Item PWK - Captain P W Kerr MVO

Identity area

Reference code

PWK

Title

Captain P W Kerr MVO

Date(s)

  • 1914-1919 (Creation)

Level of description

Item

Extent and medium

Context area

Archival history

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Ts diary (82pp) recording his service as a Trooper in 'E' Squadron, Imperial Light Horse in South Africa and German South West Africa, September 1914 - June 1915, describing his enlistment at Johannesburg, skirmishes with rebel forces, the occupation of Swakopmund and the town's rich source of booty, and witnessing the anti-German riots in Johannesburg; after travelling to the United Kingdom to receive a commission in the Royal Field Artillery, he trained briefly in Ireland before embarking for active service with the 25th Brigade RFA (1st Division) on the Western Front, October 1915 - 1919, where he refers to his duties as observation post officer and liaison officer with the local infantry, the frequent German shelling and the prevalence of unburied dead, while criticising the behaviour of the RFA commander in his area, Major General A E A Holland. Also held with the collection are a scrapbook (95pp) containing a large number of interesting photographs, postcards, sketches, newspaper cuttings, documents, maps, bank notes and other souvenirs of his service, plus a small number of official papers.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

Imperial War Museum Department of Documents

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Language of material

  • English

Script of material

    Language and script notes

    English

    Physical characteristics and technical requirements

    Original documents

    Allied materials area

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    Existence and location of copies

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    Status

    Level of detail

    Dates of creation revision deletion

    Language(s)

    • English

    Script(s)

    • Latin

    Sources

    Accession area