Harry David Green was born in Birmingham in 1897, and during the First World War served as an Air Mechanic in the Balloon Section of the Royal Flying Corps, and later the RAF when it was formed in 1918. 

This collection contains everything from his shoulder badge, to photographs from the hospital he was treated in, to posters warning of zepplin attacks. Harry was injured and received an honourable discharge in February 1919, meaning he received a certificate and Silver War Badge, which are also included in this collection. Whilst serving in Italy, Harry kept a diary which can also be viewed here. The first thirty pages are filled with notes and diagrams  soldiers may have found useful whilst they were serving, especially those that were new to the Forces, including lists of army slang and a guide to French. In the diary Harry often states who he is writing to and receiving letters from, frequently referring to 'Loo', and on one of the end pages he has written the regiment and service number of L Green, his brother Lewis who was serving in the Army Service Corps in France and you can read more about here.

Later in life Harry moved to St Annes in Lancashire, where he became the first Jewish man to be the chairman of the St Annes branch of the British Legion. He put this scrapbook together himself and it is thanks to his daughter Pauline Pike that we have been able to digitise and share this brilliant collection of items.