Eames, Edward Wareham (Private, b.1899 - d.1918)

Collection relating to service of 6907 Private Edward Wareham Eames, 18 Battalion, England and France, 1917-1918. Collection includes typewritten copies of a diary and letters written home to family in Australia, in particular to Eames' sister, Clare.

Eames' letters to his younger sister, Clare, are cheerful and repeatedly show interest in Clare's activities: her friends; her social life at church, and her training at shorthand and typing. In his letters to his father and to his sister, Eames gives passing mention to his hardships, repeatedly commenting on food shortages, the difficulties of wearing his gas helmet, and of keeping clean while in the front line. Most of his letters are cheery reports of mails received and sent, news of friends, and meeting up with people from Sans Souci and Kogarah, NSW.

Biographical note: Private, 18th Bn, AIF. Died 11 November 1918 of wounds received at Joncourt. Builder's apprentice / carpenter, of Sans Souci, NSW; born Petersham, NSW; great-great-grandson of Rev R. Cartwright who landed in NSW 1808; great-grandson of Commander Richard Sadlier, RN who landed in NSW 1826 and became Commissioner of Aborigines 1827; grandson of Captain R. L. Eames of H.M. Customs, Sydney who landed in Australian in 1850; was educated at Newtown, NSW Public School; was a Company Sergeant Major in the Senior Cadets Kogarah, NSW, joined AIF on 15 March 1917, age at time of death 19. Two first cousins of Eames were also killed in World War 1: Captain Noel Ernest Biden, 3 Field Company Engineers, died 21 December 1915 and 6462 Private William Wareham Biden, 3 Battalion, died 14 April 1918.