Photocopied memoir titled 'The Memoirs of an Ordinary Man', typescript autobiography by William George Cadenhead, YMCA Secretary at Ripon, Barnsley, Swansea and Birmingham.
The volume discusses Cadenhead's early life in Aberdeen before describing his First World War service as a machine gunner in the Scottish Horse Yeomanry. There is a detailed account of his being called up in August 1914 and being stationed in Doncaster and Morpeth before being sent to Gallipoli in July 1915 where he saw action in Suvla Bay. He was evacuated in December 1915 and then describes the transfer of his unit to Egypt to form part of the Imperial Camel Corps. He took part in the advance on Gaza in March 1917 where he was badly wounded and evacuated to Cairo. Following his recovery he assisted at the YMCA forces' centre near Cairo.
The remainder of the volume describes Cadenhead's experiences working as a secretary for the YMCA in Ripon, Barnsley, Swansea and Birmingham. He describes the work of the Birmingham YMCA during the Second World War providing mobile and static canteens and a Forces Centre.
The memoir includes copies of photographs and illustrations and also provides detailed information about Cadenhead's personal life and career.