentioned in your note. Editing of war diaries and unit records in general, and cabinet minutes, etc. is troubling. However, in this case, there may be some truth in the addition of the sentence. In (and I think I am correct) Martin Middlebrooks fine book on the first day on the Somme, the author does mention that there were eye-witness accounts of some members of the Pals reaching their objective ... altho' it is not clear if the added sentence in the war diary is the source Middlebrook uses, or if there were actual accounts, other than this.

Each Battalion had its own war diary, as did each division, some were not written up till days later.

Even Rickmans battle report shows discrepancies.

9am Cpl Rigby (wounded) belonging to 1st wave states that 7 of his platoon got into the German 1st line & held it for 20 mins. Captain Livesey was wounded.

11.25am Pte Glover 1st wave (servant) of Captain Livesey states 1st wave encountered heavy M.G. rifle, grenade and bombs in crossing no mans land.

Private Glovers account differs in so much that he could NOT have reported to Col Rickman, Glover was with Captain Livesey when they entered the German trenches, Livesey shot 5 Germans with his revolver, the Germans receiving reinforcements, Captain Livesey and Pte Glover withdrew to the shelter of shell hole, another shell landed close by, when Glover recovered he felt around in the dark but could not find Captain Livesey. Glover then made his way back to the British lines.

So who did Rickman talk to that morning.

Retlaw