Shreeve, Charles William (Private, b.1914-d.1976)

Collection relating to the Second World War service of QX10285 Private Charles William Shreeve, 2/2 Machine Gun Battalion, Second Australian Imperial Force, Australia, the Middle East, Italy, Germany and the United Kingdom, 1940-1945.

Wallet 1 of 1 – Contains three folders of material relating to Private Charles William Shreeve.

Folder 1 of 3 consists of 18 letters from Private Shreeve to several of his family members, dated between 10 November 1940 and 31 December 1941. They cover the period of Private Shreeve’s training, embarkation, and service with 2/2 Machine Gun Battalion in the Middle East. In his letters, Private Shreeve writes about plans for future leave, his admittance to the battalion, daily army routine, embarkation, the difficulty of leaving his family, censorship, training in Palestine, leave in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, receiving mail from home, language barriers with the local people, sending photographs, digging trenches and dug outs, air raids by enemy aircraft, being visited by the Prime Minister of South Africa, socialising with Sikh soldiers, being the orderly sergeant, hearing news of the war in the Pacific, the weather, being on guard duty, and sightseeing in the local area. He also makes enquiries regarding friends and family and responds to news from home. Several of the letters also include notes written by other family members to one another.

Folder 2 of 3 consists of 22 postcards, one telegram, and one airgraph letter from Private Shreeve to several members of his family between 16 November 1942 and c. April 1945. They cover the period of his internment as a prisoner of war of the Italians and Germans and his release. In his correspondence, Private Shreeve writes about his health, the weather, sleeping on bunk beds, playing card games and board games, and receiving irregular mail from home. Private Shreeve then writes about his liberation by American forces and his arrival in England. He also sends his best wishes and requests news from home.

Folder 3 of 3 consists of six letters and one document relating to the service of Private Shreeve.
It contains:
5x Letters from Private Shreeve’s friend, QX8737 Sergeant Maurice Arthur Bernard “Max” Bannah, to Private Shreeve’s sister, Mrs Mona Ellen “Peg” Turner, dated between 17 May 1943 and 14 May 1945. In his letters, Sergeant Bannah writes about receiving letters from Private Shreeve and relays news.
1x Letter from the Red Cross Bureau for Wounded, Missing and Prisoners of War to Private Shreeve’s sister, Mrs Mona Ellen “Peg” Turner, dated 2 February 1944. This letter informs Private Shreeve’s transfer from a prisoner of war camp in Italy to one in Germany.
1x Handwritten extract from 2/2 Machine Gun Battalion War Diary, July 1942.

Private Charles William Shreeve enlisted to the Second Australian Imperial Force on 27 June 1940, and was posted to 2/2 Machine Gun Battalion. With his battalion, he served in Palestine, Syria, and Egypt. In July 1942, Private Shreeve was captured as a prisoner of war during the First Battle of El Alamein. He was interned in prisoner of war camps in Italy and Germany, and was liberated in April 1945. Private Shreeve returned to Australia via the United Kingdom, and was discharged on 27 July 1945.