First World War Memoirs of Frank Lavender

Scope and Content

Three volumes illustrating life in service in World War One. The volumes contain Lavender's personal account of wartime, humourous sketches, newspaper clippings and some photographs. The tone of the journals are convivial and sometimes humourous and appear to be written with an audience in mind due to their conversational nature. The entries and drawings are very detailed with the journals written in the past tense implying that they were created or enhanced either with hindsight or when Lavender had some time away from duties in service. He dedicates the second journal to his parents, written for them whilst convalescing at the Red Cross Hospital in Bakewell, Derbyshire, however, it is not clear if the first journal was also undertaken for this purpose and at this time.

Administrative / Biographical History

Frank Charles Lavender was born 26 March 1889 in Thrapston, Huntingdonshire, Northamptonshire and served on the Western Front in the First World War.

Source: National Archives UK

Access Information

Open. Access to all registered researchers.

Other Finding Aids

Please see full catalogue for more information.

Conditions Governing Use

Permission to make any published use of any material from the collection must be sought in advance in writing from the Director of Special Collections (email: special-collections@contacts.bham.ac.uk). Identification of copyright holders of unpublished material is often difficult. Special Collections will assist where possible with identifying copyright owners, but responsibility for ensuring copyright clearance rests with the user of the material