OXFAM Evesham has discovered an amazing historical artefact amongst a recent house clearance donation haul.
It is a hand-written journal entitled ‘Dads Log – HMS Picton 1914-1916’. The journal relates to HMS Sir Thomas Picton, a First World War Royal Navy Lord Clive-class monitor.
According to the clearly identifiable handwriting and newspaper clippings, this was written by Lance Corporal F.H. Mason. of the Royal Warwicks.
He was awarded a Military Medal for gallantry on the field at Gavielle. He and several members of his company were buried in a dugout by a German shell, and after extracting himself he set out to work and succeeded in digging out the others.
Sadly only a few weeks after this event, he died of gas poisoning, on Thursday, August 9, 1917.
It appears together with three sergeants and a corporal he was sheltering in a dugout when a gas shell penetrated the wall with fatal results to all the occupants.
Lance Corporal F.H. Mason did not live to be presented with the medal he had so bravely won.
He is buried at Outtersteene Communal Cemetery Extension Bailleui, France. Lance Corporal F.H. Mason was the son of Mr and Mrs R Mason of Coughton, near Alcester.
Staff are considering where to send this item for public viewing.
