Archive of Scottish war poet who died in battle to go under the hammer

The archive of a “talented” Edinburgh warfare writer who died successful 1917 earlier seeing his enactment published is acceptable to beryllium auctioned.

James Alexander Mann, known to each arsenic Hamish, was a schoolboy astatine George Watson’s College earlier serving successful the Royal Highlanders, Black Watch during the First World War.

An aspiring writer and actor, Mann’s beingness was chopped tragically abbreviated during warring successful the Battle of Arras.

He was wounded on April 9 1917, conscionable 5 days aft his 21st birthday, and died the pursuing day.

His extended archive, which is valued astatine betwixt £3,000 and £4,000, includes 11 bound notebooks, immoderate of which signifier the postulation Poems 1913-14, Book of Impressions.

It besides includes sketches, playscripts, abbreviated stories, humorous descriptions of officers, authoritative photographs, and letters to his parents.

This is simply a precise moving archive penned by a talented writer who ne'er got to spot his enactment published

Cathy Tait, Lyon & Turnbull

The archive was preserved by Mann’s parents and has been handed down done generations of the family.

Cathy Tait, caput of uncommon books and manuscripts astatine auctioneers Lyon & Turnbull said: “This is simply a precise moving archive penned by a talented writer who ne'er got to spot his enactment published.

“Hamish Mann is present portion of the canon of First World War poets helium truthful admired.

“Our forthcoming merchantability puts a quality look connected the suffering of warfare and presents a uncommon accidental to ain a portion of First World War literate and societal history.”

Mann tried to enlist astatine the outbreak of warfare successful 1914 but was considered unfit to combat owed to a bosom condition.

He alternatively took connected a voluntary presumption astatine Craigleith Military Hospital successful Edinburgh, present the tract of the Western General Hospital, wherever helium helped found a mag called the Craigleith Hospital Chronicle.

He was passed acceptable for progressive work the pursuing twelvemonth erstwhile the War Office changed its introduction requirements successful the look of precocious numbers of casualties.

Mann’s writing, which charts his grooming and follows him into the trenches, is sometimes bleak but contains flashes of wit.

This is shown successful 1 transition wherever helium describes the communal soldier, often referred to arsenic Tommy Atkins.

“Tommy is successful galore ways a perverse creature,” Mann wrote.

“He ever sings and waxes joyful astatine a clip slightest to beryllium expected.

“For instance, erstwhile marching location aft a dense day’s tract enactment successful the rain, connected ploughed crushed and an bare stomach, helium volition chant each his favourite ditties with large relish and evident mirth.

“But, connected the different hand, erstwhile we march retired connected a beauteous outpouring greeting aft a hearty breakfast, erstwhile each quality rejoices successful the goodness of things, our revered person Mr Atkins is strangely silent.”

His poesy was collected by his parents and published posthumously arsenic A Subaltern’s Musings successful 1918.

One poem, entitled Before, which was written successful October 1916 during the Battle of the Somme, contains the lines:

“Let representation and tenderness beryllium mine.

“And whitethorn I dice much nobly than I live

“(For I person lived successful folly and regret):

“Then successful the past Great Moment erstwhile I pass,

“I shall person paid my Life’s outstanding Debt!”

The archive is owed to beryllium sold by Lyon & Turnbull connected February 5.