WWI letters & diaries at the Memorial.
18 April 2011 by Sue Jamesion.
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Collection,Family history,News,Personal Stories, Commemoration, First World War, Private Records, WWI Centenary
As the Memorial gears up for WWI Centenary commemorations, AWM cataloguer & indexer, Sue Jamesion, begins work on a diary from 1914, 3DRL/6061One such project involves the re-cataloguing and in-depth indexing of the Memorial’s remarkable Private Records collection from WWI.
The AWM holds over 5,000 personal records from the First World War, mainly letters and diaries written by Australian men and women on active service. While earlier cataloguing for these personal records provided an index of such things as the unit with which the collection’s maker served (e.g. 8th Light Horse Regiment), and the places in which he served (e.g. Gallipoli), the new standard of Private Records cataloguing involves far more detailed description. Many more subject headings (like ‘mud’, ‘camels’, ‘prisoners of war’ and so on) have been added to the online catalogue record of individual collections, as well as biographical information about the collection’s ‘maker’ – information previously only available on a paper file. To get an idea of what I mean, take a peek at 2DRL/0481 – (papers of Lt John Alexander Raws & Lt Robert Goldthorpe Raws, both of the 23rd Battalion, AIF.)
As a family historian myself, I feel the most exciting aspect of this project is identifying individuals named in letters and diaries. I record the name of every person mentioned in each collection, even if the reference is only very brief. This ensures these names are made ‘searchable’ on the Memorial’s online catalogue.
It’s wonderful what these references can bring to light. Take for example the case of 1120 Private Leonard Arthur Thomas Beggs of the 22nd Battalion…from his official war service record, he would appear to have been less than a model soldier – but just look what his commanding officer had to say about him in a letter home from Gallipoli.
“[N]ot forgetting Beggs, a terrier of a chap, will do anything. Put up entanglements under fire, work…on sandbags at night, scout round for provisions for us at the beach, my word he’s the one to find the illicit canteens…He’s a real scout and will do anything to oblige us”. –
1DRL/0554 (papers of Captain Louis Carl Roth, MC, 2 Pioneer Battalion & formerly of 22 Infantry Battalion, AIF)
Tobruk Diaries: Look out above!
18 April 2011 by Carlie Walker.
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1941, Tobruk,Tobruk diaries, Rats of Tobruk, Second World War, Siege, Tobruk
Bryant’s Diary: Friday, 18th April 1941
Today was quiet and only a little artillery was active. We got plenty of food which is pretty good. There was an issue of Egyptian cigarettes – a gift from King Farouk, but the boys didn’t go much on their flavour; they were too strong. read on
Simpson Prize 2011
15 April 2011 by Stuart Baines.
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Battlefield Tours, Simpson Prize 2011
It is that time of year again when we draw closer to the most significant day of commemoration on the Australian calander, ANZAC Day. Two of the key places to remember the service and sacrifice of those who have served their country are the Australian War Memorial and ANZAC cove itself. These two ANZAC Day dawn services find prominent places on many Australians “to do” lists but only some will be lucky enough to tick both off their list.
The Memorial has long been a supporter of the Simpson Prize, the premier history essay writing competition for Australian secondary students in the country. Students from around the country write an essay answering a question about the ANZAC story and those lucky few winners, one from each state and territory, travel to the Australian War Memorial in Canberra and then later on to Gallipoli for the ANZAC Day Dawn service. Accompanied by two teachers and guides from the Memorial, the students will spend time in Turkey understanding the people and the culture as well as walking the ground that Australians and Ottoman Turks fought over almost 100 years ago.
As one of the two guides and the Education Manager here at the Memorial, I will be accompanying the students. I will be posting some photos, reflections and the odd story about this trip and hopefully I will be able to give you all a feel of just what this experience is like.
The flight out to Turkey is tomorrow night and I will post regularly, stay tuned…
Just a reminder that the student blog is at http://simpsonprize2011.wordpress.com/
Tobruk Diaries: The Easter Battle
11 April 2011 by Carlie Walker.
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1941, Tobruk,Tobruk diaries, Battles, Easter battle, Rats of Tobruk, Siege of Tobruk
Bryant’s Diary: Tuesday 11th March 1941
We spent all day erecting an anti-aircraft gun pit and it wasn’t too soon. Late this afternoon two German bombers dropped their eggs [bombs] on the hill feature behind us. You could see them go into a dive and then would follow the roar of the exploding bomb and the subsequent column of smoke. The Bophas opened up and both planes hedge-hopped right over our position. One plane machine-gunned an ambulance without success. We opened up with the Bren, but without success. read on
What did we do before Google Earth?
07 April 2011 by Andrew Currey.
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Collection,From the collection,News
One of the many problems trench warfare presented to soldiers in the First World War was finding out what the enemy was doing behind his lines. The simple solution to this was height, and in a relatively short time many ways of getting men and a camera off the ground were developed.
Some are simple and ingenious, others were more complex: two German examples are an observation post disguised as a tree, and a periscope which can extend up to 25m in height. Observation balloons were successful but have their limitations, being tethered to the ground and full of flammable gas are the two most obvious. It was the infant technologies of aircraft and photography that quickly become the most effective form of aerial observation.
In a couple of years there are hundreds of aircraft taking thousands of aerial photographs which are used to update maps and provide a view of what is in the front line and beyond. Some of these valuable photographs are held in the collections of the Australian War Memorial. read on
Tobruk Diaries: The Siege begins
04 April 2011 by Carlie Walker.
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1941, Tobruk,Tobruk diaries, Battles, Commemoration, Rats of Tobruk, Siege, Tobruk
Bryant’s Diary: Friday 4th April 1941
About 8 o’clock this morning orders came through to retire immediately. We packed up and carried our gear to the top of the hill to wait for the truck. Nobody seemed to know what was up. We went back and were carried by truck to a place some miles away. We took up a position and waited for trucks of the RASC to take us away. Before we left, any gear behind was destroyed. The trucks travelled to Barce on the inland road. “Snowy” Wilderberg and John Gilmour of 18 pl. were killed when two trucks collided. It is bad luck to go out that way. With regard to the retirement I think that the whole affair is disgraceful. Moreso, when the men haven’t seen action. It points wholly and solely to inefficiency of higher command. The smart-alecs slipped somewhere.
Cosgriff’s Diary: Friday 4th April 1941
No Mass today and little sleep last night. Scare of air attack with canon. Breakfast at Dolann’s C.C.S. Lunch at McEwens ambulance. Journey through dust – cramped and tired. Arrived at Tobruk at 4:30 – Hospital patients everywhere. Looked at inglit cases and anointed Eyetie. Rumours scare all the time. O’Connor at front and quite combatant. To bed early tired and disgusted with loss. Rejoined nurses today. Hospital being set up on beach. End of day of acute tension.
Bryant’s Diary: Saturday 5th April 1941
We learned today that we were to take up a defensive position. In the morning we learned that the 2/13th Bn went into action against the German AFV’s and 3000 infantry. The Bn had a bit of a tough time and it is reported they lost 4 officers and 150 men (i.e. D Coy and half A Coy). We took up our position for defence late in the afternoon, but during the night we were ordered to pack up and leave. When we got on the trucks we were told we would go back and have a lap at the enemy. During the night Jackie Wilson and Ted Taylor and I went on a patrol at mid-night, but we saw nothing. Last night we went to a castle on a hill and loaded ourselves up with tins of pineapple, cigarettes and tobacco. They were to be destroyed; so the boys got in before this happened and today we had a big feed.
Cosgriff’s Diary: Saturday 5th April 1941
Mass without bookstand and chart. Shots today for first time on Libya. Attack first crew of bad Catholics today – one really sick Leiut refusing sacraments. Thos [Thomas] Gard turned up after lunch. Reckons position is desperate. Daly turned up and lost all except Mass kit… Mass in statue tomorrow. No ink so write up this draw and the pencil so useful. Rumour that Tripoli has been taken.
Bryant’s Diary: Sunday 6th April 1941
Once more we moved and this time onto the left flank of the 2/15 Bn and this was on the extreme flank of our front line. We could see Barce clearly and the “Eyetie” flag flew over the town. We had just got into position when off we went again. This time we travelled all night flat out across the desert.
Cosgriff’s Diary: Sunday 6th April 1941
Two Masses – here and beach – poorly attended. Gard did not turn up for breakfast. Buried 4 corpses in Tobruk cemetery and drank beer with the undertaker. Matheson has dysentery. Hospital ship due in tomorrow. Nurses went at 5:30 – never to return. Position serious and fighting expected in streets tomorrow. Patients panicky and Gunner too. We have to stay put and be P.O.W’s. 20 bed feeling pretty unsafe. News of German tank patrol few miles out.
Bryant’s Diary: Monday 7th April 1941
We travelled until 11.30 am and took up another position. Word was received that our convoy was attacked by three AFV’s but were stopped by our artillery. We also heard that our Div HQ’s was captured at Barce. The Huns attacked and it is reported that 2 Coys of the 2/15th Bn were cut off and that the 2/13th engaged the enemy a second time. We are now at our posts waiting for the Hun. Just on dark we moved again.
Cosgriff’s Diary: Monday 7 April 1941
Mass in room – Len penitent after paying nurses. C.C.S from Derna arrived during night with bad news. Steele arrived at 11 with dysentery and admitted to hospital. Matheson wanted to go on hospital ship but C.O. said “No”. Loading wounded to hospital all day. Position better today. Watched bombs and tanks being unloaded. Wards full of dysentery. Mass full fleeing English officers. John Horan came to our room to make space for Poms. John Devine rejoined our crowd.
Bryant’s Diary: Tuesday, 8th April 1941
We had a cow of a day today. D Coy was reserve Coy to protect “B” Echelon and do odd jobs. Our first job was to build a road over the escarpment and during the course of construction we had two interruptions, both being alarms. The wind blew all day and dust was everywhere, but late in the afternoon we were all told have a good night’s rest, the first in four nights. I believe the 2/13th Bn was attacked again, but it beat off the attack. It was officially confirmed about Tripoli falling.
Cosgriff’s Diary: Tuesday 8 April 1941
Mass in happier circs. Hospital ship sailed today but took too few patients. Few battle casualties arriving but wounds are horrible. Dust storm all day today. 20m Gard came in and took Fanny [car] to hear confessions. Generals O’Connor and Neems captured, also 2nd armoured Div. Fr. Lynch missing, 2IC and 40 men of Hanson’s Field Ambulance. Should be big casualty list. Anti-scare models but I would like to see attack started. Indians retook Malilla. Two German prisoners in ward.
Bryant’s Diary: Wednesday 9th April 1941
The day opened up with an air-raid on Tobruk by the Germans. Eight planes took part, but they lost three. One of our Hurricane fighters seemed to be in trouble and I believe it made a forced landing. Instead of having a day of rest I was attached to a tank hunting party. We were on utility trucks, armed with a Boys A/Tank rifle, a Bren and some grenades. Lord help us if we’d have met any, although we went out three times. Once more we moved and this time a little closer to Tobruk. I don’t know where we will end but some seem to think that the whole retirement is part of a plan. It looks as if this is the only feasible explanation of the whole affair.
Cosgriff’s Diary: Wednesday 9 April 1941
Mass as usual. Met Molly Grady’s cousin in hospital, O’Loughlin. Grady did not return car. Gunner has starts, also Matheson and Ley. Englishmen drinking all our beer. Steele and I went to wharf to see tanks being unloaded. No news of attack being launched. Defences creeping in closer all the time. Negotiating for closer cemetery – War cemetery now on defence perimeter. Bish. Riley arrived and to help with Easter communion. Full of Bullo.
Bryant’s Diary: Thursday, 10th April 1941
Early this morning we took a position inside the perimeter defences of Tobruk. It was the dustiest day I ever have seen and believe me it is uncomfortable. In the afternoon we relieved the 2/43rd Battalion at the front. The trenches are the old Italian ones and are like miniature Maginot Lines. They are made of concrete and are protected with a strong barbed-wire fence and a very deep anti-tank ditch.
Cosgriff’s Diary: Thursday 10th April 1941
Two Masses as Steele on the job. Thos [Thomas] Gard arrived back with car after Steele had gone after him. I had to return with Tom – dust – convoys moving – lost – machine gun opened on convoy – Gardy left me after Mutual confessions. Bath after return and handing of car to Steele. Beer and then the bomb on Ward 11. Steele lucky as direct hit on his room. J. Chambers and Zac killed. Row wounded. Forster and Hanneman killed. Terrible injuries and everyone feeling pretty sad. All scared of air-raids now. Busy in hospital till all hours.
Lecky’s letters: 10 April 1941
…I’m quite well and happy…My closest shave so far has been dodging our own AA shrapnel which showers down now and again, otherwise all is well…This letter has had a compulsory interruption for an hour during which time I have witnessed a magnificent display of fireworks from the depths of a slit trench… I have lived in a continual sandstorm for the last week but it is surprising how little you mind it after a while…
Closure of the Birdwood papers between 11 April and 2 May 2011
31 March 2011 by Nicholas Schmidt.
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ANZACS online,Collection,Conservation,News
The papers of Field Marshal the Lord Birdwood will be undergoing conservation, rehousing and digitisation for their long term preservation.
This important collection has been held in the Memorial’s Research Centre since the 1960s. Birdwood is a significant figure in Australian military history. He commanded the Australians for much of the First World War, including during the Gallipoli Campaign, and as a result the collection is in constant use by researchers. We hope to limit the pressure on the original items by making digital copies available in the future.
Initially, the collection will be closed for 3 weeks between 11 April and 2 May 2011. This large collection, however, will take us longer than three weeks to digitise so access to the material after this period will need to be negotiated by appointment. Please contact Nicholas Schmidt (nicholas.schmidt @awm.gov.au) for more information.
For more information about the collection, you might like to look at Guide to the papers of Lord Birdwood which can be found here. For more information about Lord Birdwood see here.
Tobruk Diaries: Evacuating Benghazi
28 March 2011 by Carlie Walker.
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1941, Tobruk,Tobruk diaries, Battles, Benghazi, Exhibition, Rats of Tobruk, Tobruk
Bryant’s Diary: Friday 28th March 1941
We took up our position and we caught a couple of donkeys to carry most of our heavy gear up. It is definitely impossible to dig in so we just cut out the middle of bushes to sleep in. We do our own cooking and there are plenty of rations. Away to the left are Bengasi and Benina and can only just be seen. Our only problem is the carriage of water. The Senoussi here seems friendly and offer us eggs and milk.
Cosgriff’s Diary: Saturday 29th March 1941
Two Masses. Washed altar linen Tom shot the pet pig. Had orders to do. Howell’s AOL this weekend. Howell – herpes. Confessions through hospital this arvo. Then to Barce for confessions. Benediction – Beautiful with magnificent singing. Tour of hospital at night. Had radio working for news. Have to rise at 6 without clock tomorrow. Plane… of wounded leaving tomorrow. Wish we were staying at Barce.
Lecky’s letters: Sunday 30th March 1941
Well here I am still in the same place as I was last letter but this time I can tell you its somewhere in Libya near the sea which is as much as I know myself…Libya consists of very little else other than desert, which is inhabited chiefly by fleas, flies, mosquitoes and dust storms. The site of the camp is very pretty indeed but the desert gives the impression of a hard cruel type of beauty emphathised by the numerous animal skeletons and I suspect a few human bones here and there. After leaving the school where… I got 90% and was issued with a pretty little blue certificate marked “Distinguished”, I travelled for Palestine – Egyptian State Railways to Alexandria…At Alexandria I was fortunate enough to have a nice spot of leave. Here began what I consider to be an epic journey, which would certainly have made headlines in peacetime but is all in the days work now. We travelled entirely at the expense if Benito Musso for about four days and nights to our present location, in huge diesel fiat and lancia trucks run on captured road, only we lived on extremely Australian “Bully” and biscuits. I rode in absolute comfort in the roomy lab of a fiat truck. Finally the darn thing broke down and had to be towed but unfortunately we hit an almighty bump…I suddenly discovered that the tow rope had broken and the foster truck (towing us) was disappearing over the horizon with half a broken tow rope dangling merrily behind, leaving us stranded in the middle of the Libyan desert. Were we downhearted? No not us…Finally we reached port and found the unit, but sheer accident and settled down again…My section was waiting for me with open arms…News is scarce here but I just heard of the 72 hr raid on Berlin by the RAF – Winston’s reply to Germany…also of Yugoslavia’s rejection of the tri-perte pact all at once. Don’t know yet if its all true but if so – three loud cheers…
Cosgriff’s Diary: Monday 31st March 1941
Two masses. C.C.S. all arrived today and take over tomorrow. Letters from Bert and Jas McGlynn. Daly said impossible to retain my car. Buried unknown soldier in evening. Lost at solo… Jas Peters a DMS to Harry Furnell. Sent tapestry to Patricia. Put all letters on file. Soldiers shot by Germans arrived in hospital – armoured car victims.
Bryant’s Diary: Tuesday 1st April 1941
The steak was a bit tough and i think we ate it too fresh. Snakes are plentiful here and every day somebody sees at least one. Lieut. Trebeck looked over our area this morning and it was decided that we should shift right to Wadi Anoinat itself. This is better place all round and it did not take much to shift as a truck was made available. It is closer to water and at last we should have a little time to ourselves.
Bryant’s Diary: Wednesday 2nd April 1941
We spent a quiet day, but late in the afternoon orders came out that German mechanised units were advancing on Bengasi and that we were to prepare our positions. Extra ammunition was to be made available.
Bryant’s Diary: Thursday 3rd April 1941
The evacuation of Bengasi began today and the explosions of ammunition and food dump demolition could be heard all day. Some big fires could be seen even from our position. Early in the night an artillery barrage could be heard. Just on dark Lt Trebeck came up with information that Bengasi was evacuated and Germans were expected to occupy the town tonight. It was also expected that the escarpment may be attacked at dawn. The section had to supply two patrols; one at midnight and one at 6am. Jack Wilson and Wimmo went with me on the first patrol, but we saw nothing. Monty took the second but he saw nothing. We all thought we were certainties for action.
Cosgriff’s Diary: Thursday 3rd April 1941
Two Masses. Owen has flu. Wrote to Mrs. Tooze. Went to Engineers to have car fired and found broken spring. Watched engineers blowing up country. Got car all OK for trip tomorrow. Packed after tea. Started solo. First score 10pm, second 11pm, third midnight – Be ready to flit with kitbags only. C.C.S. evacuating patients. Benghasi evacuated and Germans through flank. Packed Mass-kit in Len’s kit bag and mine. Left suit case full and mass case and crammed into utility. Departed 2 am. Crowd of refugees on Barce escarpment. Fear of air attack. Lack of comfort. Remorse at leaving Steele but gave him my car. Horrible night trip – with more losses. Barce deserted except for combatant units.
The Bicycle in Warfare
23 March 2011 by Ally Roche.
2 Comments
Collection,From the collection,News, First World War, Frontline troops, Technology, Western Front
The bicycle is a machine that we can all relate to, it’s a common denominator. Be that early childhood memories of the first ride down that steep hill, the freedom to go distances that would be problematic on foot or that flat tyre at the most inconvenient time.
Today, bike technology has changed dramatically from the bikes that were being used in the First World War. No carbon fibre frames or dual suspension shock absorbers, gears – what were they? And the AIF Uniform was the standard Cycling Corps apparel, no Italian lycra for our boys as the photograph below demonstrates. This photograph was taken in c1915 at Broadmeadows, Victoria of six members of the Australian Cycling Corps with their bicycles prior to deployment overseas.
Sarbi visits the Australian War Memorial
23 March 2011 by Carlie Walker.
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News
Date: Tuesday 5 April 2011 at 1:00 pm
Location: Animals in War
Sculpture Garden
Australian War Memorial
Sarbi will be receiving a Purple Cross from the RSPCA
Please do not bring animals to the event
EDD (Explosive Detection Dog) Sarbi is an Australian Army working dog, please do not pat or crowd her
