WILLIAM English was born in Wylam, Northumberland in 1875 and died in 1915 at the Phthisis  Sanatorium at Modderfontein, near Johannesburg in South Africa.

His journal was probably written in his later years and records the events that took him from North East England to South Africa, including his work in mines in England and South Africa, his involvement in The Anglo-Boer War and his enthusiasm for leisure activities such as rowing and cycling. The Journal is presented in original and transcribed form. The transcribed version has pop ups of explanatory notes on the events and locations WILLIAM describes. The Commentary section includes a series of articles on aspects of the Journal. In the Context section there is information on wider aspects of WILLIAM’S family.