61038: William Binning's Diaries

William kept a small pocket diary for the early part of 1915 whilst he was in officer training. Below is a transcription of the diary. Any comments and paraphrasing are in italics. William kept a small pocket diary during the first four months of 1916. Any comments or paraphrasing are in italics. William crossed to France for the first time in October 1915. He joined the 9th Battalion The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) in the 9th Division in the Salient which he describes in his diary as ˜beastly'. In January 1916 he joins the Machine Gun Corps and after training in January he rejoins the 9th Division which is now serving north east of Armentieres where the Front Line runs through the village of Le Touquet.