Battered Battle of the Somme diary to go under the hammer

The item was discovered in a barn in Leicestershire and has been given a guide price of £300-400 by Derbyshire-based Hansons Auctioneers.

The 104-year-old notebook, written by Private Arthur Edward Diggens, bears scuffs and stains on its cover, as well as the word "Army".

The opening page states that the diary was started on February 13, 1916, but ends abruptly on October 11 of that year.

Mr Diggens, who survived the conflict, wrote about how "every German had a machine gun" and a shell dropping "just a few yards in front of our billet".

Militaria expert Adrian Stevenson, who discovered the diary at a valuation event at Hansons Auctioneers at Etwall, near Derby, said: "When I opened it, I was amazed - and I had to flick straight to the July 1 entry.

"The fact that both the diary and the soldier survived is pretty remarkable, given those awful statistics. As a mark of respect to its author, I hope this diary sells for a substantial figure at auction. It will certainly appeal to militaria collectors worldwide.

"Unbelievably, it was discovered with several other unrelated militaria items in a box in a Leicestershire barn.

"The owner had no idea who any of the items related to but said his mother had been the recipient of old family heirlooms.

"It's a complete mystery how this Somme diary ended up in the Midlands, particularly as Arthur was born in London.

"I'm just relieved such an important piece of military history has been found and can now be preserved."

The diary is due to be sold in a Medals and Militaria sale at Hansons on March 20.