Wells, Charles Stephen, 1895-1959: Diaries

Wells describes his journey to Suez, duties and conditions fighting on Gallipoli Peninsula from 25 Sep to 15 Dec 1915; in the desert until Apr 1916; then in France near the Somme from Apr to Oct 1916

Enlisted on 19 February 1915, and left home in Invercargill for training in Trentham on 17 April 1915. Embarked for Suez, Egypt of Troopship 27 on 14 August 1915 as part of the Otago Infantry Battalion. Diary details the ocean voyage, arriving in Egypt and transfer to the Gallipoli Peninsula. Wells dicusses the weather - the lightning, the cold, snow, rain - in Gallipoli, hearing a church sermon in Maori, and a meeting with General Godley. He talks about being on the firing line for 24 hour stretches and seeing fellow soldiers being shot in the leg and stomach. He was then transferred back to Egypt near Ismailia for a couple of months before transferring to the Somme. He talks about life in the trenches and 'going over the top'. He was shot in the leg and convalesced near Rouen before going back to the trenches.

Source of title - Supplied

Charles Stephen Wells was a Lance Corporal in 6th Reinforcements, Otago Infantry Battalion. Embarked for Suez, Egypt 14 August 915. Saw action at Gallipoli and the Somme. Service number: 8/2757.

Quantity: 1 folder(s) (2 volumes). 0.01 Linear Metres.

Physical Description: Holographs (13.5 cm; full black leather binding, flip diary. 15 cm; no binding)

Processing information: Part of WW100 digitisation project.

Digitisation details - 256 digitised images. These two diaries are captured in a single structure map.