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J.G. MANNING, A.I.F : 1941 - 1943 ORIGINAL WORLD WAR II MANUSCRIPT DIARY OF WAR SERVICE WITHIN BESEECHING PRAYERS, SOULFUL CONFESSION AND PERHAPS SUPPRESSED HOMOSEXUALITY HANDWRITTEN BY THE AUSTRALIAN YMCA REPRESENTATIVE IN THE MIDDLE EAST

4to - over 9¾" - 12" tall. On offer is an original, absolutely fascinating 1941 - 1943 World War II manuscript diary handwritten by Mr. J.G. Manning the Australian YMCA representative in Palestine. The YMCA was dedicated to providing the armed services with many services critical to moral to soldiers throughout the world. Manning writes over 200 pages of entries starting 25th November 1941 in Palestine, going to Egypt then Libya back to Palestine then to Sydney and Brisbane then to New Guinea and ending on 10 March 1943. Besides the fact that Manning's perspective of the War as an Australian representative of the YMCA is in itself unique what makes this diary so uncommon in our experience is the fact that Manning's diary is a history of his war experience, observations and thoughts within a religious confessional on the paper upon which he writes. Every day he writes a prayer, every day he cries out to his Creator, every day he prays for hope, health, safety and strength and a hundred other things. He constantly uses the word 'surrendered' as he surrenders himself to his duty to God and he surrenders himself to his way of life, he surrenders himself to his responsibilities. He constantly writes of his love and prayers for his wife and boys but a number of times he writes of surrendering himself to certain feelings. The mention of a number of men in his circle within the same entry leads us to believe that he was desperately trying to suppress homosexual feelings and in many ways was suppressing his feelings with his religious devotions. The 6½ x 4 inch book has some general ageing and rubbing but is overall G.. Manuscript. Book Condition: Good

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