A fascinating World War One Diary penned by an Englishwoman in Germany has finally been completed 100 years after it was started.
Former Macclesfield Express reporter Charles Yates helped turn the diaries of Annie Droege, originally from Stockport, into a book after teaming up with Annie’s great nephew Mark Drummond Rigg.
Now he has released an extended version of the book, which ended abruptly in February 1917, when she fled her house arrest in a German garrison town to be reunited with her interned husband Arthur in England.
The Diary Of Annie’s War Extended Edition tells the story of the missing 22 months from the end of the original diary in February 1917 until Armistice Day 1918.
Charles, who worked at the Express for three years, said: “Annie wrote in great detail about the things that mattered to her and it’s interesting because she was in such a unique position.
“Mr Rigg painstakingly transcribed the diaries and we turned it into a book.
"We felt that giving the story an ending and telling of Annie’s time back in Stockport was well worthwhile and those people who read the initial book, a surprise hit in Germany, can now have a copy that is extended right up until Armistice Day 1918.
"The details used for the final 22 months of the war came after interviews with members of Annie’s family and the minutae of life in the North West was gleaned from research undertaken by the curator at Stockport Museum Joanne Dunn.
"We have weaved in extracts from Annie’s life with real-life events in England during the Great War and believe it concludes her diary in a suitable fashion with her husband Arthur popping out to celebrate Armistice Day with a pint of beer.”
Charles is now working on a screenplay with author Rev GP Taylor and hopes Annie’s story will become a feature-length film. Annie’s Diary is now an exhibit at Stockport Museum along with the family’s photograph albums from the Great War.
The Diary of Annie’s War Extended Edition 2014 is published by Grosvenor House Publishing priced £10.99.
