Frank's War in a Thornycroft (an Army Service Corps Diary)

Frank's War in a Thornycroft - (An Army Service Corps Diary). Frank Sanderson was born and raised in the City of Hull before he enlisted into the Army Service Corps in 1915. He did this out of an Edwardian workaday sense of duty and honour, and even though it was against military law, he kept a daily diary about his war experiences. Frank wrote in his journals every day from the 29th April 1915 until the 12th January 1917, the book takes us from enlistment, through his limited two week military training and right up to his last day at Albert in France. Frank's last entry in the left hand column simply reads, '12th'. This book isn't about the usual, 'Life in the Trenches' type of manuscript that has been published by an 'Officer and a Gentleman'. For any Great War aficionado, or even for those with a modicum of interest in the First World War, this book is a fascinating read about the detailed life of an Army Driver serving in the British Army at the turn of the last century. This book records the exact words that have been penned by a down to earth Private soldier who came from Hull, a young man who simply did his duty for King and Country whilst driving various army lorries. These recently found journals give the reader an everyday insight into what it was like for an army driver serving on the Western Front during the First World War. Private Frank Sanderson tells us in detail what he had for Christmas Dinner in 1916, the exact details of what clothing and equipment he was issued on a particular day and he also tells us about the mechanical problems drivers suffered with their vehicles. In the diaries we also learn about the Standard Operating Procedures of 282 Company ASC who were deployed to France in support of 13th and 19th Siege Batteries of the Royal Artillery. Private Frank Sanderson was born in the late 1800's and came from a working class family, this might lead people into thinking he was just an ignorant lower class ruffian. But Frank's penmanship betrays an eloquent and intelligent young man of whom the County of Yorkshire can be very proud. A young man who didn't join the fashionable Infantry, Royal Artillery or Cavalry Regiments, Frank was simply a young man from Hull who quietly and modestly went to War in a Thornycroft lorry. Brian (Harry) Clacy