| Places | |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | AWM2016.30.6 |
| Collection number | 1DRL/0345 |
| Collection type | Digitised Collection |
| Record type | File |
| Item count | 14 |
| Object type | Letter |
| Physical description | 51 Image/s captured |
| Maker |
Henderson, Leonard Alston Henderson, Robert James |
| Place made | France |
| Date made | 1918 |
| Conflict |
First World War, 1914-1918 |
| Copying Provisions | Digital format and content protected by copyright. |
Letters from Robert James Henderson, 1918
Description
Letters relating to the First World War service of Captain Robert James Henderson, 13th Battalion. These letters were predominantly written from Henderson to his family between 6 January and 21 April 1918. He begins the letters by describing the snow and cold of the 1917/1918 winter. In March, the Germans launch their spring offensive, and Henderson describes the fighting and the good work of the Australians in halting the advance. In one last letter, on 21 April 1918, he writes of how cheaply life is treated on the Western Front, the loss of officers that landed at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915, his many narrow escapes, and that it was only a matter of time for himself. On 13 May 1918, Henderson died from wounds sustained in the fighting around Villers-Bretonneux. The last letter in this file, dated 24 May 1918, is from his brother Leonard Alston Henderson to their family at home explaining the circumstances of his death. This file contains:
Letter from Robert James Henderson to his mother, France, 6 January 1918;
Letter from Robert James Henderson to his mother, France, 13 January 1918;
Letter from Robert James Henderson to his brother "Mick", France, 14 January 1918;
Letter from Robert James Henderson to his sister "Jane", France, 27 January 1918;
Letter from Robert James Henderson to his mother, France, 7 February 1918;
Letter from Robert James Henderson to his mother, France, 15 February 1918;
Letter from Robert James Henderson to his mother, France, 4 March 1918 [includes list of code names for 13th Battalion officers in forthcoming tour of duty in the line, 19 February 1918];
Letter from Robert James Henderson to his mother, France, 11 March 1918;
Letter from Robert James Henderson to his sister "Jane", France, 19 March 1918;
Letter from Robert James Henderson to his mother, France, 7 April 1918;
Letter from Robert James Henderson to his mother, France, 16 April 1918;
Letter from Robert James Henderson to his mother, France, 21 April 1918;
Letter from Robert James Henderson to his brother "Mick", France, 21 April 1918;
Letter from Leonard Alston Henderson to his family, France, 24 May 1918.