Maher, Thomas Francis (Private)

Places
Accession Number 1DRL/0469
Collection type Private Record
Record type Collection
Measurement 1 wallet: 1 cm
Object type Letter
Maker Maher, Thomas Francis
Place made United Kingdom: England
Date made 1916-12-23
Access Open
Conflict First World War, 1914-1918
Copying Provisions Copyright expired. Copying permitted subject to physical condition. Permission for reproduction not required.
Description

Collection relating to the service of 3856 Private Thomas Francis Maher, 31 Battalion, AIF, 1916. Collection consists of one letter written by Private Thomas Francis Maher in December 1916, to his brother Les [Leo?] and his friend Jack in Australia.

History / Summary

This letter describes the voyage from Brisbane to England via South Africa, mentions the severe outbreak of meningitis on board ship (HMAT Seang Choon); the poor discipline of Australian troops when ashore in South Africa and Senegal; details of Hurdcott Camp on Salisbury Plain, including the high mortality rate from pneumonia in the camp.