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 are selected from our extensive archives and 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 persons listed below. If are you related to these people, or know how to contact their descendants, the Memorial would love to talk to you. Please contact Stephanie Hume via PubandDig@awm.gov.au.

3877 Private Raymond Edward Membrey

Black and white photocopy of a 15 page typed memoir written in 1987 by 3877 Private Raymond Edward Membrey, describing his early life and First World War service with 21 Battalion. Details his training (including references to his musical talent), voyage to Europe, front line experiences on the Somme, being severely wounded at Mouquet Farm in 1916 and taken prisoner by the Germans. Includes a description of the brutal amputation of his arm and comments on conditions as a prisoner of war in Germany (Gottingen camp). The concluding section chronicles his return to Australia as an exchange prisoner (via England, where he received more medical treatment and met King George V), post war life and achievements in coming to terms with his disability. Collection number: PR02022

Raymond Edward Membrey returned to Australia in 1918. In 1921, he married Ruby Bragge. They had one daughter, Joan Lillian, who married 409491 Pilot Officer Kenneth Munro Anquetil. Raymond Edward Membrey died in Melbourne in 1989.

Private Rene Henderickx

PASS. IDENTITY CARD WITH PHOTO. MUSIC MANUSCRIPT BOOK Collection number: 3DRL/6961

Rene Henderickx served as a bandsman, with the 11th Infantry, Royal Belgian Army. After the war ended, he emigrated to Australia. He married and had two children, Robert Walkinshaw and Edna. An obituary for Rene J. Henderickx states that he was a master painter.

6408 Private Ernest Alfred (Nick) Nicholls

Relating to the service of 6408 Private Ernest A (Nick) Nicholls 8 Battalion. Collection comprises notebook containing handwritten notes on the Lewis gun; 2 x postcards with photos of 'The Perham Stars'; newspaper cuttings; 'The Baptist Boys' Greeting Card, Xmas 1918; Rationing Order 1918 booklet containing coupons; 2 x 'The Kit Inspection Hymn' by the Perham Stars; 'The Laughing Song' lyric sheet and concert programme for 'The Aussies' 20/8/1918; YMCA stationery wallet; Field Service postcard stamped 9/3/1918; Registered letter envelope; and typed attendance receipt stamped 30/11/1916, Bombing Course 'A' Group, Grenade school, Perham Downs. Collection number: 3DRL/3820

Ernest Alfred Nicholls was born in England and migrated to Australia, working as picture operator in Melbourne before enlisting in the Australian Imperial Force. Upon return to Australia in 1919, he continued his association with musical societies and was an acting member of the Gillbert & Sullivan society, Sydney Musical Society, Mosman Musical Society and the dramatic group, The Thespians. He also played an active role with the RSL. Nicholls married Elizabeth Mary Alice Rook, they appear to have had no children. Ernest Nicholls died in 1967, his wife Elizabeth died in 2002.

19618 Bombardier Ernest Oswald Collett

Collection relating to service of 19618 Bombardier Ernest Oswald Collett, 29 Battery, 8 Australian Field Artillery Brigade, England and France, 1916-1917. Collection contains some of the letters written by Collett home to his family in Melbourne, VIC. Collection number: 1DRL/0205

Bombardier Ernest Oswald Collett died of wounds caused by gas poisoning, on 28 September 1917, in France. He was one of four children born to Ernest Augustus Collett and Lucy Alice Collett (née Batten), from Malvern, Victoria. His sisters were Florence Agnes Collett, Linda Alice Bromell Martin (née Collett). His brother George Augustus Collett, married to Alice Jane Collett, was also gassed in France, and survived the war.

4272 William Edward Peach MM

Originals and transcripts of letters to family and diaries. Describes embarkation on TSS Demosthenes as part of 13th Reinforcements, 7th Battalion, sightseeing in Egypt, Kasr-el-Nil Barracks, France and Belgium, work as 1st Anzac Entrenching Battalion. Mentions sight and duties at Etaples, Albert, Pozieres, Ypres, bombardments, death of friend Percy, gas, mates, various injuries and hospitals. Also describes concerts, leave in London and Scotland, receiving dental work, mail, training at 1st Aust. Div. School and Anzac Corps School, being made Company Orderly Corporal and Sergeant, sporting events, action at Glencorse Wood, Anzac Redoubt, Strazeele, Hamel, and award of MM. Includes copy of MM citation and discharge certificate. See also PR00598 for letters of friend Percy. Collection number: PR00597

William Edward Peach MM was born in 1896 to Jane Adelaide (née McGeehan) and William Peach, in Beechworth, Victoria. He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on 19 September 1915. He was awarded the Military Medal in 1918, for his action at Ypres. On 8 October 1921, he married Lily Alice Daisy Mansfield. They had four daughters; Valda, Gwenda, Brenda and Wilma. William Edward Peach died in Essendon, Victoria, in 1954.

Lieutenant Frank Reinhardt Fischer

Collection relating to the First World War service of Lieutenant Frank Reinhardt Fischer, 6 Battalion, France, 1917-1919. Collection consists of letters written home to family in Australia, including his sister Paula (Mrs Pauline White) and brother, Hugo. As the Fischers were a noted musical family, many letters contain references to musical activities in London, Melbourne and others for serving men, which Fischer initiated, attended, or in which he participated. There are many references to Elsa Stralia, his sister. Fischer was killed in action at Lihons on 10 August 1918. The collection also contains condolence letters which are mostly addressed to Elsa Stralia and some bear her annotations. Fischer had a brother, Sergeant Harold Fischer, Otago Battalion of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, who was killed at Gallipoli on 7 August 1915. Collection number: 1DRL/0288

Frank Reinhardt Fischer was one of five children born to Hugo and Alice Fischer. His brother Harold Fischer, served with the Otago Battalion of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, and was killed at Gallipoli on 7 August 1915. One of his sister’s was Elsie Mary Fischer was a well-known singer who performed under the stage name Elsa Stralia. Fischer’s second sister was Pauline Susannah White (nee Fischer), whose son was VX65754 Lieutenant Alan Lionel White. His brother Hugo was married to Elsie Maude, they had three sons; VX77117 Alick Fischer, VX51033 Private Harold Fischer, and 250626 Frank Fischer DFC. Frank Reinhardt Fischer was killed in action at Lihons on 10 August 1918.

2924 Bandsman William Reid

DIARY WITH BRIEF, SINGLE LINE ENTRIES NOTING FORMATION OF BAND AND SUBSEQUENT TOURS AND PROGRAMMES UNTIL RETURN TO AUSTRALIA. Collection number: PR86/316

William Reid was born in Falkirk, Scotland in the 1890s. He was working as a labourer in Busselton, Western Australia when he enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force July 1915. Reid was assigned to the 16th Battalion, and returned to Australia in May 1919. His next of kin was listed as his mother, Mrs Elizabeth Reid, of 102 Hospital Road, Glasgow, Scotland.

773 Private Richard Roberts

Collection relating to the First World War service of 773 Private Richard Roberts, 3 Battalion. Collection consists of a memoir 'Memoirs of an Anzac' (original and transcript) describing enlistment and training, active service at Gallipoli with 3 Battalion where he was twice wounded and evacuated to Malta, service in France with comments on trench life, raids, cold, artillery and its effect on nerves, carrying supplies, bodies in trenches, illness, and service with the Battalion band. Also included is a photograph. Collection number: PR00395

Richard Roberts was born in West Maitland, likely the son of John and Jane Roberts. Prior to enlistment in the Australian Imperial Force in 1914, he worked as a railway employee in the Hunter Valley region. He returned to Australia in January 1919. Roberts married Wilhelmina Irene Hardcastle in Armidale, NSW in 1920. They had three children, a daughter and two sons. Richard Roberts died in Sydney in 1965.

2583 Private Charles Harold Breckell

Collection relating to service of 2583 Private Charles Harold Breckell, 19 Battalion, France, 1916. Collection includes extracts from letter and copies of poems written from the trenches. Copies made by 1928 Australia House, London in response to request to Breckell's family by Australian War Memorial. Location of originals unknown. Collection number: 1DRL/0452

Charles Harold Breckell was one of ten children born to Sarah (née Garner) and John Adam Breckell, of Liverpool, England. He emigrated to Australia, living in Dural, NSW, before enlisting in the Australian Imperial Force in July 1915. Breckell was killed in action in France on 14 November 1916. His brother Harry Breckell was also killed, serving with Royal Army Medical Corps.

Lieutenant Lewis Maurice Joachim

13 LETTERS, CONCERT PROGRAMME, 3 POSTCARDS, 1 CHRISTMAS CARD, 1 INVITATION TO A SERVICE FOR JEWISH SOLDIERS. Collection number: PR85/112

Lewis (also known as Louis) Maurice Joachim returned to Australia in 1919. In 1921 he married Lurline Marjorie Cohen, they had three children; Ronald (d. 1947), Marie Lurline, and Valarie Joy. Lewis Joachim died in 1939.

Captain Percy Wellesley Chapman MC

Collection relating to service of Captain Percy Wellesley Chapman MC, 55 Battalion, Gallipoli, Egypt and France, 1916-1917. Collection includes typescript and photostat copies of diaries and letters written home to his mother in Sydney, NSW. Collection number: 1DRL/0198

Percy Wellesley Chapman MC was one of six children born to Gertrude Elizabeth (née Spasshatt) and Archibald Wellesley Chapman, from Goulburn, NSW. Chapman was awarded the Military Cross for action at Fromelles 19/20 July 1916, and was killed in action in France on 12 March 1917.

Bandsman Arthur Ross Bramwell Bollard

Collection relating to the service of Bandsman Arthur Ross Bramwell Bollard, HMAS Australia. Collection consists of a memoir written by Bandsman Bollard in which he recorded (in diary style) the day to day activities on board HMAS Australia, between 30 July 1914 and 24 September 1914, including the reaction of the crew to the news that war between Britain and Germany had been declared. Collection number: 3DRL/6061

Arthur Ross Bramwell Bollard was born in 1895, to Grace Anna (née Brown) and George John Bollard, in Port Pirie, SA. He joined the Royal Australian Navy in 1913, serving on board HMAS Australia. He married Grace Marion Grant in South Australia, in 1920. They had two sons, George James Ross Bollard and Kevin John Bollard. Arthur Ross Bramwell Bollard died 28 November 1952.

Lieutenant Albert Charles Cox

Collection relating to service of Lieutenant Albert Charles Cox, 53 Battalion and 14 Machine Gun Company, Egypt and France, 1915-1916. Collection includes letters written home to family in New South Wales. The bulk of the letters cover the period when Cox was training at Officer School and Machine Gun School in Egypt. Cox was in France for less than 3 weeks when he was killed. Collection number: 1DRL/0220

Albert Charles Cox was born in Coolah, NSW to Cora Blanche Narnnett (née Quinan) and Charles Archibald Cox. His great, great grandfather, Captain William Cox, was an early pioneer of Australia. Albert Charles Cox received his commission as a second lieutenant in the Australian Imperial Force on 21 October 1915. He was killed in action in France on 20 July 1916.

Captain Robert James Henderson MC

Collection relating to the service of Captain Robert James Henderson, MC, 13 Battalion, AIF. Collection consists of photographs, certificates, documents, postcards and personal letters. The majority of the letters were written by Captain Robert James Henderson, MC, to his mother, between July 1915 and April 1918. Collection number: 1DRL/0345

Robert James Henderson MC & Bar, was born in 1886 in Drummoyne, Sydney. He was one of five children born to Amy Violet and James Henderson. He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in June 1915, and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in March 1916. Henderson was awarded the Military Cross in August 1917, for action at Messines. Robert James Henderson died of wounds sustained at Villers-Bretonneux on 13 May 1918. In September 1918, he was posthumously awarded the Bar to Military Cross. His niece, NX70372 Lieutenant Jane Proctor Tivey, served as a nurse during the Second World War.

43rd Battalion Band

Collection relating to annual reunions held by the 43rd Battalion (AIF) Band during the years 1935 to 1970. Comprises original hard covered notebook containing handwritten minutes taken at the reunions, including the date and place of the reunions, the names of those present, and news of the past year. Notes from some years include the signatures of those attending the reunion, and there are notes on the general history of the band and the formation of the reunions. Also includes a roll of members from 1916-1919, and a list of names of those attending the reunions from the years 1935 to 1966. Collection number: PR05236

The Memorial is looking for a contact for the 43rd Battalion (AIF) Association.