Charles Gatliff was one of five brothers who served in artillery brigades on the battlefields of the First World War. For two and a half years he wrote to his father and mother every few days with detailed stories about life on the front line, and routines and simple pleasures away from the fighting.

Jill Miles grew up hearing stories about her great uncle, Leslie Maygar, and would take his Victoria Cross to school.

When the Lahey brothers went away to war, their 32-year-old sister Vida was determined to join them.

On 17 January 1915 an Australian soldier at Mena Camp in Egypt, Private Arthur Adams, noted in his diary: “Wedding in camp. Private of 10th marries a S.A. girl, who comes via England.” But who were the bride and groom?

When Jim Burrowes went to war in January 1942, he came from a family of seven. By the time he returned, his family of seven had been reduced to three.

Daphne Dunne captured the hearts of millions when she met Prince Harry, but behind the pictures of the 98-year-old war widow and the 34-year-old prince is a story of love, loss, and courage.

When Meredith Atilemile was a little girl, she would visit the Australian War Memorial with her father and listen to stories about her grandfather who served on Gallipoli and the Western Front during the First World War. Decades later, she became a voluntary guide at the Memorial and learnt that her great uncle had also served, becoming the signals officer for Brigadier General H.E. “Pompey” Elliott. 

My heart stops. There he is.

At the end of another endless click of the mouse – it’s him. Harry. My grandfather. Hiding in plain sight on the Australian War Memorial website.

“I found you,” I say out loud.

On 20 November 1917,  Lieutenant John Clifford Peel wrote a letter that would become the inspiration for the Royal Flying Doctor Service.