| Places | |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | AWM2019.22.4 |
| Collection number | PR84/150 |
| Collection type | Digitised Collection |
| Record type | File |
| Item count | 1 |
| Object type | Letter |
| Physical description | 112 Image/s captured |
| Maker |
McKenzie, William |
| Place made | Egypt, Ottoman Empire: Turkey, Dardanelles, Gallipoli |
| Date made | 1915 |
| Conflict |
First World War, 1914-1918 |
| Source credit to | This item has been digitised with funding provided by Commonwealth Government. |
Letters from William McKenzie to his Family, 1915
Description
Letters relating to the First World War service of Chaplain William McKenzie, 4th Battalion, Australian Imperial Force. In his 1915 letters to his family, William McKenzie relates stories of his experiences in Egypt, including training and route marches, large concerts and meetings, church parades, sandstorms, visiting hospitals, and an incident in which a horse fell on him during a parade. Throughout his letters, he also shows keen interest in his family back in Australia, and asks many questions regarding their doings and welfare.
In April 1915, McKenzie travelled to Gallipoli with his unit. In his letters home, he writes about his work, including distributing and censoring the mail, writing many hundreds of letters to families of soldiers, visiting the wounded, and burying the dead, often under enemy fire. He also gives details about what life was like in the trenches at Gallipoli, including lice, damp ground, cold nights, lack of sleep, and being under constant shellfire.
This file contains:
Letter from William McKenzie to his wife, 8 January 1915
Letter from William McKenzie to his wife, Egypt, 15 January 1915
Letter from William McKenzie to his wife, Mena, Egypt, 21 January 1915 [letter missing pages 3 and 7]
Letter from William McKenzie to his wife, Egypt, 23 January 1915
Letter from William McKenzie to his son Gordon, 24 January 1915
Letter from William McKenzie to his wife, Mena, Egypt, 31 January 1915
Letter from William McKenzie to his daughter Mavis, Egypt, 25 February 1915
Letter from William McKenzie to his wife, 3 March 1915
Letter from William McKenzie to his son Colin, 4 March 1915
Letter from William McKenzie to his son Gordon, 4 March 1915
Letter from William McKenzie to his son Colin, Egypt, 11 March 1915
Letter from William McKenzie to his wife, Mena, Egypt, 11 March 1915
Letter from William McKenzie to his wife, Egypt, 26 March 1915
Letter from William McKenzie to his family, 29 March 1915
Letter from William McKenzie to his wife, Egypt, 2 April 1915
Letter from William McKenzie to his wife, 6 April 1915
Letter from William McKenzie to his wife, afloat, 24 April 1915
Letter from William McKenzie to his wife, 5 May 1915
Letter from William McKenzie to his wife, 20 May 1915
Letter from William McKenzie to his wife, Gallipoli Peninsula, 30 May 1915
Letter from William McKenzie to his wife, 3 June 1915
Letter from William McKenzie to his wife, Gallipoli Peninsula, 10 June 1915
Letter from William McKenzie to his wife, 17 June 1915
Incomplete letter from William McKenzie, [c. August/ September 1915], [letter missing pages 1 and 3]
Letter from William McKenzie to his wife, Gallipoli Peninsula, 5 September 1915
Letter from William McKenzie to his wife, 10 October 1915
Letter from William McKenzie to his wife, Sarpi Rest Camp, Lemnos Island, 16 October 1915
Incomplete letter from William McKenzie, [c. late 1915]
Letter from William McKenzie to his wife, Rossmore House, Cairo, Egypt, 6 November 1915
Letter from William McKenzie to his wife, Rossmore House, Cairo, Egypt, 6 November 1915
Incomplete letter from William McKenzie , [c. December 1915]
Postcard of William McKenzie, [undated]
Postcard of William McKenzie to his daughter Mavis, [undated]