Sir T. William Glasgow and Lady Glasgow papers

Early in 1914 William Glasgow wrote from his property 'Sanders Station' near Dingo, central Queensland, however by August at the outbreak of war, he had enlisted with the first Australian Imperial Forces (AIF) and was granted a commission as Major. He was assigned second in command of the 2nd Light Horse Regiment.

The letters in this collection follow Glasgow's training and preparation for war at the Light Horse Camp, at Enoggera Barracks; and later aboard the troopship 'Star of England' bound for Egypt. On arrival he wrote of conditions at the camp at M'aadi, spending Christmas away from home, and visiting the ancient sites of Egypt when off duty.

In May 1915 Glasgow, now second in command of the 3rd Light Horse Regiment, arrived at Anzac Cove on the Gallipoli Peninsula, and after the death of his commander in August, assumed his position and led an attack on Dead Man's Ridge; which although successful could not be sustained. During their retreat many men were wounded or killed. Glasgow was soon promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and given command of the 2nd Light Horse Regiment, a position which he held until the evacuation in December 1915.

Prior to his departure for Gallipoli, Glasgow wrote many letters from the Light Horse camp in Maadi and later the training camp at Zeitoun, to his family in Queensland. Later he also sent telegrams and field service postcards, assuring them of his safety and giving news of his two brothers who were also serving, including Alex who was wounded at Gallipoli. The collection also includes letters from the Reverend George Green; General Birdwood; Anna Dodds, wife Dr Espie Dodds; and other family members.

After the withdrawal of troops from operations on the Gallipoli Peninsula in December 1915, the Australian government decided to expand the AIF in Egypt prior to its commitment to the war in France and Belgium. As part of this process, the 13th Brigade was raised from experienced personnel from the 3rd Brigade and reinforcements from Australia to boost the numbers of readily available men. Glasgow was given command of this new brigade in March 1916.

The letters in this collection reflect the movements of then Lieutenant-Colonel Glasgow during 1916: he proceeded from Egypt to France in June, then having been promoted to Brigadier General, led the 13th Brigade in their first major action in September 1916, at Mouquet Farm. This collection also includes letters to his wife Annie from her brothers Colin and Louis who were also serving overseas; the Reverend George Green; General Birdwood; and many discuss arrangements for Annie to sail to England, where she would reside for the next three years.

A large collection of letters and cards principally written by then Brigadier-General William Glasgow, to his wife Annie who is now in London, while on active duty in France. Glasgow and his wife are able to take short holidays together, when he gets leave from the front.

Glasgow who had been temporarily promoted to Brigadier, was in command of 13th Infantry Brigade, and led successful operations at Messines in June and in the vicinty of Polygon Wood in September 1917.

Included in the collection are letters from: the Reverend George Green ; Annie's brothers Colin and Robert; one from his young daughter Joan and several giving news of family members who have been wounded or killed while on active service.

A significant collection of correspondence for the final year of the First World War, which begins with many letters of congratulations on Glasgow being awarded CBE in the New Years honours. The majority of the correspondence is from Major General William Glasgow to his wife Annie in London, while on active duty in France.

Glasgow who was in command of 13th Infantry Brigade, led operations at Dernancourt and the 2nd Battle of Villers-Bretonneux, later in June he was given command of 1st Division leading troops in Flanders, the Somme, Amiens, Lihons, Chuignes and the Hindenberg Line.

Although Glasgow and his wife are able to spend some time together during the year, he often had his leave cancelled or cut short, which is reflected in his notes to Annie. As the year went on and negotiations began for an armistice, Australian troops were withdrawn from the front line, but Glasgow remained in France until hositlities ceased. He spent Christmas 1918 in Belgium occupying the troops while they waited for demobilisation and repatriation to begin.

A collection of letters, memos, postcards relating to correspondence sent by friends and family to Major General William Glasgow, together with letters written by him to his wife and children principally during 1919.

Glasgow remained in Belgium for the first few months of 1919, and on the 22nd February was visited by Australian Prime Minister, Billy Hughes, who addressed a meeting of all ranks at Chatelet. Annie was reunited with her husband on 25 March and they returned to Australia together aboard the troopship 'Kaiser-i-Hind' in May.

Glasgow received a letter from George V, King of England wishing him a safe return journey and thanking him for his unsurpassed devotion and courage, just prior to their departure; and in 1920 received an invitation to lunch with Edward, Prince of Wales during his visit to Queensland.

After his return to Australia, Glasgow successfully ran for parliament in December 1919 and was elected to the Senate as a member of the Nationalist Party; he remained a member of parliament until 1931.

Family photographs and portraits taken of Jacob Stumm, the Stumm family home in Gympie, Annie Glasgow (nee Stumm) and her daughters, and other associated family groups.

This collection of photographs and postcards date principally from the time of William Glasgow's enlistment in August 1914 to serve in the First World War and in Egypt with the Light Horse Regiments.

Included are several images of Glasgow in military uniform prior to this time. He was a member of the Wide Bay Regiment of the Queensland Mounted Infantry in 1893 and served with the 1st Queensland Mounted Infantry, in South Africa in 1899. He was also sent to London in 1897 as part of a small contingent of 20 personnel from Queensland to attend the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria.

The majority of these photographs were taken in Egypt and on the Gallipoli Peninsula, and reflect Glasgow's service with the Light Horse Regiments; many have been inscribed on the reverse. The images include: allied troops and operations, Gallipoli; Turkish prisoners; places of interest such as Luxor, Karnak, the Spinx; and life on the River Nile.

This collection of photographs, taken principally in France and England include aerial photographs; images taken by Official Australian photographers; as well as several postcards, and several of livestock on properties in Queensland. Many are inscribed on the reverse,

Photographs of Noel Glasgow, newphew to Sir William, in military uniform, with members of his family after enlisting in the Second World War.

Noel Glasgow was a member of the 2/2nd Anti-Tank Regiment and served in the Middle East and New Guinea from 1940-1945. His brother Graham Henry Glasgow, a flying officer with No.194 Squadron Dakota, was killed when their aircraft crashed while on route to Toungoo, Burma.

Pocket diary kept by Annie Isabell (Belle) Glasgow, written in England where she resided during most of the war.
The references to "Percy" in the diary refer to William Glasgow; Percy appears to have been her pet name for him.

[Item 29571/1181]

A collection of Christmas greeting cards received by Major General William Glasgow from various colleagues, Corps, fellow officers, friends and family during 1918 and 1919.

War-time ephemera relating to William Glasgow and his wife Annie. The collection includes: souvenir postcards, menus and programs; a notebook, wartime currency, tickets, invitations, poems and a commemorative cigar tin dated1915.

Published material relating to the service of William Glasgow during the First World War. The collection includes: booklets, pamplets, humorous typescripts and intructions for demobilisation.

Certificates relating to the appointment of William Glasgow to various honours and awards, and an illuminated address:

• Certificate of the Companion of the Order of St. Michael and St. George (C.M.G.) awarded to Lieutenant Colonel Thomas William Glasgow
• Certificate, signed by King George V, appointing Thomas William Glasgow, D.S.O., an officer in the Land Forces in the rank of Major
• Certificate appointing Colonel (Temporary Brigadier General) T.W. Glasgow, a Companion (Military Division) of the Order of the Bath
• Royal Warrant and Statutes relating to Brigadier General T.W. Glasgow's appointment as Companion to the Order of Saint Michael and Saint George
• Certificate regarding Major T.W. Glasgow of the 2nd Light Horse Regiment being Mentioned in Despatches
• Certificate in relation to Brigadier-General T.W. Glasgow being Mentioned in Despatches
• Certificate in relation to Major General T.W. Glasgow being Mentioned in Despatches
• Extract from the French Army, Order No. 15633, regarding the great offensive displayed by Major General T.W. Glasgow in the Battle of the Hindenburg Line.
• Citation A L'Ordre de L'Armee: Major General T.W. Glasgow
• Copy of an illuminated address presented to Sir T.W. Glasgow from the people of Gympie
• Notice from the French Ministry of War, Bureau of Decorations, regarding the bravery of Major General T.W. Glasgow

World War recollections by various officers, including Sir William Glasgow for an Australian Broadcasting Commission recording in 1953; with related notes and correspondence.

• Recordings of World War recollections of various officers, including Colonel Charles Fortescue (landing at Gallipoli); Lieutenant-General Ivan McKay; Recollections of Sir William Glasgow in which he recounts the part played by the 13th Brigade in the counter-attack on Villers Bretonneux, France, in April 1918; Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Groves Wright Anderson V.C.; and Walter William Francis interview regarding his book "Australia Will Be There".
• Draft Notes for the A.B.C. Recording of Sir William Glasgow's World War I Recollections, 1953
• Revised Notes for the A.B.C. Recording of Sir William Glasgow's World War I Recollections, 1953
• Final Notes for the A.B.C. Recording of Sir William Glasgow's World War I Recollections, 1953
• Letters from J. McGrath, Acting Director of the Australian War Memorial in Canberra to Major General Sir William Glasgow 1952-1953
• Draft copy of a letter written by William Glasgow to the Australian War Memorial
• Letter to Charlie (possibly Charles Leslie Morell) from his brother, Major Roy Morell
• Draft copy of a letter from William Glasgow to Tom

[Items 29571/1291 - 29571/13020]

Various military maps relating to the Australian Imperial Forces (AI) during the First World War:

Mericourt, Harbonieres and the Somme, also includes is a map showing the route of the Australian troopship "Star of England" from Brisbane to Egypt marked in red.

This series contains a collection of coloured postcards featuring the sites of Egypt; several showing Australian troops in France or Belgium, during the First World War.

Signal book and notebook relating to the service of Major later Sir William Glasgow during the First World War:

Signal book: with red leatherette cover and black elastic strap retainer, sleeve holding a pencil, and pop fasteners, containing Army Form C.2121 Messages and Signals pad, and pasted in 'Instructions Regarding the Use of Army Form C.2121'.

Notebook: brown leather-bound notebook used by General William Glasgow to record military tactics and notes.

Blank photographic postcards and postcard books relating to England, Wales, France, Belgium, Egypt, and Ceylon [Sri Lanka]. Most of these items were probably acquired by Sir William and Lady Glasgow during the First World War.

Two photobooks of Stratford-On-Avon, England, and 'The Hundred Best Views of Ceylon' probably acquired by Sir William and Lady Glasgow during the First World War.

This small collection of family papers includes letters from Jacob Stumm to his daughter Annie Isabell Stumm, later Glasgow; her school report cards, marriage certificate, invitations and present lists; cuttings book and other family correspondence.

This series contains material relating to William Glasgow's interest and participation in the South African War. He enlisted in 1899 and was commissioned as a lieutenant, assigned to the 1st Queensland Mounted Infantry Contingent. Glasgow took part in the relief of Kimberley, the fighting on the Modder, and the occupation of Bloemfontein. For his services, he was mentioned in despatches and awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) in 1901.

This series includes a souvenir 'Everlasting Silver Leaves' postcard from Table Mountain, Cape Town [Item 29571/1398]; unpublished typescripts; diaries and memoirs.

Glasgow was demobilised from the AIF in August 1919 and elected to the Commonwealth Senate, standing with the Nationalist Party in December that year. In 1926 he was promoted to cabinet as Minister for Home and Territories and later - Minister for Defence in 1927, this positon he held until 1929. Glasgow was later elected Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, but lost his seat in the 1931 election, after which he returned to his life as a pastoralist.

This collection includes photographs; ephemera; a photograph album of the Empire Parliamentary Delegation 1926; material relating to the opening of Parliament House in Canberra in 1927; and a leather bound document folder embossed in gold with the words 'Federal Executive Council. Senator Major General The Hon. Sir T.W. Glasgow".

In December 1939 Glasgow was appointed as Australian High Commissioner to Canada. He was involved in negotiating and overseeing aspects of the Empire Air Training Scheme in Canada, in which many Australian pilots participated and promoted the Australian war effort. He returned to Australia in 1945.

The series includes photographs, clippings, ephemera, a photograph album, scrapbook, visitors' book, and a dinner party book for functions organised by Lady Glasgow.

Photographs of Sir William and Lady Glasgow in and of their residence, at Indooroopilly, Brisbane; as well as formal photographs taken at various events they attended, including the unveiling ceremony of the bronze statue of Sir William by Daphne Mayo, dedicated on Remembrance Day 1966.

Correspondence written by Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone, and her daughter Mary, to Lady Glasgow, from 1950 to 1962.

Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone, (1883-1981) was a grandchild of Queen Victoria. In 1904 she married Prince Alexander of Teck, who was the brother of Queen Mary, consort of George V.

Prince Alexander later became the Earl of Athlone. The Earl served as Governor General of Canada from 1940 to 1946 where he was active in support of the war effort and would have met both Sir William and Lady Glasgow on many occasions.

Scribblers Club Material, Speeches and Articles. The Scribblers writing group was founded in Brisbane in 1911 as a ladies literary society. It comprised 25 members with the wife of the Governor always invited to be the patron. Over the years many outstanding Brisbane women were members. Lady Glasgow joined the club in 1938.

Included is:
A newsletter titled 'The Bedford journal' dated 1965 in which is published an item written by Lady Glasgow. Titled 'A century of Nightingales' which discusses the anniversary of the opening of the Florence Nightingale Training School in June 1860.

Typed copies of 'The Scribblers' Magazine' issues, 1945-1950, 1953, 1955; a number of which contain items written by Lady Glasgow.

Letters, cards and telegrams of condolence received by the family of Sir William Glasgow after his death on the 4th July 1955.

Letters, cards and telegrams of condolence received by the family of Lady Annie Isabell Glasgow after her death on the 6th December 1967.

Papers relating to the state funeral and service at St Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Brisbane after Sir William Glasgow's death on 4 July 1955; he was cremated at Mt Thompson cemetery.

The Prime Minister of the day Sir Robert Menzies commented "he was the complete personal embodiment of the Australian Imperial Forces ...So great was his utter integrity and forthrightness that nobody could meet him without achieving a profound respect and affection for him".

This material includes newspaper cuttings; a photograph and note from the sculptor, Daphne Mayo; transcript of the speech by Sir Arthur Fadden at the unveiling of the statue on 11 November 1966; minutes and reports of the Sir William Glasgow Memorial Statue Fund.

The statue which was cast in bronze, first stood on the Police Reserve at the corner of Anne and Roma Streets, Brisbane. In 1968 it was moved to a reserve bounded by Albert, Roma and Turbot Streets, and in 2008, the statue was relocated to Post Office Square, Adelaide Street, facing ANZAC Square, Queensland's state war memorial.

The statue is inscribed on each four base panels:

Front panel: Major-General the Honourable Sir Thomas William Glasgow K.C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O., V.D., C de G. 1876 - 1955
Left panel: "Of strong though not heavy build and of energetic demeanor Glasgow succeeded not so much by exceptional mental gifts or by tactical skill of any high order as by his personal driving force and determination which impressed themselves on all his subordinates. He always got where he wanted to get was consistently loyal to the Australian ideal and intensely proud of the Australian soldier." Sir John Monash, Commander in Chief, AIF. 1918
Back panel: as per the front.
Right panel: Service Record. Boer War 1899 - 1902. First World War Gallipoli and France 1914 - 1918. Federal Parliament Minister for Home Affairs and Defence 1920 - 1932
High Commissioner for Australia in Canada 1940 - 1945. Unveiled by the Rt. Hon. Sir Arthur Fadden, PC on 11 Nov. 1966.

Research material and biographical notes collated by a number of researchers that includes correspondence, articles, booklets, and typescripts. Of note are: the November 1955 issue of 'Shoulder to Shoulder' the journal of the Society of St Andrew of Scotland, also titled 'Sir William Glasgow memorial issue'; a booklet issued by the Melbourne District Nursing Society titled 'For nursing the sick poor in their own homes and in after-care home; and the Quarterly journal of the Gypie & District Historical Society, 1987 which includes a biography of Sir William Glasgow.

Folder of newspaper item, articles relating to Sir William and Lady Glasgow.

House plans and specifications for Sir William and Lady Glasgow's residence at Neulans Road, Indooroopilly, Brisbane.

The timber dwelling was designed by architect, Robert Percy Cummings, whose practice was located in the Colonial Mutual Building, Queen Street, Brisbane. Included are 8 blueprints.

The objects comprise a boxed fountain pen and a typewriter both of which belonged to Lady Glasgow. There is also a type-written letter dated 8 June 1943 from Lady Glasgow in Ottawa, Canada, to Mrs Norah Stewart of Gympie, in which she discusses learning to type on her "very old model Corona - very temperamental".