Varney, Albany Thomas Fredrick (Corporal, b.1891 - d.1981)

Collection relating to the First World War service of 887 Corporal Albany Thomas Fredrick Varney, 12 Light Horse Regiment. Collection consists of letters, postcards, and other documents that span the period from Varney's enlistment with 12 Light Horse Regiment his service in Egypt and on Gallipoli, to his return to Australia, discharge and later life. Varney documents his training in Sydney, the sea voyage to Egypt, and his service on Gallipoli and in Palestine including the Battle of Beersheba. Varney describes the conditions, and prominent locations he visited such as Jerusalem and Gaza. Varney's writings also provide an insight into the daily conditions faced by civilians and enemy soldiers, in particular in and around Damascus and Jaffa after the fighting. Also included is a "Daily Mail - War Panorama" series of maps of the different theatres of war, as well as various documents relating to Varney's service and later life. Varney returned to Australia in 1919. A one page handwritten poem titled 'My little wet home in the trench', was added to this collection in 2014.

• Papers relating to Albany Thomas Fredrick Varney, 1915-2011