Frank Yates Hirst

Frank Yates Hirst emigrated to Canada in 1911. He was a farmer and the winters were so cold that he moved to Springfield Massachusetts. He was still there when America joined the First World War so he was conscripted into the American army and made an American citizen. On August 22nd 1918 he set sail in a convoy. He started a diary during the voyage which he continued until his return to England. He starts with details of the convoy and the crossing. He was very happy to be sailing home to England. He arrived in Liverpool and then went to Winchester and on to Southampton. He crossed on a very crowded boat to Le Havre. His company moved to the Bordeaux area to Pons. He was not involved in any fighting and the diary gives lots of details about his daily life. His belongings include photos of his base in America.