| Description | This volume, marked "Log IX", describes Cruickshank's experience of the Armistice and his work in Germany for the Commission for the Repatriation of British Prisoners of War.
Cruickshank rejoins his unit in Contrai on 29 October, and in the entries from 3 November on he discusses the speculation arising from the German request for an armistice, and reports confusion, optimism, rumours and counter-rumours. On 10 November: "Much laughter much shouting by RFA men in street who say that Brigade has got unofficial wire that the Armistice being signed. After dinner West and I went over to Orderly Room and found that both Reg and Signals corroborated the statement. Divisional Unofficial always or v. often precedes an official announcement; and West and I returned to sleep we hope for the last time in a cellar or basement, as a precautionary measure.". (pp. 8 -9)
Following the official announcement, Cruickshank notes that the 41st M.G.C. is one of the divisions to be sent to Germany, and gives details of the arrangements. However he himself is temporarily posted to the18th Battalion King's Royal Rifle Corps. On 6 January 1919 Cruickshank is appointed as Officer Commanding Nuremberg for the Commission for the Repatriation of British Prisoners of War: "[I] learned that we were for the curious jo b of searching German Corps Areas for sick and missing British prisoners" (p. 26). He reports to the Commissioner, General Sir Richard Ewart, in Berlin on 8 January. Details of the PoW situation (numbers of prisoners, locations etc.) are given (pp. 28 - 30). From 24 January 1919 on, Cruickshank describes his liaison work with officers of the 3rd Bavarian Army Corps and their visits to PoW camps (pp. 35 ff.). From 16 March Cruickshank is again with the British Army of the Rhine in Cologne. On 19 July he is hoping for demobilisation.
This volume includes descriptions of the field of Waterloo, Brussels, and Cologne Cathedral. There is also a detailed, lively, and interesting account of the state of central Berlin in the revolutionary period of early January 1919, when Cruickshank and his companions come under fire on the Wilhelmstrasse. Cruickshank also recounts conversations about the war with a Belgian priest and Bavarian officers, and a discussion with conscientious objectors serving on ambulance trains.
The last entry in the diary gives details of Cruickshank's planned departure for the United States, where he was to spend a year as Associate Professor of Physiology at the Washington School of Medicine: "Came N on 25th [July] having got visé for passport by American Consul Edinburgh. Sailing by S/S 'Adriatic' from Southampton for New York Oct. 8th." His final comment is that this "may call for another log".
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Enclosures in this volume:
(Mostly pasted in; loose enclosures marked *)
Inside front cover: small photograph of Martin Cruickshank on horse at Tulkarm, Palestine, annotated.
* Identification Card in English, French, and Italian, issued to Captain E.W.H. Cruickshank, 11th Royal West Kent Regiment, on 1 January 1918 (at p. 1).
Operation order by Lieutenant-Colonel A.W. Tate for 41st Battalion Machine Gun Corps, 7 November 1918, instructing them to force the passage of L'Escaut at a date and time to be stated. 3 foolscap pages typescript, marked 'Secret' and signed by Col. Tate. Annotated by C. "Last orders issued to the Battn. For forcing the passage of the Scheldt at L'Escaut R. Nov. 7th 19" (p. 1)
Photograph of Cruickshank (standing left) with two other officers. Annotated "The Trio. Dyke and West" (p. 2)
Photograph of Cruickshank (2nd from left) with his medical team, Corporal Dinsdale and Privates Steen and Jones, annotated with their names, decorations, and title Medical Dept 18th K.R.R.C. (King's Royal Rifle Corps, in Germany) (p. 15)
Photograph of the officers of Headquarters Co., 18th Battn. K.R.R.C. annotated with names and decorations; Cruickshank designated simply as M.O. (p. 17)
Press cutting dated 26 December [1918] listing numbers of French and South African casualties (p. 22)
Photographs of medical N.C.O.s of 41st Bn M.G.C., Cpl. J.E. Watson and L/Cpl. Brownsdon, annotated with some details(pp. 22 - 23)
Photographs (oval cut-outs) of officers of C Company 41st Bn. M.G.C.: Major Chalmers, Captain Riley, Lt. Rogers, and Lt.. [illegible] (p. 23)
Order, typescript, from the A.D.M.S., 41st Divisional H.Q., 5 January 1919, instructing Cruickshank and other officers to proceed to Cologne on 6 January for temporary duty with British prisoners of war.(tipped in p. 34)
Letter from Dr. Ewinger of the Third Bavarian Army Corps, to Cruickshank and Barnett 28 January 1919 asking them to dinner that evening to discuss their experiences in visiting the PoW camps in the area. Their host will be the General Chief of Staff, Major Seyler, as Ewinger is unable to attend. (p. 48)
German ration vouchers for bread and meat (p. 48)
German military railway ticket for 2 officers and20 men from Nuremberg to Frankfurt am Main, 4 February 1919; printed form with hand-written details (p. 49)
International Reply Coupon (p. 49)
Note from Major Theodor Schlagintweit, Munich, 25 January 1919. He is received Cruickshank's telegram glad is glad to hear that Cruickshank's accommodation is excellent. Schlagintweit and his companions are driving to various Bavarian PoW camps (Fürstenfeldbruck, Lagerlechfeld and Landsberg) that day.On notepaper of the Ausschuß der aus Feindesland vertriebenen Reichsdeutschen [Committee of Citizens of the German Empire expelled from Enemy Countries] (p. 50)
Envelope with two German X-Ray photographs of the heart (p. 51)
Three photographs: D.H.K. West (Battalion Signals officer) on Cruickshank's horse; 3 N.C.O.s, with annotations for two of them, Cpl Johnson and L/Cpl Sutton; studio photograph of Cruickshank's brother Martin and two other officers of the 37th Brigade R.F.A., Egypt (pp. 52, 53)
Press cutting; letter from "a battalion M.O." criticising a suggestion published in the British Medical Journal for the formation of a "Front Line Club" for Medical Officers serving with battalions. Possibly written by Cruickshank, as his comments below suggest. (p. 51)
Recommendation for appointment form with report on Ernest Cruickshank, 19 January 1919, signed by the A.D.M.S.of the 41st Division. Gives details of Cruickshank's war service. Very favourable handwritten report on Cruickshank by the A.D.M.S.. With attached slip forwarding the report to Cruickshank for his information. (p. 55)
* Studio postcard photograph of Cruickshank. in uniform, Schöffert, Berlin 1919. On reverse "Like Dad, a bit short in the legs for the length of the body"` (between pp. 54 and 55)
* Studio portrait, annotated on reverse "Sgt. Scoble [?] Cologne 3 - 10" and "Sgt Scoble [?] M.M. and Croix de Guerre (France). Signalling sergeant 41st Bn M.G.C. An Australian and a man of grt. character and ability" (between pp. 54 and 55)
* Press cuttings, undated, from illustrated magazine: seven photographs of German Navy ships, with descriptions. (between pp. 54 and 55)
Photograph showing parade ground, troops drawn up, officer receiving a decoration. Annotation by Cruickshank. "Major Godsdon O.C. 'D' Coy 41 MGBn Presented with Belgian Croix de Guerre at Cöln Deutz 12.2.19" with further details (p. 56)
Newspaper cutting: notice of award of D.Sc. to Cruickshank (tipped in p. 59)
Photograph of Cruickshank in uniform with his mother [?], annotated "Taken .. at No. 17 Osborne Place Aug. 1919" (p.61). |