1918 - 1924 ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPT DIARY HAND WRITTEN BY AN AMERICAN MARINE CORP RIFLE SERGEANT DURING WWI WHO WOULD GO ON TO INVESTIGATE THE LINDBERGH KIDKNAPPING AND PROTECT KINGS OF FINANCE AND THE PRINCE OF WALES

On offer is a unique bound, ruled notebook, often referred to as an FMP (Field Message Pad). It is used by enlisted personnel as well as officers to take notes, record information and serve as an aide memoire. Kept by U.S. Marine Corps Sergeant Francis X Martin, the notebook has 56 blank, ruled pages. It is a bit more than a third complete. The notebook measures 8 in by 4 in and is in good condition. It is dated 1918 but contains entries dated 1924. According to an article at Tampa Bay Times of July 1944 Frances X. Martin was the youngest gunnery sergeant at the American Expeditionary Force, he enlisted in October 1914 and served in France during the WW1, after his discharge in 1932 he was a personal bodyguard of banker J. P. Morgan and in this capacity bodyguarded many famous people, including Prince of Wales, Lloyd George, Lord Cavendish, Giuseppe Volpe and Dwight Morrow. Eventually he settled in St. Petersburg in Florida, where he participated in veteran organizations and was a vice president of American Legion Post 14, and in 1942 reenlisted and served at the Marine detachment of the Miami Naval Air Station. He notes his home location as Quantico, VA, Overseas Depot. The first 4 pages are a listing of duties of several ranks. This is followed by a Report of Activities in Active Service. The entries begin July 12, 1924 and continue through Sept 16, 1924. In succinct, 1-line entries, he details the principal activity of each day. For example: "July 12 Left for Wakefield Mass. July 15: Fired on range July 20: Camp Inspection & Liberty July 23: Shot for record & qualified Expert 303". He notes Aug 16: "... Birthday and on Aug 22 Field Day & drew $5.84 worth of chances on a diamond ring" (no lady mentioned!). The remaining pages consist of several diagrams of Platoon and Section deployment formations as well as list of names and lists of infractions. A military historian would find this to be a clear and concise record of life with a Marine Corp Rifle Sergeant; Manuscript; 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall; KEYWORDS: HISTORY OF, 1920s, ROARING TWENTIES, UNITED STATES, VIRGINIA, USMC; U.S. MARINE CORPS, FRANCIS X. MARTIN; QUANTICO, VA; OVERSEAS DEPOT, FIELD MESSAGE PAD, FMP, MARINE CORPS TRAINING IN 1920S, ARMY SERVICE IN 1920S, MCB QUANTICO, MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, FLORIDA WW1 VETERANS, AMERICAN LEGION COMMANDERS, GUNNERY SERGEANT AT THE AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCE, AMERICAN LEGION POST 14, WW1 VETERANS FROM ST. PETERSBURG, FL; YOUNGEST GUNNERY SERGEANT OF AEF, J.P.MORGAN BODYGUARD, AMERICANA, HANDWRITTEN, MANUSCRIPT, DOCUMENT, LETTER, AUTOGRAPH, WRITER, HAND WRITTEN, DOCUMENTS, SIGNED, LETTERS, MANUSCRIPTS, DIARY, DIARIES, JOURNALS, PERSONAL HISTORY, SOCIAL HISTORY, HISTORICAL, HOLOGRAPH, WRITERS, AUTOGRAPHS, PERSONAL, MEMOIR, MEMORIAL, ANTIQUITÉ, CONTRAT, VÉLIN, DOCUMENT, MANUSCRIT, PAPIER ANTIKE, BRIEF, PERGAMENT, DOKUMENT, MANUSKRIPT, PAPIER OGGETTO D'ANTIQUARIATO, ATTO, VELINA, DOCUMENTO, MANOSCRITTO, CARTA ANTIGÜEDAD, HECHO, VITELA, DOCUMENTO, MANUSCRITO, PAPEL