TftF (2): Sources

Introduction

TftF (2) discusses the main civilian and military sources used in preparing the profiles of Bournemouth natives fallen in military action.

Civilian

Tales from the Front uses the same civilian sources as its sister chapter, Paradise-on-Sea, a social history of Victorian Bournemouth. They provide the data for constructing each soldier’s life and his family background. The main sources consist of the census reports and parish or local records. Most of Bournemouth’s native fallen appear in the census listings from 1891 onward. A very few enlisted in their thirties. They could have appeared in the 1881 census. An appearance in one of the census reports provides a gateway to identify and unravel their family connections. Often, a line running back to a man’s great-grandfather emerges. Newspapers, at this time most local, may also provide information about a soldier or his family. During the early stages of the war, the British government imposed strict censorship on press coverage of military operations. Later, reports on battles, naming places, would appear the following day.

Military

Each battalion maintained a diary of its military activity, written by an officer. When an action occurred, the diary might report events hour by hour. Because they formed part of the reporting chain, the diaries adopted a formal, objective and impersonal style. Although forbidden by official orders from doing so, some soldiers kept personal diaries. Thus, the voice of the proletariat has survived, with many of the authors serving as NCOs or even infantrymen. These accounts often include the author’s personal commentary on his feelings and thoughts about events. Both forms of diary provide eyewitness accounts of battles. Soldiers’ letters, published by the local press, employ a similar tonality. Sir John French, however, injected great formality in his periodic reports. For some battalions, an official history has survived. A few official accounts related to enquiries into disasters (for example, Mesopotamia). An official account of the war also exists.

For the civilian primary sources, go here and here (subscriptions needed).

For war diaries, go here (free after signing up for a BNA account).