World War 1 Resource: George Kellett

George Kellett - Son, Brother, Fiancé and Soldier

At the beginning of 1918 George Kellett, a soldier born in Wakefield, received a Christmas parcel which contained a Christmas cake, parkin, a few apples and a diary. 


George then recorded his year as a World War 1 soldier in this diary. 


His family donated his diary to Wakefield Museums.

Sepia photograph of George Kellett in his army uniform. He is a young white man in his early 20s. He has short hair, is clean-shaven, and smiling at the camera.
George Kellett in his army uniform. He was in his early 20s during World War 1.

The diary details George’s everyday life as a soldier in 1918 - letters from home, pay arrangements, games with fellow soldiers, getting ready for draft, working on a rifle range and digging trenches.

Over the year the diary builds up a picture of what his experience was. This resource shares George’s diary entries along with other information about his family.

Click the links below to read through George's diary and learn more about his life. There are videos, photos and objects as well as the diary entries to explore.


A speech bubble with a question mark in it

How to Use this Resource

Teacher's Notes



A photograph of George as a young boy and his family

George Kellett - Introduction

Learn more about George's life before, during and after World War 1

A re-enactor dressed as George holding a rifle

Object Videos

Demonstrations of and information about objects used by World War 1 soldiers

Icon of a map

Interactive Map - George's Journey

Track George's journey throughout 1918 on this interactive map

A calendar with January 1918 on it

George's Diary - January 1918

A calendar with February 1918 on it

George's Diary - February 1918

A calendar with March 1918 on it

George's Diary - March 1918

A calendar with April 1918 on it

George's Diary - April 1918

A calendar with May 1918 on it

George's Diary - May 1918

A calendar with June 1918 on it

George's Diary - June 1918

A calendar with July 1918 on it

George's Diary - July 1918

A calendar with August 1918 on it

George's Diary - August 1918

A calendar with September 1918 on it

George's Diary - September 1918

A calendar with October 1918 on it

George's Diary - October 1918

A calendar with November 1918 on it

George's Diary - November 1918

A calendar with December 1918 on it

George's Diary - December 1918

An icon of money exchanging hands

George's Diary - Payment notes

Payment notes at the back of George's diary

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