Hume and the Great War: Letters Home

“I was wounded and taken prisoner on the 20th July in France, but I am not getting treated bad at all. . . . I have been in the hospital five and a half weeks, but it’s nothing to worry about. My luck was in not to get killed.” Private James Barnes 2/11/1916, a Goulburn labourer.

“I am fairly well again. It rains nearly every day here. The mud is over our boot-tops when we are drilling, so you can guess what we look like.” Private Archibald Barker, 21/12/1916, a railway worker from Yarra.

“I do not know when we are leaving for the firing line but I am ready any time and the sooner I get there the better. I want to see what we are made of.” Lance Corporal Lindsay Bertram Murray, a railway worker from Breadalbane, writing home on December 4th, 1915 from Egypt. Lindsay died on 28 July 1916 from wounds received at Pozieres in France. 

As we approach the centenary of the Anzac landings at Gallipoli, letters home from the front line help us remember the sacrifices made by so many. Through these most personal accounts we see the daily challenges of war – physical and emotional. Letters to loved ones have kept our history alive.

I’m struck by the courage of these young men. For many it was the first time they’d ever really left home. Their home towns and villages barely knew crime, let alone the horrors of the trenches.

23 year old Lindsay Murray from Breadalbane, wrote home to his mother and sister Elsie from the Heliopolis Camp in Egypt. His letters show an ordinary bloke who missed home. He would often reassure his family so they didn’t worry: “I have not been in better health in my life and feel happy…I am having a good look at Cioro (sic) and all over Egypt so I will tell you all about it when I see you again.” 

On June 12 1916, just weeks before his death, Lindsay wrote home: “It is now 9 months since I left the old Australian shaws (sic), but I expect it will be longer befor (sic) we see them again, but I can assure yous (sic) we don’t worry we take it as it comes and goes. We are going to do our bit and that’s all anyone can do…”

Lindsay died from wounds inflicted at Pozieres, France at the age of 23. 

His and other letters and memorabilia feature in an exhibition at Goulburn Regional Art Gallery to mark the Anzac centenary.

The gallery has sent postcards to school children in the region with excerpts from letters written by Goulburn soldiers, and the children have been invited to respond to the soldiers with a letter of their own.

The exhibition named "A SALUTE:  Aussie soldier from 1915 meets Young Turk in 2015" runs from March 13 to May 2. For more information visit www.grag.com.au

Thankyou to Leonie Wood from Nerriga for sharing the very personal letters and photos of her great uncle Lindsay Murray from Breadalbane when he was stationed in Egypt and France.

Angus Taylor MP

Lindsay Murray from Breadalbane

Attending the official opening of  the Goulburn Regional Art Gallery's WW1 exhibition, Australian War Memorial Director Dr Brendan Nelson with Angus Taylor and Nerriga resident Leonie Wood who is the great niece of WW1 soldier Lindsay Murray. 

Card home from Lindsay Murray to his mother

YMCA Letterhead