Second World War diaries of Edward Joseph Daniels

Eight pocket diaries kept by Edward Joseph Daniels and recording events during the course of the Second World War. Daniels was an engineer employed at High Duty Alloys [HDA] in Redditch and three of the diaries include the abbreviation 'HDA' on the cover. The entries combine a mixture of personal, business and military events with an emphasis on the RAF raids that Daniels observed in the West Midlands and the RAF's retaliatory raids on European targets which his work supported, in particular the Dambusters Raid.

Daniels also served with the Home Guard and the diaries include some ephemera relating to his service and a photograph laid in which is assume to be Daniels himself. After the war, Daniels went on to work at Aldermaston.

Diary entries are brief and highlight various events during the course of the war. These include events in Germany, Malta and further afield as well as more local events such as air raids and bombing. Houghton records the price of cigarettes as well as detailing weather conditions. The 1943 volume includes a loose unidentified passport photograph, possibly depicting the compiler, as well as two business cards and an invitation to the 'Home Guard F102 Company Dinner and Concert' held on Saturday 15 February 1941.

Collection comprises two diaries for 1941; one diary each for 1942 and 1943; two diaries for 1944; and two diaries for 1945. A number of these diaries include the name J. A. Houghton with an accompanying address of 1514 Stratford Road, Shirley.

Daniels was an engineer employed at High Duty Alloys [HDA] in Redditch, a company that produced components for the RAF [Royal Air Force]. Three of the diaries include the abbreviation 'HDA' on the cover. The Dambusters Raid was made possible partly through HDA's manufacture of the V-shaped spars that held the bouncing bombs.

Open, access to all registered researchers.

Purchased from Modern First Editions, October 2018

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