The Digger's Diary

A forgotten soldier. A bullet-pierced diary. A 22-year quest to uncover the truth.

When museum curator Colin Reid is handed a bullet-pierced diary for a Great War exhibition, it sets him on a 22-year search to uncover the fate of its owner, Corporal Claude Nuttall MM.

Written in the trenches of France, the diary offers a rare and deeply personal glimpse into the life of an ordinary Australian soldier — his endurance, his faith, and the quiet courage required to survive the horrors of war. Yet this small, fragile book raises as many questions as it answers. Who was Nuttall? What became of him? And how did his diary survive when so many did not?

Determined to find out, the curator follows a trail that stretches from the industrial heartlands of England to the battlefields of Europe and on to Australia. Piece by piece, he reconstructs a life long lost to history, uncovering a powerful story of love, resilience, and extraordinary bravery — and forging an unexpected connection between families separated by a century.

The Digger’s Diary is more than a military history. It is a testament to the enduring power of memory, and to the humble objects that carry our stories through time, waiting for someone to listen.

‘A truly powerful manuscript. Crafted by a gifted, investigative researcher and wordsmith.’ — AJC Publishing Beta Reviewer, Melbourne
‘I loved this. Warm, personal, and deeply engaging — a story that resonates across generations.’ — AJC Publishing Beta Reviewer, Melbourne
‘An innovative and compelling take on the war narrative, offering a fresh and absorbing perspective on the “war hero” story.’ — Rowandale Books Beta Reviewer, Cardiff