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Date: July 29th 1916
Diary

[Written on the last pages of the diary, following the July 29th entry]

Thou Shalt Not

Harold A. Dean

British Tommies New Ten Commandments

1. When on guard thou shall challenge all parties approaching thee

2. Thou shalt not send any engraving, nor any likeness of any airship in heaven above, nor any postcard of the earth beneath, nor of any submarine in the sea, for I, the censor, am a jealous censor, visiting the iniquities of the offender with three months C.B. but allowing mercy unto thousands by letting their letters go first who obey my commandments.

3. Thou shalt not use profane language, unless under extraordinary circumstances, such as seeing thy mate shot, or getting petrol in thy tea

4. Remember the soldiers week consists of seven days. Six days shalt thou labor, and on the seventh thou shalt do all the odd jobs

5. Honor thy King and Country, keep thy rifles well oiled, and shoot straight, that thy days may be long in the land the enemy giveth thee

6. Thou shalt not steal thy comrades kit

7. Thou shalt not kill time

8. Thou shalt not adulterate thy mess tin by using it as a shaving mug

9. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy comrades, but preserve silence on his out goings and incomings

10. Thou shalt not covet thy corporal post, nor thy sargeants, nor thy sargeant-major’s, but by thy duty and perseverance thou shalt rise to the position of field-marshall.

Original Scans

Original Scans