McWhae, John Wilson "Jack" (Lieutenant, b. 1884; d.1917); McWhae, Hector (Bombardier)

Bound typed transcription of letters of brothers Lieutenant John Wilson (Jack) McWhae (189th [Hackney] Brigade, Royal Field Artillery) and No. 4437 Bombardier Hector McWhae (5th Battery, Field Artillery Brigade) to their parents and family, and the latter's 1916 diary. The letters from John, an engineer who had studied at the University of California, describe his enlistment in England, and his service in France and Belgium during which he was promoted to command his battery before his death from shellfire in Belgium in June 1917. Hector's letters and diary describe his service on Gallipoli (August-November 1915), and France (including the battle of Pozieres) and Belgium before he was wounded by gas near Passchaendale in December 1917 and evacuated. One letter describes a 'strange coincidence' in which he came across John's grave, disturbed by German shelling. The transcription includes photographs, illustrations of Gallipoli trench formations, and reproductions of press articles and other correspondence concerning the brothers (particularly John's death).