Diary of Captain Percy Hugh Beverley Lyon
A Diary: Seven months of captivity May 26th to December 18th 1918
Diary compiled in 1919 by Captain Percy Hugh Beverley Lyon of 6th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry (6 DLI) of his time in a prisoner of war camp in 1918. The diary also contains some photographs and ephemera. It begins with 6 DLI in first line trenches near Chemin des Dames and the beginning of the Battle of the Aisne. The official war diary of the battalion (WO 95/2840/2) reports that 27-31 May 1918, 30 officers, and 499 other ranks, were killed, wounded, or captured. Lyon was one of the officers captured on 27 May.
The diary has been transcribed by Durham at War volunteers and edited for some spellings and punctuation. You can read some extracts below or download the whole transcript.
This diary contains language that was not uncommon at the time, but readers may now consider offensive.
27 May 1918
“The Germans were all round us in a moment, pulling at our equipment. My glasses went at once, also my revolver. There were about 25 of us all told, brought in from different parts of the hill, about ten of the men being wounded. I was the only officer with this party, and spent the first quarter hour after capture going round the little group, and doing my best to dress their wounds, some of them bad enough in all conscience. I was soon relieved of my duties by a German stretcher bearer, who was gentle and considerate with the men, and I think did his best for them.”
17 June 1918
“At Thorn we change again, have some potatoes and beans and go on in a small local train at 4.55 to our final destination, Graudenz. Here we detrain and are marched for about 20 minutes down the long main street of the town to the camp, attended by many small boys. The camp is part of a large block of barracks, used as an OTC [Officers’ Training Corps] before the war, and now divided into various parts, the rest being used for the recruits. Our sector consists of a large square parade ground, about 100 yards by 50 yards, with two ‘blocks’ of rooms, one on the south, the other on the west, each with three floors and room for about 300 to 350 officers. In the south west corner is a small block holding the kitchen, baths and dining hall (two floors). The whole is ringed round with a strong barbed fence, and beyond a high wall with barbed wire above. There is at least one sentry always on duty on each side, and strong double electric lamps every 50 yards. As soon as we arrive we are searched, and this diary is taken and kept for four days.”
Date: May-December 1918, compiled 1919
Author: Lyon, Percy Hugh Beverley
Reference: D/DLI 7/424/3
Where to find this: Durham County Record Office
Contributed by Dorothy C | Sue T | Durham County Record Office
