Margan, Alexander Albert (Gunner, b.1909 - d.1973)

Collection relating to the Second World War service of NX8703 Gunner Alexander Albert Margan, 2/1 Field Regiment, Second Australian Imperial Force, Middle East and New Guinea, 1940-1943.

Wallet 1 of 1 – Consists of 19 letters [including four accompanying envelopes] and one postcard from Gunner Margan to his sister, Mrs Rose Elizabeth Sullivan. In his letters, dated between 3 April 1940 and 1 February 1943, Gunner Margan writes about his experiences of service with 2/1 Field Regiment in the Middle East. Some of these experiences include his embarkation, undertaking a cooking course, receiving mail, an incident in the kitchen in which he was badly burned, being ill, struggling to eat hard biscuits, the taking of Bardia, listening to air raids while in trenches, being broadcast in a radio series titled 'Voices from Overseas', becoming the regimental butcher, seeing concert parties, saving money for leave, dealing with large amounts of flies, disliking the desert, having severe eczema, being in hospital, and seeing ill Japanese prisoners of war. Gunner Margan also responds to news from home and writes about mutual friends.

Gunner Alexander Albert Margan enlisted to the Second Australian Imperial force on 8 November 1939, after previously serving in the Navy. He served with 2/1 Field Regiment in the Middle East and New Guinea, and was discharged on 12 May 1943.