Journal, 1941, and photograph album, c.1942-1945, of James `Jimmy` Gordon, serving with the British Army in India, Egypt and Burma.

James Gordon was born in 1916 in Turriff, Aberdeenshire. A gifted artist and art teacher, Gordon enlisted with the British Army during the Second World War. His journal begins on 10 November 1941, and records daily observations and his thoughts during his journey from the Clyde on board the troopship Aorangi. He describes Freetown, Sierra Leone, in some detail where the ship was docked for several days. From there, the ship travelled to Durban, South Africa, where Gordon spent enjoyable days of shore leave before transferring to a different ship. The daily entries end on 28 December 1941, as he approached Mombasa, Kenya. Thereafter, the volume contains prose, some copied and some possibly Gordon`s own work, which was apparently written in the later years of the war. There are also a small number of press cuttings pasted into the volume.

The photograph album includes over 300 photographs and maps drawn by Gordon illustrating the route he travelled with his unit, to Egypt, India and Burma. Family members recall that Gordon served in the Royal Signals as a forward radio signaller. It is understood he may have been involved in the battle of Kohima. The photographs record the places visited by Gordon and people he encountered, as well as some scenes of army life. There are also a number of press cuttings loosely inserted, mostly about action and other events in Burma.

A postcard addressed to Gordon on the event of his fourth birthday was also included with this gift. Gordon died 17 May 2003.