Diary Kid by John Teahan

[Oatmeal Savage]

I am just finishing the book Diary Kid by John Teahan. Has anyone else read this book, published by Oberon Press ISBN 0778011178. It is taken from the diaries of a corporal, later 2nd Lieutenant, of the Royal Canadian Dragoons. It covers the years 1914 to 1916 with his death at Thiepval. It is an interesting source of the minutiae of daily life. Here is what he said about the Ross rifle.

"January 21, 1915. "C" Squadron was paraded near Winterburn-Stokes this morning and Ross Rifles Mark II were given to about three quarters of each troop. The rifles are of 1910 pattern, not the improved model supplied to the infantry - although the "improved" model is not up to much and, as a mistake was made in manufacture of their magazines, they can be used only as single shot rifles: the magazine will not hold the shell clip. However these may be only a temporary issue as the sights are for match (target) shooting and not active service sights."


They finally received "short Lee Enfield Rifle with long bayonets" on April 29, 1915.

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