66238: Pvt Gurney's Black Notebook

A Black notebook inscribed 'Pvt Gurney 241282 / Gloucester', used by Ivor Gurney between November 1917 and January 1918, whilst Gurney was at Seaton Delaval, Northumberland on a signalling course. The diary includes some early drafts of poems, notes on the camp and military matters, sketches, lists, musical scores, addresses and sums. The rear cover of the book and following pages reveal a cigarette burn-like hole. |

File description(s):

Front cover of a Black notebook inscribed 'Pvt Gurney 241282 / Gloucester'
Pencil draft in Ivor Gurney's hand. Intended as no.3 in the series 'Hospital Pictures' although it was published as no.5 in War's Embers (1919). Sent to Marion Scott on 24 November 1917.
Pencil draft in Ivor Gurney's hand. The left hand page contains a list of Gurney's set of 'Hospital Pictures', of which 'Lady of the Kitchen' is one, although it remains unpublished.
Pencil draft in Ivor Gurney's hand of another, unpublished 'Hospital Picture'.
Pencil draft in Ivor Gurney's hand of another of Gurney's Hospital Pictures. Unpublished.
Pencil draft in Ivor Gurney's hand of two Hospital Pictures, sent to Marion Scott in a letter of 17 November 1917. 'Excursion' was not published with the other Hospital Pictures in War's Embers (1919) but was included in Collected Poems (1982/2004).
Pencil drafts in Ivor Gurney's hand of two 'Hospital Pictures', published in War's Embers (1919). 'Nurses' was published under the title 'Ladies of Charity'.
Pencil draft (continuation) in Ivor Gurney's hand of a poem sent to Marion Scott, and later published as 'Ladies of Charity'.
Pencil draft in Ivor Gurney's hand. The poem was published in Collected Poems (1982/2004).
Pencil draft (continuation) in Ivor Gurney's hand.
Pencil draft in Ivor Gurney's hand.
Pencil draft in Ivor Gurney's hand.
Pencil sketch of a folk-like melody in Ivor Gurney's hand.
Pencil draft in Ivor Gurney's hand of an unpublished poem.
Draft (continuation) in pen in Ivor Gurney's hand.
Pencil draft in Ivor Gurney's hand of a poem that appears to have grown out of another that begins 'To think that Belgium still is crucified'.
Pencil draft (continuation) in Ivor Gurney's hand. The draft is dated 'April-November 1917. Rouen-Seaton Delaval'.
Pencil and pen drafts in Ivor Gurney's hand.
Pencil draft in Ivor Gurney's hand of another of his 'Hospital pictures', published in War's Embers (1919).
Pencil draft in Ivor Gurney's hand of two versions of the same, unpublished song.
Pencil draft in Ivor Gurney's hand of two sets of verse.
Pencil draft in Ivor Gurney's hand of two unpublished poems.
Pencil draft in Ivor Gurney's hand of the end of an unpublished poem, Firelight, and Photographs, which was published in War's Embers (1919).
Pencil draft in Ivor Gurney's hand of the end of Photographs. The right hand page contains the title and discarded opening lines of an otherwise unknown poem, The Clown.
Pencil draft in Ivor Gurney's hand which is perhaps a continuation of 'The Change' - an unpublished poem.
Working of a deciphering of a coded message.
Pencil notes in Ivor Gurney's hand.
Pencil draft in Ivor Gurney's hand of a poem published in Collected Poems (1982/2004). These pages show a draft of an unknown poem beginning 'Sing in the words...'.
Pencil draft of an unpublished poem in Ivor Gurney's hand. These pages show a draft of an unknown poem beginning 'When years are dead...'.
Pencil draft in Ivor Gurney's hand. These pages show notes on military abbreviations for communication purposes.
Pencil draft in Ivor Gurney's hand of an unpublished squib which makes use of signallers' slang. This page show a draft of 'Signallers'.
Pencil draft in Ivor Gurney's hand. These pages show the working out of various sums.
Pencil notes in Ivor Gurney's hand being perhaps a list of contents for his next volume - what would be War's Embers (1919). These pages show a list of poems.
Pencil notes in Ivor Gurney's hand. These pages show Morse Code and a list of things to pack.
Pencil notes in Ivor Gurney's hand. These pages show lists and sums.
Rear cover of a a Black notebook inscribed 'Pvt Gurney 241282 / Gloucester'