Bound in contemporary olive green cloth, with linen tie.

In English.

Manuscript diary, illustrated with photographs, of a tour in Egypt by Arthur Cheatle, in December 1903. Text is written primarily in graphite, with original sketches and 30 original albumen prints. The diary includes observations on board the P. & O. Moldavia, shore trips en-route, and details of time spent in Cairo and Luxor. The Moldovia was a passenger steamship built in March 1903, making this trip one of the first in what would be a 15 year-long career. Between sightseeing trips, the diarist does a lot of “loafing about,” and on the final page “got up at 9 and shaved !!!” The photographs depict racing of camels and buffalo, local inhabitants, members of their party, pyramids, and more.

At the end are two decorative menu cards, one for a Christmas meal at Shepheard's Hotel, Cairo, and the second for luncheon at Mena House Hotel, Pyramids, Cairo, dated 27th December, 1903. Both are signed by the diners present, helping to lend clear identification to most of the party, including the diarist, Arthur Henry Cheatle (1866-1929), a prominent English surgeon. At about this time Cheatle was Aural Surgeon at King's College Hospital. For his service in the First World War, Cheatle would be made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire.

At least one other member of the travelling party is also a surgeon: Sir John Lynn Thomas (1861-1939). Around 1903, Lynn Thomas was surgeon at the Cardiff Royal Infirmary. He would later serve as Deputy Inspector Military Orthopaedics, Western Command, in the First World War. He also conceived, secured the funds for, and successfully developed the Prince of Wales Hospital for limbless men in Cardiff. Thomas is accompanied on the journey by his wife Mary Rosina Lynn Thomas. The final traveling companions are Gwendoline and M. Broatch.

Cheatle, Arthur Henry, 1866-1929 > Diaries.

British > Egypt.

Ocean travel > 20th century.

Egypt > Description and travel.

Cairo (Egypt) > Description and travel.

Diaries.

Albumen prints.

Graphite drawings.

Travel photography.

Photographs.

Photograph albums.

Menus.