First World War diary discovered

On the eve of the Second Apley Archive Exhibition in The Creamery at Apley Farm Shop, at the very last minute I found on our bookshelves the First World War diary of AW Foster. I’d totally forgotten about it, having put it on our book catalogue when we first moved to Shropshire in 2006.

He was invalided out in May 1915 & on recovery, sent to work in Military Intelligence in Greece. Had he been killed, the Apley Estate would have been sold off & I would not be writing this ! Here’s the last page of his diary, a factual but moving account. The whole diary is all typed, leather bound & in excellent condition.

Then whilst I was having a clear out early on Saturday morning, I found this in a drawer on Gavin’s dressing table ! It’s the identity tag (known as dog tags) of Captain AW Foster, Royal Horse Guards (RHG). Luckily it wasn’t put to use.

It perfectly compliments the rare collection of photos I also found, some of which are displayed in the Creamery Café until 27 August, when I will launch the Third Apley Archive exhibition.