WAR 1914-1918. Autograph manuscript signed by Zouave Lepommelet, August 1-October 31, 1914; in-12 notebook, approx. 175 pages in pencil, black waxed cloth boards. Interesting diary of Zouave Lepommelet, supply officer with the 11th Battalion, 41st Company, 3rd Zouaves, resident in Constantine. The story begins with the German bombardment of Philippeville (Algeria); Lepommelet was then sent to northern France, the Ardennes, the Marne, the Oise, Belfort and as far as Belgium. Day by day, the Zouave describes his life at the front, the fighting, and the many tragic casualties around him... A note at the top asks that the notebook be returned to his family. Here are a few passages. Carlepont September 16: "We are in the center of the battle, and it will be a miracle if a few shells don't land on us. [...] Suddenly, the spahis (who have been given blue jackets: we've finally realized that red is too conspicuous) who had gone towards Carlepont trot back: the village is occupied by the enemy. We set off at a trot towards Tracy-le-Mont, where we see two biplanes land near the C.A.'s Quartier Gal. On the way, we find 2 corpses of poor lignards waiting in the mud for their burial"... - October 5, he finds one of his men: "For days and nights, he stayed in the trenches. They ate raw rice, salted soup, raw potatoes and drank water from puddles. As for ammunition, they fired German rifles all day long. As for the dangers, they often came close to being killed or wounded and taken prisoner, particularly during the retreat from Cuts"... Etc.