The effects of one 31393 Katherine Clarke QMAAC (Queen Mary'...

Hammer

£1,200

The effects of one 31393 Katherine Clarke QMAAC (Queen Mary's Auxiliary Army Corps) based at the Advanced Motor Transport Depot, Abbeville, France c1918 - the collection comprising:

- her WWI First World War Victory Medal and War Medal - both impressed 31393 Wkr. K. Clarke QMAAC, with original ribbons.

- two of her original WAAC (Women's Auxiliary Army Corps) uniform badges, 

- Three extensively filled diaries from 6th May 1918 to Sept 16th 1919 - which goes into great details from her training in Folkestone, arrival at Boulogne, arrival at Abbeville, bombing raids, general working practises, leave trips, right up to 'Peace Day' and everything in between. Several bombing raids on the local village are noted, including a raid on a hospital, there are several instances where the QMAAC regiment had to run for cover in a 'pit'. A fascinating and unique archive of events during Clarke's service.

- Clarke was a prolific artist and sketcher, and the collection features five well-filled sketch books which accompany her diaries. Events told in her book also feature in her sketches. Includes various people she met during her service, meetings, soldiers, camp life, her friends, and many others. Hundreds of sketches feature.

- Clarke also kept two autograph books and filled them with signatures and mementos from her time in service. The smaller book filled with all those she met or her fellow QMAACs in Abbeville and beyond. The larger book (green) 

- Clarke's personal photograph album c1918-1919, dealing with the very end of the war and into the WAAC's disbandment and her trips in France immediately after. The album well annotated with names, dates and places. Including views of the South African Hospital Abbeville (on The Somme), views of the WAAC camp, Advanced Motor Transport Depot (where Clarke appears to have been based), 'Our Visit To The Tank Corps', 'Reminiscences of the last AMTD Dance - Fancy Dress - 1919 ', 'Breaking Up The Unit April 23rd 1919', a camp at Rouen, 'E Group - Base MT Depot, Rouen,' Dieppe, 'German Prisoners Work Under Flags Of Victory After Peace Day,' battlefields (c1919), and several loose photographs and postcards. The final few pages are titled 'On Demob' and the final page a single image of Clarke labelled 'Grand Finale!! Rugby, Nov 19'. 

A unique and important collection of wartime diaries and other ephemera.