Sue Light Posted 28 March , 2008 Share Posted 28 March , 2008 I've just put a post in another section about the wartime diary of Edith Appleton, a QAIMNS Nursing Sister, which has recently been put online. Few men are named, but there are occasions where the man can be identified. During July and August 1916, she nurses a young man who everyone knew was without hope, but somehow clung to life for weeks. Although not identified at first, he is later named as 'Lennox' and by his date of death, I could eventually pin him down as: LENNOX Initials: J Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Rifleman Regiment/Service: Royal Irish Rifles Unit Text: 12th Bn. Age: 24 Date of Death: 22/08/1916 Service No: 1925 Additional information: Son of James and Sarah Lennox, of Edward St., Harriville, Ballymena. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: II. C. 17. Cemetery: ETRETAT CHURCHYARD The account of his final days is very touching, and knowing that Ballymena rears its head here on occasions I thought it might be of interest - so rare to have this sort of descriptive writing of an ordinary soldier. The link to the site is below - the entries of this young man start on July 13th 1916: Diary of Edith Appleton Sue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desmond7 Posted 28 March , 2008 Share Posted 28 March , 2008 http://www.freewebs.com/snake43/weeklywar1916.htm Scroll down to August. Thanks for this great link. A very moving account indeed and a wonderful insight into the steady assault on the senses which dealing with such horribly wounded men must have been. des Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_Hartley Posted 28 March , 2008 Share Posted 28 March , 2008 A really moving account - more so because o fthe almost daily mention of Lennox amidst the pleasantries of her life. I'm unsure from the account if she did clap her hand...? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sue Light Posted 28 March , 2008 Author Share Posted 28 March , 2008 Thanks for that Des - very good to be able to put a face to him. And a cautionary tale for trying to tie in dates of death with dates of wounding - along the lines of 'My relative died on 22 August 1916, what action would he have been wounded in ...' James Lennox, wounded July 1st, didn't arrive at No.1 General until the 13th, so had obviously travelled around other unit/s prior to that, and then remained at Etretat for many weeks until his death 6 weeks later. 'Never assume.' Sue I'm unsure from the account if she did clap her hand...? The temptation must have been almost overpowering. Sue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desmond7 Posted 29 March , 2008 Share Posted 29 March , 2008 A better picture for you - this appeared in Ballymena Observer edition of July 7 or 14 .. it's so long since I waded through. But proves your point about linking dates of death etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sue Light Posted 29 March , 2008 Author Share Posted 29 March , 2008 Thanks Des - I'll point this thread out to Dick Robinson, Edith's great-nephew, who has put the diary online. Sue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carninyj Posted 29 March , 2008 Share Posted 29 March , 2008 Sue Yet another Ballymena man, I would just like to thank you for the posting. Regards Carninyj Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sue Light Posted 29 March , 2008 Author Share Posted 29 March , 2008 How good it would be to be able to find them all - we've just identified a second man, this time from the Manchester Regiment - 2 down ... Sue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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