Scrimgeour's Scribbling Diary: The Truly Astonishing Diary and Letters of an Edwardian Gentleman, Naval Officer, Boy and Son - Softcover

Richard & Beynon Mark (compilers) Hallam

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1844860981 ISBN 13: 9781844860982

Publisher: Conway Maritime Press Ltd, 2009

Synopsis

"Rape, Ravage and Rant are the German watchwords in this war. Right, Revenge & Retrenchment shall be ours." Alexander Scrimgeour, 17th September 1914. When nineteen year old Alexander Scrimgeour lost his life at the Battle of Jutland in 1916, he had already left a legacy - complete diaries spanning the previous six years, chronicling first his life as the son of a wealthy stock broker, then his time as a young sea cadet and finally as a Sub-Lieutenant in His Majesty's Navy. Like all good midshipmen were required to do, Scrimgeour took great pride in writing his journals and was careful to recount every event with marked sincerity. Appalled by some of the actions of the British Admiralty and the Germans alike, Scrimgeour risked court-martial to record some of the more notorious incidents during World War I, and what really happened...His candid way of writing coupled with an articulate and imaginative turn of phrase has left us with first hand evidence shedding light on some extraordinary moments of the Great War. Among his revelations, Scrimgeour reveals the real reason behind the sinking of the HMS Hawke, the events preceding the capture of the infamous Baron Von Wedel - head of the German Spy Bureau and Privy Councilor to the Kaiser and what he learnt from dining with his Naval Commanders as the ship's interpreter. A great deal of attention is devoted to his personal life, including his numerous love affairs, his relationship with his family and his anguish at the loss of close friends killed during the war. Up until now, the few existing war diaries have generally been written by those who fought in the trenches. To have such a detailed and well preserved account of the Great War, written so eloquently from a naval standpoint is nothing less than a marvel. With thousands of British sailors losing their lives at sea during World War I, it is important to draw on all remaining first hand evidence so that we remember, and never forget the heroic actions of our ancestors during one of our country's darkest episodes...through the diaries of Alexander Scrimgeour, we can do just that.

About this title

About the Author

Alexander Scrimgeour's life was tragically cut short when he perished, aged just nineteen, on board HMS Invincible at the Battle of Jutland in 1916 - the greatest naval engagement of the First World War. Fortunately, his diaries survived, and their six year span gives an insight into the character of an extraordinary young man.

Review

'(Scrimgeour's) witty and indiscreet jotting's reveal a man missing his family and lovesick for a woman whose feelings for him remain unclear. Like millions of other young men with similar hopes, he never got to realise them.' Damian Whitworth, The Times

About this edition

• Publisher: Conway Maritime Press Ltd
• Publication date: 2009
• ISBN 10: 1844860981
• ISBN 13: 9781844860982
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 252