Pryor, Henry Charles (Private, b.1914 - d.1941)

Places
Accession Number PR04790
Collection type Private Record
Record type Collection
Measurement Extent: 1 cm; Wallet/s: 1
Object type Letter
Maker Pryor, Henry Charles
Place made Australia, British Mandate of Palestine: Palestine, North Africa: Libya
Date made 1940-1941
Access Open
Conflict Second World War, 1939-1945
Copyright

Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain

Public Domain Mark This item is in the Public Domain

Copying Provisions Copyright expired. Copying permitted subject to physical condition. Permission for reproduction not required.
Description

Collection relating to the Second World War service of VX13723 Private Henry Charles Pryor, 2/8 Australian Infantry Battalion, Second Australian Imperial Force, Australia, Palestine and Libya, 1940-1941.

Wallet 1 of 1 – Consists of seven letters from Private Henry Charles Pryor to his fiancée, Kathleen Weir, and one envelope. The letters, dated between 3 August 1940 and 12 February 1941, cover his period of training at Balcombe Camp, Victoria, and service with 2/8 Australian Infantry Battalion in Palestine and Libya. In his letters, Private Pryor writes about being bored, repetitive daily routine, attending church, getting vaccinations, camping in training trenches, preparing for embarkation, being ill with the mumps and sand-fly fever, impressions of Palestine, sightseeing, sending souvenirs home, serving at Tobruk, and frustrations with dust storms. He also responds to news from Kathleen’s letters to him, and sends his love.

History / Summary

Private Henry Charles Pryor enlisted to the Second Australian Imperial Force on 30 April 1940. After a period of training at Balcombe Camp, Victoria, he served with 2/8 Australian Infantry Battalion in Palestine, Egypt and Libya. Alongside the rest of his battalion, Private Pryor was engaged in heavy fighting at Tobruk, Libya in early 1941. In early April 1941, he and his unit were deployed to Greece. Private Pryor was killed in action in Greece on 12 April 1941. He is commemorated at Athens Memorial, Greece.