Letters of Gerard Henderson Cowan, 1916-1917

Letters relating to the First World War service of 6733 Private Gerard Henderson Cowan, 11 Australian Infantry Battalion.

In his letters to his family written between 1916 and 1917, Cowan describes his experiences of serving abroad. Some of these experiences include his embarkation, the journey across the Indian Ocean, stopping in South Africa and Sierra Leone and sightseeing on shore, being on the watch for German submarines, receiving a “Christmas billy”, and disembarking in England. Cowan then writes about his struggles with the very cold English weather, living at a training camp, getting mumps, sightseeing at nearby villages and London during his time off, visiting English family members, serving in France, being wounded and sent to hospital in England, and attending signalling school after his recovery.

This file also contains letters written from various family members to Cowan during his time in England. Gerard Henderson Cowan later joined the Australian Flying Corps and became a pilot, but died of illness on 22 February 1919.

This file contains:
Letter from T. Tumble to [unknown], 3 June 1916;
Letter from H. Gregory to Gerard Henderson Cowan, Melbourne, 5 June 1916;
Letter from Gerard Henderson Cowan to Honourable H. Gregory, [date unknown];
Letter from Gerard Henderson Cowan to his father, [c. July 1916];
Incomplete letter from Gerard Henderson Cowan, [Western Australia], 26-29 July 1916;
Letter from Gerard Henderson Cowan to his father, at sea, [c. November-December 1916];
Letter from Gerard Henderson Cowan to his family, at sea, 26 December 1916;
Telegram from Lord Bishop of Worcester to Gerard Henderson Cowan, Kidderminster, England, 28 December 1916;
Letter from Ernest du Boulay to Rosa Cowan (Gerard Henderson Cowan's mother), [England], 31 December 1916;
Letter from Gerard Henderson Cowan to his father, Salisbury, England, 4 Febraury 1917;
Letter from Gerard Henderson Cowan to his mother, Tunbridge Wells, England, [c. February 1917];
Letter from Gerard Henderson Cowan to his Uncle Jim, Durrington, England, [c. February 1917];
Letter from Gerard Henderson Cowan to his father, Durrington, England, 24 February 1917;
Letter from Gerard Henderson Cowan to his father, [England], 7 March 1917, [includes magazine clipping featuring aircraft];
Letter from Ernest du Boulay to Gerard Henderson Cowan, 21 March 1917;
Letter from Ernest du Boulay to Gerard Henderson Cowan, 17 April 1917;
Letter from Gerard Henderson Cowan to his mother, [France], 10 June 1917;
Letter from Ernest du Boulay to Gerard Henderson Cowan, 17 June 1917;
Letter from Gerard Henderson Cowan to his father, France, 1 July 1917;
Letter from Gerard Henderson Cowan to his father, France, 11 July 1917;
Letter from Grace Willis to Gerard Henderson Cowan, 27 August 1917;
Letter from Gerard Henderson Cowan to his father, France, 31 August [1917];
Letter from Gerard Henderson Cowan to Machell, France, 8 September 1917;
Letter from Gerard Henderson Cowan to his father, Bristol, England, 1 October 1917;
Letter from Gerard Henderson Cowan to his father, Warminster, 24 November 1917;
Letter from Gerard Henderson Cowan to his father, 10 December 1917;
Letter from Gerard Henderson Cowan to his mother, 13 December 1917.