Roth, Louis Carl, MC (Captain, b.1893 - d.1918)

Collection relating to the service of Captain Louis Carl Roth, MC, 22 Battalion & 2 Pioneer Battalion, Australia, at sea, Egypt, Gallipoli, England, Western Front, 1914-1918. Collection consists of photostat copies of approximately 110 letters written by Captain Roth to various members of his family, mainly his mother in Australia, and his aunts in Liverpool, England. Collection also contains a typescript copy of a diary kept by Captain Roth in 1918; photostat copies of documents relating to the activities of Captain Roth's company (Company A) between 8 August 1918 and early September 1918 (Battle of Amiens); photostat copies of assorted German documents (probably souvenirs); photostat copies of various notes made by Captain Roth in early August 1918. Collection also contains a photostat copy of a letter written in 1916 by John Norman Webb of St. Kilda, to Roth. Copies made by Australian War Memorial. Location of originals unknown.

This collection, consisting chiefly of letters written by Captain Louis Carl Roth, MC, to his mother and aunts, reveals him to have been a cheerful, good-humoured young man who took pleasure and pride in his work with the Pioneers, and who apparently relished a "good scrap". He often expressed pride in the efforts of all Australian troops and greatly admired their reputation for fierce fighting and resourceful, unconventional conduct. He clearly enjoyed visiting his grandmother and aunts in Liverpool, England at every opportunity, and showed a great interest in family matters.

Biographical note: Captain Louis Carl Roth, MC, 2 Pioneer Battalion (formerly of 22 Infantry Battalion), AIF, who died on 6 October 1918 of wounds received that day at Roisel, France. Surveyor and civil engineer; of Esoteric, Victoria; born Sale, Victoria, 4 December 1893; educated at Caulfield Grammar School, Victoria, and Workingmen's College, Melbourne; had been a lieutenant in the senior cadets and later, in the Citizen Forces; winner of open scholarships at Workingmen's College, 1908 and 1913; appointed 2nd Lieutenant in 22 Battalion, AIF, 7 May 1915; promoted lieutenant, 26 August 1916; was in England for some time on duty at No. 2 Command Depot, Weymouth, and also with the Pioneer Training Battalion.