The Peterson Diary An historically important military diary belonging to Sergeant Hans Petersen, of the New Zealand Field Artillery. The diary starts in 1917 and ends in 1918. It covers his entire war service. The diary is important and unique in that Petersen was one of a handful of men of the New Zealand Field Artillery who served aboard the troopships as Gunners. Petersen left New Zealand onboard 'Tainui' on 1 August 1917. It is presumed that he has served on other ships as well. His diary details his travels to the UK, Europe and America. This diary (spanning some 12 months) is new to the market and as so little is known about the Shipboard Gunners it is a unique insight into the lives of these men -who played a valuable role during World War I. Excerpts include 'it was a lovely night for subs, dead calm and moon', 'plenty airships and aeroplanes about. Can hear guns at times firing at the front', 'heavy firing in channel today', 'Ships leave here at night and make a dash across the Channel';2 ships lying torpedoed in here full of cargo. Hundreds of Germans working cargos from ships: The diary is an official issue New Zealand World War I Soldiers diary and it is clearly named to 43619 Sergt Hans Petersen. Hans Christian Frithjof Petersen was a professional soldier from 6 Hawker St, Wellington. He embarked New Zealand with the 20th Rfts on 'Tainui' bound for Plymouth, England. Petersen survived the war