History Notes - messages from the WW1 front
History Notes
Well the annual meeting of the Society has been held and all positions filled - we have a new treasurer and a new vice president- we just need those members who have not joined for 2024/5 to pay their membership. Most members would know that the museum is open on Friday mornings and there will be someone there to take your payment. Memberships can also be paid at the markets and there will be a market in November.
I wonder if those interested in the history of the First World War have wondered what happened after Armistice Day. While searching through a large family's old records and endeavouring to get them filed in chronological order I have found a letter from one of the soldiers.
The letter was written to his sister and dated France, 22nd November, 1918.
The first page was taken up by comments about the large number of letters he receives each week. He then moved on to complain about the cold and comment that Australia would be warming up now.
Since the Armistice was signed quite a lot of censoring had been lifted and the soldiers, who were living in a village in France, were allowed to have cameras. He stated that life in the village was not bad but he would rather to be heading "for that place called Australia". He mentions that another division is going to see Germany, to march into Germany as victors. His division was not going. He was keen to return home as "a plain old Sgt. that has done his bit”.
This letter is written in pencil on ageing writing paper and dated 22nd November, 1918. He did come home safely and lived a long life on the land north of the Barraba district and we must thank a member of his family who thought to save the letter for someone to appreciate and preserve among his family history records.
Hopefully I can do another World War 1 soldier next week as we lead up to the centenary of the clock and remembrance of Barraba's soldiers who went to war.