Wallet 2 of 2 - Letters from William Leslie (Les) McGrath to Mary Petrie, 1916-1919

Accession Number AWM2020.22.122
Collection number PR01007
Collection type Digitised Collection
Record type Wallet
Item count 1
Object type Letter
Physical description 62 Image/s captured
Maker McGrath, William Leslie (Les)
Place made France, United Kingdom: England
Date made 1915-1919
Conflict First World War, 1914-1918
Source credit to This item has been digitised with funding provided by Commonwealth Government.
Description

Collection relating to the First World War service of 1250 Lance Corporal (later Sergeant) William Leslie (Les) McGrath, 19 Battalion and 5 Training Battalion, Egypt, France, England, 1915-1919.

Wallet 2 of 2 – This wallet contains letters from 1250 Lance Corporal (later Sergeant) William Leslie (Les) McGrath to Mary Petrie from France and from Rollestone, Tidworth, Fovant, Sutton Veny (England) between 17 September 1916 April 1915 and 15 February 1919. The letters describe service in France, his work as a trainer at Rollestone, McGrath’s non-official activities on furlough. There are some descriptions of his experiences and conditions at the front (with occasional touches of 'trench humour'). McGrath describes French, Scottish and English women and gives his opinions on the state of the war and when it might draw to a close. He also mentions his concern regarding the spread of the [Spanish] Flu. Common acquaintances are often mentioned.

This wallet also contains an extract from one letter from an unknown (but related) writer and a photograph of the headstone of William Leslie McGrath.

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