Rare WW1 ledger returned home after being found at car boot sale hundreds of miles away

A rare First World War ledger has made its way home after it was discovered hundreds of miles away at a car boot sale.

The document, which dates back more than a century, was picked up by an anonymous builders' merchant from Maldon, Essex, before it was auctioned near Derby back in February.

Durham Light Infantry Friends acquired the historic ledger, containing details of some 900 men from the region who volunteered for military service during a brief four-day period in December 1915.

The majority of those who signed up were employed at Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company in Jarrow, South Tyneside.

The ledger spans 23 double pages, recording each volunteer's name, age, height, chest measurements, and any distinguishing physical features.

Matt Crowson, militaria expert at Hansons Auctioneers, described such documents as "extremely rare", given records of this nature were meant to be destroyed once the war came to an end.

He said: "How it came to light hundreds of miles away we may never know, but I am very glad it did."

For many volunteers, the decision to enlist came in the aftermath of a devastating German Zeppelin attack on the shipyard, which claimed the lives of 17 workers and left 72 others injured.

"There's no doubt the raid would have brought home the seriousness of the war to the brave Jarrow workers, many of whom would have wanted retribution", Mr Crowson added.

Despite shipyard workers holding reserved occupation status, which could have exempted them from service, hundreds chose to volunteer regardless.

The men enrolled through the Derby Scheme - Britain's final voluntary recruitment drive before compulsory conscription was introduced the following year in 1916.

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Sid Patterson, a trustee of DLI Friends, shared a deeply personal connection to the document, having grown up on the Salt Meadows estate in Gateshead alongside many of the enlisted men.

He said: "It was a very close-knit community when I lived there, and the fact so many men enlisted following the attack on Palmers despite shipyard workers being a reserved occupation - shows it was then too.

"Reading their names and knowing so many didn't make it home is very moving", he added, noting how he recognised many names as having lived on his very street.

The ledger is now housed at The Story in Durham, home to the Durham Light Infantry Collection and Archive, where it can be viewed in the collection room by appointment.

A Durham Council spokesman said: "We are honoured to be the custodians of this rare handwritten ledger containing the names of hundreds of North East men who signed up to serve in the First World War.

"The Friends presented it to The Story Durham, our culture and heritage venue, which is the permanent home of the DLI Collection and Archive.

"By placing the ledger in The Story’s care, the Friends have ensured it will be preserved and accessible for generations to come."