Morrall’s diary

Recent visitors to our special exhibition have given us an added insight into the life of a soldier serving in Russia at the end of the First World War.

Doug Clarke and his son, Nicholas, brought news of Second Lieutenant Arthur Morrall, who originally served with The Leicestershire Regiment, but, like so many other soldiers at the time, found himself eventually transferred into another unit.

Arthur joined the 13th Battalion of the Yorkshire Regiment.

Doug’s late wife Gwenneth was Arthur’s niece, and the family have the diary that he wrote, as well as a Military Cross and the medal ribbon for the Order of St Anne he was awarded by the White Russian forces for his actions in April 1919.

“The diaries of soldiers who served with the regiment have already given us a vivid glimpse into the experiences of troops sent north at the end of 1918,” explains the museum’s Learning Officer, Carl Watts, part of the team who put the exhibition together.

“Visitors to the exhibition will already know about the importance of the personal diaries of Stanley Harrison and Fred Neesam, whose thoughts and observations have been instrumental in telling the story of men fighting in the most hostile of environments.  To have been able to read about events which have become familiar to us during the course of the research for the exhibition, and which feature in the personal papers of other Yorkshire Regiment soldiers, has been really exciting.”

A transcript of Arthur Morrall’s diary will be added to the information on display.

Hostile Environment: The British in Russia runs until 14th December.