The following is an exact copy of a diary kept by John Stafford whilst fighting with the Seaforth Highlanders in the trenches during the Great War 1914 – 1918.

John Stafford was the eldest of the eight children of John and Ellen Stafford of Brown Street, Anderson, Glasgow, the other children being Nellie, Harry, Maggie, Annie, Steve, Lizzie and George – there was also a cousin named James Johnstone who was reared as a son.

Diary of Pte John Stafford, 8/10556
2nd Batt, Seaforth Highlanders,
B.Coy No.8 Platoon, 14 section, B.E.F.
Belgium and France.

Joined up 8th February 1916. Landed in France on 20th June 1916 – Rouen, then from Rouen to Etaples, from Etaples to Acheix, from there to the trenches for six days. Then back to Mailey for a rest then on to Acheix, stayed there for some time then marched to Bauval. Rested in an open field for three nights then marched on to Eandas, Entrained there and landed at Poperinge and got the wind knocked out of us by training. Stayed there a week then entrained again for a place called Troit-Tours in the vicinity of Ypes on the 28th July. We then entered the trenches again on 31st July.

First day in one wounded 2nd day in Leiut. Munro Paterson killed. Came out on the 4th August after being myself slightly wounded in the right breast, but able to carry on. We went to a wood for seven days, then entered the trenches on the left of Ypes for 4 days, had a L/e and officer of No.5 Platoon killed. Came out on the 13th August and went back again to the right of Ypes for ten days. Came out to …….? for a rest then went to a corner called Hooge to relieve the Canadians. We were eight days in and very …….? Everything was thrown at our Jocks. We were relieved by the Australians on the 31st Aug. being ------ up to the eyeballs and wet to the skin. The trenches fell in owing to the heavy rains. We were kept at it all night keeping of German bombers, as we were posted in a sap only yards from German front line.

Regretfully there is no more. Uncle John was killed near the village of Albert on the Somme on the 15th October 1916. He has no known grave and his name is commemorated on a War Memorial at Thiepval.

The diary is as he wrote it. I have done my best to include everything but it was written in pencil over seventy years ago. Some of the writing was very faint. Also I am not too sure some of the French names are spelled correctly.

The following is a copy of a letter written by John to his parents, but never posted. It was returned with his personal effects after his death.

Sunday 10th September (1916)

Dear Mother and Father.
A few lines to let you know I am still knocking it out and I hope alls well at home, for I have never got a letter for some time. I hope you enjoyed your holidays, and I never got word from James or Harry, in fact I am a bit queer when I don’t get any word. I hope Father and Meg is still working away. I am out of the trenches for some time.

How is McManus getting on, any signs of promotion for he knows his way about and there is plenty L/C stripes for fellows like him ……. Letter unfinished

Meg is Auntie Maggie – John’s sister.
Harry is John’s younger brother and James is James Johnstone
(his cousin and foster brother).
McManus is John McManus who was the husband of John’s sister Nellie.

John and Harry Stafford and James Johnstone all served in the Seaforth Highlanders. Harry and James survived the war. John McManus was in the Cameron Highlanders and also survived.

The diary and letters came to light after the deaths of George and Sadie Stafford. Their daughter Barbara has them in her keeping.

(The original of the foregoing was typed by Rosaleen Hart, daughter of Lizzie Stafford on 29th May 1989 and this copy was typed by Margaret Fraser, daughter Steve Stafford on 6th July on 6th July 2003).

Postscript
Only recently did John Stafford’s family find out that he needn’t have been ‘at the front’ at all. He worked as a Painter/Decorator and had been off work because paint or some substance had got into his eye and his vision was very restricted. But someone had seen him at home – and sent him a White Feather! So John immediately joined up, was sent to France and was killed about eight months later. The family never found out who had sent the White Feather