大象传媒 Scotland - 大象传媒 Scotland - The soldier whose diary reveals the horrors of the trenches 鈥� and how he was lucky enough to survive them

The soldier whose diary reveals the horrors of the trenches 鈥� and how he was lucky enough to survive them

8 November 2018

Arthur Roberts was one of the many young men who witnessed first-hand the now unimaginable horrors of World War One.

Born in Bristol but raised in Glasgow, he was one of the few black soldiers to serve with a Scottish regiment.

Arthur’s detailed diary of his time on the Western Front was discovered in a Glasgow attic in 2008. Perhaps surprisingly, the diary makes no mention of any racism he might have encountered from his comrades.

Scotland鈥檚 unsung war hero, Arthur Roberts, describes life in the trenches in World War One

Arthur Roberts kept a detailed diary: a unique account of the war.

Instead, he recounts the realities of trench warfare, including his first night on watch.

“When the corporal informed me that I was to take first watch I said, ‘What have I to do?’

“‘Well,’ said he, ‘just stand up on that step and shoot anybody you see who looks like a German’.”

Surviving an attack

The diary also reveals Arthur’s experiences of fighting at Passchendaele, and how sheer luck had kept him alive following a shell attack.

“One fellow in front of me had his head blew off. The chap beside him was severely wounded, the chap next to me was wounded and one of the chaps behind me was killed and the fellow beside him was wounded.

“I completely escaped.”