Understand
Diary found in Stourbridge rubbish tip unlocks WW1 soldier's story
Overview
A blood-stained World War One diary with a bullet hole, found in a Stourbridge rubbish tip in 1965, has led to the uncovering of an Australian soldier's life story. Former museum curator Colin Reid researched military records to identify the writer as Claude Nuttall, who recovered from injuries in Stourbridge, married a local woman named Violet, and was killed in action in August 1918. Reid's research has been published in a new book titled The Digger's Diary.
Key points
- A 12-year-old boy found a blood-stained WW1 diary with a bullet hole in a Stourbridge rubbish tip in 1965.
- The diary was brought to Dudley Museum in 1996 and caught the attention of former curator Colin Reid.
- Military records helped identify the soldier as Claude Nuttall, an Australian who was wounded during the war.
- Nuttall recovered at Stourbridge Hospital, married a local woman named Violet, and returned to combat.
- Records show Nuttall was killed in action three days after the final entry in his diary dated 10 August 1918.
- Colin Reid's research on the diary has been compiled into a new book called The Digger's Diary, launching at Stourbridge Library.