Building a Historical Narrative

A soldier’s diary has an increased level of credibility when compared to war photographs and letters from the front. In this type of primary source, a soldier recounts his experiences in an honest word. Since diaries are not meant for any audiences and are not censored or commissioned, a soldier is able to be sincere and frank. Often times, a soldier gives an extensive timeline and describes each day recorded. For example, William Henry Smith handwrote a World War II diary with eighty entries from July 21, 1941 to July 7, 1944. The diary is a collection of Smith’s feelings, thoughts, and observations and recounts them on a very personal and human level. For instance, he emotionally writes about a man named Rodney, with whom he had developed very close ties. “Rodney saved my life today. We were in a pit and a potato masher grenade flew in. I was frozen with fear but he took it and threw it back just before it exploded. How will I ever be able to thank him?” However, soldiers’ diaries are only historical interpretations based on one person’s account. Indeed, historians are ultimately at the mercy of the author, as the author chooses only what he intends to report to his diary. Also, soldiers often take hiatuses from their diaries, at which point they do not take diary entries seriously anymore. However, historians have the benefit of referencing a soldier’s diary with historical facts and are able to trace the footsteps of a soldier in a war.