| Description | Manuscript diar, written in Army Book 152: Correspondence Book (Field Service), with gap between 11 March and 20 April. The diary includes references to the use of gas ("asphyxiating gases", 27 April, p. 53) and a description with sketch of the layout of trench and dugout (16 July, p. 90)
Typescript transcript of the diary, quarto sheets numbered 106 to 199 loose in folder, with label on front cover: "War - 1914 - III." The transcript ends at the entry for 25 July 1915
Baird continues to describe opinions and relate gossip about the conduct of the war and the personalities involved. In January he attends a conference of the British, French, and Belgian General Staffs to discuss port security and related matters, and describes it as pandemonium; however the minutes, although bearing no relation to the discussions, are lucid and sensible. He also visits the front and has a tour of French positions. He also meets and accompanies various distinguished visitors from Britain who are inspecting the progress of the war. In April, Baird returns to London for various meetings on the war effort, including a private interview with King George, at which they discuss the problems of munitions supply (a continuing theme in the diary), the Dardanelles operation, which the King is does not seem happy, and the wastage of offices.
The entry for April 27 discusses the German use of poison gas ("ashyxiating gases") in the recapture of Lizerne; in the entry for May 1 there is an account of the newspaper campaign in which supporters of Lord Kitchener and of General French are alleged to be throwing dirt at each other; and in the entry for July 16, Baird describes (with a sketch) a new type of shell-proof dugout being constructed in the trenches.
Baird has a meeting on 5th May with the King and Queen of Belgium, with discussion of King Albert's view of the progress of the war; the King is optimistic and believes that the Germans are already making their last big effort. Baird has further discussions with the King on 16 May, and again on 4 July, where the King is more pessimistic and expresses his admiration for the Hohenzollerns.
In the entry for 29 June, Baird summarises a memo by K. [Lord Kitchener] on the general situation, and also gives Macdonogh's view of the Gallipoli operation; and under the same date their is a long account of discussions with Sir Henry Wilson and the latter's view of the war situation. Discussions with Wilson continue through the remainder of the diary. In the entry for 24 July, Baird gives his view on the Dardanelles.
In early July, Baird is at GHQ for lectures on intelligence work, and discusses the problems of the British organisation, including the view that the best staff officers had been sent to the front and their places filled by less experienced and less competent men.
The diary closes with a summary of Sir Henry Wilson's negative views of the situation in July 2015. |