Interlude 3

First off, I accept that not everyone will be as excited about this as I am but Cambridge University Library has digitized Siegfried Sasson's entire First World War diaries and put them online.

How cool is that?

Previously, because of their fragile state (they still have mud from the Somme trenches on them!), they have only been available to one person, Sassoon's biographer. Now everyone can look at them in incredible detail. You have to love the digital age.




And here's one of my favorites, The General.

"Good-morning; good-morning!" the General said

When we met him last week on our way to the line.

Now the soldiers he smiled at are most of 'em dead,

And we're cursing his staff for incompetent swine.

"He's a cheery old card," grunted Harry to Jack

As they slogged up to Arras with rifle and pack.

                  .          .          .          .

But he did for them both with his plan of attack.