56 DIVISION 167 Infantry Brigade War Diary 1918 - Facsimile

In this review the focus is on a facsimile edition of the War Diary for the 56 Division, 167 Infantry Brigade, covering the 1st (City of London) Battalion (Royal Fusiliers) and 3rd (City of London) Battalion for 1918. This edition is aimed at family historians, military researchers and students of the Western Front who need primary, unedited day-by-day accounts. The single biggest reason to buy is the unfiltered, full colour facsimile reproduction of original pages which preserves handwriting, operational notes and the flow of events exactly as recorded during the First World War.

Key Features

• Full colour facsimile: Each original diary page is reproduced in colour so readers can study handwriting, marginalia and ink variations as in the original document.
• Chronological index: A specially created index guides researchers through dates and entries, making it quicker to locate actions, movements and daily occurrences.
• Original primary source: The text is a faithful reproduction of the WO95 war diary format, providing day-to-day operational detail without modern editing or interpretation.
• Unit-focused content: The diary concentrates on the 56 Division and 167 Infantry Brigade units, offering targeted information for descendants or unit historians.
• Research value: The volume provides granular insight into routine and combat operations, useful for building timelines and corroborating service records.

Who It's For

This facsimile is ideal for genealogists and family historians tracing an ancestor who served with the Royal Fusiliers or the London Regiment in 1918, who need original wording and contemporaneous context for service verification. It also suits academic researchers and local historians who require verbatim primary material to support theses, articles or battlefield studies.

It is less suitable for casual readers seeking a narrative history or for those who need annotated interpretation; this edition does not contain modern commentary or explanatory footnotes, so readers wanting analysis should pair it with a secondary source.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Faithful reproduction of original diary pages preserves primary evidence for research.
• Full colour facsimiles reveal handwriting and marginal notes often lost in black-and-white copies.
• The chronological index significantly reduces time spent searching specific dates or incidents.

Cons

• Because there is no modern annotation or editorial commentary, new readers may struggle to interpret abbreviations and period military terminology.

Specifications

Title	56 DIVISION 167 Infantry Brigade War Diary 1918
Units Covered	1st (City of London) Battalion (Royal Fusiliers); 3rd (City of London) Battalion
Archive Reference	WO95/2949
Format	Full colour facsimile of original war diary pages
Content Type	Primary source war diary entries, day-by-day
Includes	Specially created chronological index

Our Verdict

This facsimile is an excellent purchase for anyone needing an unedited primary record of the 56 Division and 167 Infantry Brigade in 1918; it delivers authentic, high-detail reproductions and a useful index at a reasonable research value. Those seeking interpretation or narrative should supplement it with analytical histories, but as a source document it is indispensable for serious research.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this edition include modern commentary?
Answer. No, the volume reproduces the original war diary pages without modern editing or interpretive notes.

What does the chronological index cover?
Answer. The index maps diary entries by date and highlights key events to help locate movements and incidents quickly.

Is the facsimile suitable for citation in research?
Answer. Yes, as a faithful reproduction of the WO95 archival record it can be cited as a primary source when noting the WO95/2949 reference.