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MAURICE [SMITH ?] : 1947 ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPT RELIC OF BRITISH RULE IN MANDATED 'PALESTINE' HANDWRITTEN BY A LAZY SHIRKING SOLDIER UNTIL HE BECOMES AN ACTIVE OFFICER

8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. On offer is a super, original 1947 manuscript diary handwritten by Maurice [we believe Smith] a British soldier, later an Officer, in British Mandated 'Palestine' beginning February 28th when Maurice leaves the transit camp in Dover for the journey to Palestine, via Toulon and Port Said. Writing approximately 130 pages, somewhat sporadically Maurice seems to have spells when he writes diary entries every day, stops and then resumes writing again. Most of his entries are long with plenty of detail giving an insight into his character, his duties and the reality of conflict. At first he seems interested only in sleeping, eating, drinking and watching films but he is promoted to officer rank and seems to take army life more seriously. Many entries include operational and technical details. He was based in or worked in many locations including: Hebron, Arathanya, Transjordan, Saraband, Kantara, Jaffa, Rehoveth and Lydda. Here are some snippets and notes: "From what I saw of it, it was a nice place (Dover) but I may be wrong; Had a lecture on "Walking out" in which we were told about French girls and wines; Better food. That's the main thing and my reason for volunteering for this job (serving in the officers and civilians lounge on board The Empire Battleaxe to Port Said); We were troubled by the wogs a lot though, as they were following us all over the place trying to sell their goods; I was able to smoke like a chimney as I had received my free issue; (At a dance) There were only 2 girls there and everyone was fighting for them; Went to Saraband as an escort with the water wagon; Provided a cordon for the 68th Rifles who are going to search an Arab settlement west of Rehoveth; The duty on the docks is OK but the food the cook dishes up is something awful; Bit of a flap on at Haifa. Illegal immigrant ship; We have started on a new type of operation, clearing mines from the railway line between Petal Tigus and Lydda; An Arab has thrown a bomb through another Arabs shop window; About 10.30 Sten Gun fire was heard, later found out it was a party returning from the pictures and had run towards the sentry, and no messing he opened up. I bet they won't rush a sentry again." The page per day hardback diary measures 8 x 5 inches and overall is G+.. Manuscript. Book Condition: Good+

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