Massey, Lawrence Dudley

Collection relating to 5277 Private (Pte) (later Acting Corporal) Lawrence Dudley Massey, who served with 4th Field Ambulance, 4th Division, AIF. The main items are two original pocket size diaries, handwritten by Pte Massey from the time he joined the Australian Army Medical Corps (AAMC) on 25 May 1915 until his medical discharge on 26 July 1917. The diaries detail clerical & medical duties aboard various vessels returning wounded troops to Australia, posting to Egypt and eventually to France, Casualty Clearing Station duties near Hazebrouk and Armentieres, and Pte Massey's evacuation to the United Kingdom due to illness. Also includes his Certificate of Discharge, a souvenir card of General Birdwood's message to the Anzacs for Christmas 1915, a souvenir titled 'City of Unley Honor Roll' containing the names of men and nurses who were residents of the City of Unley at the time they enlisted, an Invalided Soldier's Pass from the Municipal Tramways Trust, Adelaide, a shipping tag for Pte Murray when he was hospitalised with myalgia in Etaples in 1916, and a newspaper clipping reporting on the poor conditions of the voyage carrying civilians to Australia in 1918, including English war brides. Added to this collection in 2015 was a digital and access copy of a typed transcript of the two diaries, which was completed by Robin Cranston, grandson of Pte Massey.

Biographical information supplied by Pte Massey's grandson, Mr Robin Cranston:

Lawrence Massey travelled back to Australia in August 1918 with his wife Rose, and their first born child, Hazel. They travelled on a civilian ship, which was part of a convoy.

Upon returning to Australia, Massey took up a soldier settlement land grant in Monash, South Australia. He and Rose went on to have two more daughers and a son. Lawrence Massey died in 1975