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WWI diary to launch at Central Library

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On 22 February, 101 years to the day that the St Helens Pals left their home town to prepare for and fight in World War One, Central Library is honoured to hold a launch event for an insightful, moving and never-before-seen wartime diary.

With the help of St Helens Council, the St Helens Townships Family History Society was awarded a £40,000 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund to research the history of 11th Battalion South Lancashire Regiment – known as the St Helens Pals.

‘The Great War Diary of A.T. Champion’ is the next instalment of the four year project by the society. Written by the Commanding Officer of ‘A Company’, the diary provides a personal narrative of 11th Battalion’s daily life and military operations during the war.

Local military historian and editor of the book, Dave Risley, will launch the book with a brief introduction to the events which led him to find the unique diary during his research at Lancashire Infantry Museum.

Dave has spent much of his time over the last year at Fulwood Barracks, home to the museum, transcribing the original diary for publication.

Dave said: “It was a painstaking job to transcribe the diary, but it gives such a personal view of the 11th Battalion and is a wonderful companion to the St Helens Pals book which was published by the project last year.”

The book launch is on Monday 22 February from 12pm at Central Library, with copies of the book freely available.

A limited number of the St Helens Pals Personnel publication will also be given out to people whose family members served with the regiment.

For more information please contact St Helens Central Library on 01744 676954 or email amandabrown@sthelens.gov.uk.

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