Returning a Digger’s WWI diary

The Brotherhood Books warehouse receives tens of thousands of donated books every year, but recently they inadvertently received a piece of long-lost family history.

​It was a diary written by digger James Leslie Robinson, starting in November 2016 when he was a stretcher bearer and ambulance driver during the Battle of the Somme. At 20 years old, he was a long way from his Brunswick home and meticulously kept a small, leatherbound diary where he described the horrors of war.

Over a century later, a volunteer stumbled across the journal amongst thousands of donated items and notified warehouse manager Greg Simpson.

“This diary is one of the most jaw-dropping things I’ve seen,” said Greg. “It pretty much gave me shivers. I don’t think any of the young bucks who signed up to fight in the war had any clue what they were in for.”

Recognising this as an important piece of history, Greg looked to find the digger’s family and return the heirloom to them, via journalist Carolyn Webb’s feature story in The Age.

​After reading about the find the morning the story was published, Jenny, the niece of James Leslie Robinson, drove from Apollo Bay to take James’ journal home to his remaining family. The diary was lost when James’ sister passed away three years ago and her belongings were donated to BSL, with the journal mistakenly tucked away with other books for donation. The Robinson family have been looking for it ever since.

​Marvelling at the diary’s good condition, 80-year-old Jenny said Les was quiet and reserved, which probably enabled him to persevere during the war. She said the diary would be looked after for future generations “to understand their heritage.”

Reflecting on the experience, Greg said “the diary has gone back to the best place it could be. I think it’s the best possible result we could have hoped for.”

*Quotes in this article were taken from interviews with Carolyn Webb, The Age

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