Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry

4th of March 1916 battle of verdun

John Sturrock -- Private logbook

4/3/(19)16.

Today was hell had too charge up didn't do much apart from killing 246 men.

brave they where didn't back down but still this is war most of that wounded where crying for there dads or moms that shakes me it does when grown men are screaming for there parents.

I didn't get of scot free though got a bit of shrapnel in my leg get it pulled out later don't want it too get infected i hear gangrene is very nasty.

5/3/(19)16

Today i was looking for snipers when i saw a lad get his finger shot clean off boy did he scream i went over too him as you would and cor blimy a sniper bullet missed me by a inch.

Stone the crows that young fit healthy lad got trench foot the colour was a slimy yellow in parts and it smelled of rot god i nearly gaged it smelled like god good god it was i don't know how to explain it rotten meat? gosh i hope i don't get that.

6/3/(19)16

Lads went up top today 3,000 went up 347 came back 87 of them wounded i looked up for a second and what i saw made me sick guts hanging out limbs blown off never again but there that's the horror of war.

Got a promotion to sergeant but i don,t know if i can sent my troops over the top in front of me i just don't know.

7/3/(19)16

This isn't Johns hand writing.

John died this morning via a bullet to the head by a sniper i am writing this so his family can see what happened to him.

I found him brains blown out splatterd all over the place god to clean that up.

I am sorry for your loss Johns family for i didn't know him i wish i did though he seemed like a fantastic man may he rest in peace.