A compelling true story of a First World War soldier, brought to life through a rediscovered wartime diary — combining military history with deeply human storytelling. The book blends frontline WWI experience with a modern-day investigation, creating a dual narrative that is both engaging and highly readable. The book will be enjoyed both those with an interest in history and general nonfiction readers who are interested in a detective stories or investigative journeys with a deeply human dimension, such as Michael Palin’s best selling book ‘ Great Uncle Harry: a tale of War and Empire.’
The book has a powerful hook. In 1965, a 12 year old boy discovered an unfinished 1918 pocket diary lying on an English rubbish tip. The diary had been written by Corporal C Nutttall MM of the Australian Imperial Force. In 1996 he offered it to Dudley Museum curator Colin Reid, launching him on an extraordinary 22 year quest to discover Nuttall’s fate; a quest that took from England tenth French battlefields and on to Nuttall’s homeland of Australia, to reveal a story of love, faith and unimaginable courage.
A compelling true story of a First World War soldier, brought to life through a rediscovered wartime diary — combining military history with deeply human storytelling. The book blends frontline WWI experience with a modern-day investigation, creating a dual narrative that is both engaging and highly readable. The book will be enjoyed both those with an interest in history and general nonfiction readers who are interested in a detective stories or investigative journeys with a deeply human dimension, such as Michael Palin’s best selling book ‘ Great Uncle Harry: a tale of War and Empire.’
The book has a powerful hook. In 1965, a 12 year old boy discovered an unfinished 1918 pocket diary lying on an English rubbish tip. The diary had been written by Corporal C Nutttall MM of the Australian Imperial Force. In 1996 he offered it to Dudley Museum curator Colin Reid, launching him on an extraordinary 22 year quest to discover Nuttall’s fate; a quest that took from England tenth French battlefields and on to Nuttall’s homeland of Australia, to reveal a story of love, faith and unimaginable courage.
