ANZAC Connections: Centenary digitisation project
The Australian War Memorial is currently undertaking a project to create a comprehensive digital archive of the ANZACs and their deeds, and of the wider Australian experience of war. The collections selected for this project will reflect the experiences of Australian servicemen, nurses and civilians during the First World War, not just well-known personalities. This project will digitally preserve the Memorial’s collections as well as provide full copies for research on the Memorial’s website.
As part of this project the Memorial is seeking contact with relatives of the people listed below. If you have any information about these people, or their descendants, the Memorial would love to talk to you. Please contact Nick Crofts via PubandDig@awm.gov.au.
Lieutenant David Wallis (Wallace) Caldwell
Collection relating to the First World War service of Lieutenant David Wallis (Wallace) Caldwell, 27 Battalion. This collection contains a number of letters sent by Caldwell to his mother in South Australia from between 1915 and 1917. Caldwell’s letters comment on his training in Egypt, sightseeing in Cairo, the winter at Gallipoli, the eventual evacuation and life in the trenches on the Western Front. The First World War Embarkation Roll lists his next of kin as Mrs Margaret Chapman Caldwell of Dudley Street, Semaphore, South Australia. Collection number: 1DRL/0176.
364 2nd Lieutenant William Cameron
Collection relating to the First World War service of 364 2nd Lieutenant William Cameron, 9 Light Horse Regiment. This collection consists of a diary written by Cameron throughout his time serving at Gallipoli in 1915, where he provides detailed daily descriptions of his activities in the trenches and a personal commentary on the nature and success of the fighting. The First World War Embarkation Roll lists his next of kin as Mrs Katherine Cameron of ‘Letterfinlay’, Rushworth, Victoria. Collection number: 1DRL/0185.
Lieutenant Donald Gordon Campbell
Collection relating to the First World War service of Lieutenant Donald Gordon Campbell, 51 Battalion. This collection contains a copy of one letter sent by Cameron to his mother, dated 6 May 1915, in which he describes the Dardanelles landing and emphasises the confusion of the situation. The First World War Embarkation Roll lists his next of kin as Mrs Jane A. Campbell of Toorak, Victoria. Collection number: 1DRL/0186.
Lieutenant Colonel Herbert Gordon Carter DSO
Collection relating to the First World War service of Lieutenant Colonel Herbert Gordon Carter DSO, 5 Pioneer Battalion. This collection consists of transcribed extracts from Carter’s letters to his family throughout the duration of the war. These extracts cover Herbert Carter’s time training in Egypt, fighting at Gallipoli and the Western Front and the end of the war in November 1918. The First World War Embarkation Roll lists his next of kin as Mr Herbert J. Carter of ‘Glenrock’, New South Head Road, Darling Point, Sydney, New South Wales. Collection number: 1DRL/0192. Lieutenant Herbert Gordon Carter is second from the left in the photograph below.
Captain Robert Burnside Carter MC
Collection relating to the First World War service of Captain Robert Burnside Carter MC, 123 Royal Field Artillery. The collection consists of transcribed extracts from letters sent by Robert Carter to his family in Sydney throughout the duration of the war. These extracts comment on his time as a doctor serving with the R.A.M.C. The extracts were transcribed and donated by his brother, Lieutenant Colonel Herbert Gordon Carter DSO. Collection number: 1DRL/0193.
2454 Lieutenant John George Cosson DCM
Collection relating to the First World War service of 2454 Lieutenant John George Cosson DCM, 48 Battalion. This collection consists of handwritten extracts from Cosson’s diary for December 1915, in which he describes the evacuation of the Gallipoli peninsula. The First World War Embarkation Roll lists his next of kin as Mrs Elizabeth Cosson of Hill Street, East Fremantle, Western Australia. Collection number: 1DRL/0216.
Lieutenant Eric Roland Cotterill
Collection relating to the First World War service of Lieutenant Eric Roland Cotterill, 13 Battalion. This collection contains copies of letters sent by Cotterill to his mother during 1915. The extracts describe his voyage from Australia under escort from the AE2 and his time sightseeing and training in Egypt. The associated Roll of Honour Circular lists his next of kin as Mr George T. Cotterill of ‘Sandford Glen’, Castle Hill, New South Wales. Collection number: 1DRL/0217.
1333 Sergeant Jason Leslie Boyd Coulter
Collection relating to the First World War service of 1333 Sergeant Jason Leslie Boyd Coulter, 8 Battalion. This collection consists of a diary relating Coulter’s experiences at Gallipoli up until his death in August 1915. Coulter’s brothers, Major Leslie Jack Coulter DSO and Lieutenant Colonel Graham Coulter DSO, also served. The associated Roll of Honour Circular lists his next of kin as Mary Coulter of 10 Were Street, Brighton, Victoria. Collection number: 1DRL/0218.
Captain Herbert Franklin Curnow
Collection relating to the First World War service of Captain Herbert Franklin Curnow, 22 Battalion. This collection contains a number of letters sent by Curnow to his friend and colleague in the Department of Defence Records Section, Mr Frank Cummings, between 1915 and 1916. In the letters, Curnow responds to requests for assistance in locating a particular file and describes the ‘sit down’ style of warfare. The associated Roll of Honour Circular lists his next of kin as Mr Herbert B. R. Curnow of 47 Evansdale Road, Hawthorn, Victoria. Collection number: 1DRL/0229.
Captain Herbert Spencer Dickinson
Collection relating to the First World War service of Captain Herbert Spencer Dickinson, 57 Battalion. This collection consists of handwritten extracts from Dickinson’s diary covering the period from 1914 to 1917. In these extracts, Dickinson describes the Sydney-Emden encounter and his experiences of the trenches in France, on the Western Front. The associated Roll of Honour Circular lists his next of kin as Mrs Clara Dickinson of 2 Parkside Street, Malvern, Victoria. Collection number: 1DRL/0242.
Lieutenant Alfred Bailey Eades
Collection relating to the First World War service of Lieutenant Alfred Bailey Eades, 45 Battery, 12 Army Field Artillery. This collection contains letters sent by Eades to his family describing embarking for Gallipoli and life in the trenches on the Western Front during 1917. The associated Roll of Honour Circular lists his next of kin as Mrs L. C. Eades of 33 Asling Street, North Brighton, Victoria. Collection number: 1DRL/0249.
Lieutenant George Howard Earp
Collection relating to the First World War service of Lieutenant George Howard Earp, 5 Battalion. This collection consists of a statement given by Earp to the Red Cross Wounded and Missing Information Bureau in Alexandria in 1915. In this statement, Earp provides information on the deaths of 580 Private Harry Hodgman and 610 Private Reginald Clive Brownell during the landing at ANZAC cove. The First World War Embarkation Roll lists his next of kin as Mrs Annie R. Lawes of 28 Dundas Place, Albert Park, Victoria. Collection number: 1DRL/0254.
Lieutenant Eric Henry Drummond Edgerton MM, DSO
Collection relating to the First World War service of Lieutenant Eric Henry Drummond Edgerton MM, DSO, 24 Battalion. This collection contains a typewritten copy of the diary Edgerton kept from 1915 to 1918. Edgerton describes his voyage to Egypt, the training regime, his time fighting at Gallipoli, convalescence in England and the two years he spent fighting in France. The associated Roll of Honour Circular lists his next of kin as Mr James Edgerton, Maribyrnong Road, Ascot Vale, Victoria. Collection number: 1DRL/0257.
843 Battery Sergeant Major Norman Griffiths Ellsworth
Collection relating to the First World War service of 843 Battery Sergeant Major Norman Griffiths Ellsworth, 102 Howitzer Battery, 2 Field Artillery Brigade. This large collection of letters were sent by Ellsworth to his mother between 1914 and 1917. Ellsworth comments on the Sydney-Emden encounter, training and sightseeing in Egypt, the conditions in the trenches in Gallipoli, the ingenuity of Australian soldiers, his convalescence in England throughout 1916 and warfare in Belgium in 1917. The associated Roll of Honour Circular lists his next of kin as Mrs Mary Ellsworth of 61 Davies Avenue, South Yarra, Melbourne, Victoria. Collection number: 1DRL/0266.
Major William Gordon Farquhar DSO
Collection relating to the First World War service of Major William Gordon Farquhar DSO, 8 Field Company Engineers. This collection contains a works diary kept by Farquhar at Quinn’s Post, Gallipoli, his sketch of a Turkish Mortar bomb and a report on a mine explosion in the trenches. Farquhar was awarded a Distinguished Service Order in 1917 and a Belgian Croix de Guerre in 1918. The First World War Embarkation Roll lists his next of kin as Mrs M. W. Farquhar of Boye Street, Mosman, Sydney, New South Wales. Collection number: 1DRL/0278.
Captain Cuthbert Clive Finlay
Collection relating to the First World War service of Captain Cuthbert Clive Finlay, 17 Battalion. This collection consists of a typed extract from a letter sent to the Australian War Memorial by Finlay. He recalls an incident at Quinn’s Post, Gallipoli, in which a truce was called and Australians and Turks broke from their firing to mix in ‘no man’s land’. The First World War Embarkation Roll lists his next of kin as Mr William Sinclair Finlay of ‘Brynalt’, Mount Street, Hunter’s Hill, Sydney, New South Wales. Collection number: 1DRL/0284.
Captain George Lush Finlay MC
Collection relating to the First World War service of Captain George Lush Finlay MC, 5 Battalion. This collection contains two diaries written by Finlay between 1915 and 1919. These diaries record his service at Gallipoli, his return to Australia and his struggle with ongoing illness. The associated Roll of Honour Circular lists his next of kin as Mr R. G. Finlay of ‘Ned’s Run’ Station, River Murray, Mildura, Victoria. Collection number: 1DRL/0285. Captain George Lush Finlay is on the right in the photograph below.
Lieutenant Irving Russell Flett
Collection relating to the First World War service of Lieutenant Irving Russell Flett, 23 Battalion. This collection consists of copies of letters sent by Flett to his family throughout 1915 and 1916. The letters describe his journey to Egypt, active service on Gallipoli and in the trenches in France. The associated Roll of Honour Circular lists his next of kin as Mr P. I. Flett of 33 Carpenter Street, Middle Brighton, Melbourne, Victoria. Collection number: 1DRL/0295.
Major Robert Pearce Flockart
Collection relating to the First World War service of Major Robert Pearce Flockart, 5 Battalion. The collection consists of copies of letters written by Flockart between April and July 1915. They record sightseeing in Egypt, the journey to Gallipoli and describe being wounded. The associated Roll of Honour Circular lists his next of kin as Mrs Henrietta Flockart of 58 Broadway Street, Camberwell, Victoria. 1DRL/0296.
Lieutenant Reginald Scott Gardiner
Collection relating to the First World War service of Lieutenant Reginald Scott Gardiner, 55 Battalion. This collection consist of typed extracts from letters sent by Gardiner to his mother between 1914 and 1915. The short extracts provide details about training in Egypt and life in the trenches at Gallipoli. The First World War Embarkation Roll lists his next of kin as Mr F. Gardiner of 18 Chandos Street, Coburg, Melbourne, Victoria. Collection number: 1DRL/0304.
593 Sergeant Richard Job Gardiner
Collection relating to the First World War service of 593 Sergeant Richard Job Gardiner, 7 Battalion. This collection consists of two letters sent by Gardiner to his father between 1915 and 1916. In these letters, he recounts the actions of 7 Battalion and provides great detail on the evacuation of the Gallipoli peninsula. The First World War Embarkation Roll lists his next of kin as Mr J. Gardiner of Edward Street, Footscray, Victoria. Collection number: 1DRL/0305.
2298 Gunner Frank Garth
Collection relating to the service of 2298 Gunner Frank Garth, 24 Field Artillery Brigade. This collection consists of one letter to his mother describing his wounding in action during the charge on Hill 971 and evacuation from Gallipoli to the hospital ship ‘Delta’. Garth was killed in action in France on 10 December 1916. The associated Roll of Honour Circular lists his next of kin as Mrs Sarah Ann Garth of 51 Ewart Street, Dulwich Hill, New South Wales. Collection number: 1DRL/0306.