Series 1: Colquhoun Family Correspondence (1914-1915)
This series contains Sergeant Harold Colquhoun and family correspondence comprised of postcards, letters, telegrams and envelopes.
Description
Items in this series:
Postcard (11 September 1914)
Postcard from Private Douglas Graham Fraser in Brisbane, Queensland, to Robert Colquhoun at the Leichhardt Ward State School in Rockhampton. Fraser and Colquhoun were both teachers at the school.
Douglas Graham Fraser enlisted on the 23 August 1914 in the 9th Battalion. He served at Gallipoli and rose to the rank of Lance Corporal. He was repatriated to Australia, with wounds to his toes and kneecap, in August 1915.
Written on a postcard from the Young Men's Christian Association, Brisbane.
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Postcard (21 September 1914)
Postcard from Harold Colquhoun in Rockhampton, Queensland, to his sister, Dorothy, in Yeppoon, Queensland.
The postcard is part of "The Expeditionary Series" and features a photograph of "Australia's Flagship -H.M.A.S. Australia" by Sutcliffe & Akers
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Postcard (22 September 1914)
Postcard from Harold Colquhoun in Brisbane, Queensland, to his mother and sisters in Yeppoon, Queensland. He writes that he has arrived at the Enoggera Military Camp in Brisbane.
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Letter (4 October 1914)
Letter from Harold Colquhoun at the Enoggera Military Training Camp in Brisbane to his sister, Dorothy, in Yeppoon, Queensland.
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Postcard (19 October 1914)
Postcard from Harold Colquhoun at the Enoggera Military Training Camp in Brisbane to his father, Robert Duncan Colquhoun, in Mareeba, North Queensland. He writes that he has been appointed acting sergeant.
Written on a postcard from the Young Men's Christian Association, Brisbane.
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Letter (29 October 1914)
Letter from Sergeant Harold Colquhoun at the Enoggera Military Training Camp in Brisbane to his sister, Minna, in Mareeba, Queensland. He describes a French Canadian soldier named Louis Meledine. Meledine was killed in action at Gallipoli in May 1915.
The letter is written on letterhead of the Young Men's Christian Association.
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Postcard (2 December 1914)
Postcard from Sergeant Harold Colquhoun in Melbourne, Australia, to his father, Robert Duncan Colquhoun, in Mareeba, Queensland.
The postcard features a coloured image of the Union Jack flag and is part of the series "Australia's Patriotic Postcard" by Syd. Day The Printer Ltd.
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Letter (6 December 1914)
Letter from Sergeant Harold Colquhoun at the Broadmeadows Military Camp in Melbourne to his sister, Dorothy, in Mareeba, Queensland.
The letter is written on letterhead of the Young Men's Christian Association.
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Letter (1914)
Letter from Sergeant Harold Colquhoun to his sister, Dorothy, in Mareeba, Queensland. The letter includes an illustration of his tent.
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Postcard (6 January 1915)
Postcard from Sergeant Harold Colquhoun in Perth to his uncle, Oswald Matthews, in Melbourne.
The postcard features a photograph of the troopship, S.S. Ceramic, on which Harold travelled to Egypt. The postcard is imprinted "Geyer Studios, Oxford Street, Sydney".
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Postcard (8 March 1915)
Postcard from Sergeant Harold Colquhoun in Egypt to his sister, Dorothy, in Mareeba, North Queensland. The postcard features a photograph of camels.
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Postcard (19 March 1915)
Postcard from Sergeant Harold Colquhoun in Egypt to his sister, Dorothy, in Mareeba, North Queensland. The postcard, printed by Union Postale Universelle, features a coloured illustration of a town on the Suez Canal.
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Postcard (18 March 1915)
Postcard from Sergeant Harold Colquhoun in Egypt to his sister, Dorothy, in Mareeba, North Queensland. He writes that he has arrived in Heliopolis, near Cairo, Egypt.
The postcard, printed by Union Postale Universelle, features a photograph of the gardens at El Nouzha in Alexandria, Egypt.
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Letter (19 March 1915)
Letter from Sergeant Harold Colquhoun in Alexandria, Egypt, to his sister, Dorothy, in Mareeba, North Queensland. The letter includes a cartoon of the Kaiser and map of the journey from Rockhampton, both drawn by Harold.
The envelope is included.
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Letter (19 March 1915)
Letter from Sergeant Harold Colquhoun in Alexandria, Egypt, to his sister, Dorothy, in Mareeba, North Queensland. He writes that he is going to see the pyramids and has drawn a picture of the train on which he travelled to Alexandria.
The envelope is included.
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Postcard (21 March 1915)
Postcard from Sergeant Harold Colquhoun in Egypt to his mother, Isabel, in Mareeba, North Queensland. He writes that he will send a full account of his activities when he arrives in Cairo.
The small postcard, printed by Union Postale Universelle, features a coloured painting of the Nile River.
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Postcard (21 March 1915)
Postcard from Sergeant Harold Colquhoun in Egypt to his sister, Dorothy, in Mareeba, North Queensland.
The small postcard, printed by Union Postale Universelle, features a coloured illustration of the sphinx and a pyramid in Egypt.
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Letter (23 March 1915)
Letter from Sergeant Harold Colquhoun in Heliopolis Camp, Egypt, to his father, Robert Duncan Colquhoun, in Mareeba, Queensland. He writes that he will be leaving soon for Turkey. He also describes a serious riot by the troops in Cairo.
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Postcard (March 1915)
Postcard from Sergeant Harold Colquhoun in Egypt to his sister, Flora, in Mareeba, North Queensland.
The postcard features a photograph of camels and locals in front of the Turkish Shop in the Hotel de l'Europe in Aden, Yemen.
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Postcard (19 May 1915)
Field Service Postcard from Sergeant Harold Colquhoun in Gallipoli, Turkey, to his father, Robert Duncan Colquhoun, in Mareeba, Queensland.
Field Service Postcards were used by soldiers on active service to send quick messages home without any need for censoring. The soldier could delete, as appropriate, from a series of pre-printed sentences to reassure family that they were alive and well and to confirm that letters and parcels from home were being received. The postcards were then signed and dated.
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Postcard (25 May 1915)
Field Service Postcard from Sergeant Harold Colquhoun in Gallipoli, Turkey, to his father, Robert Duncan Colquhoun, in Mareeba, Queensland.
Field Service Postcards were used by soldiers on active service to send quick messages home without any need for censoring. The soldier could delete, as appropriate, from a series of pre-printed sentences to reassure family that they were alive and well and to confirm that letters and parcels from home were being received. The postcards were then signed and dated.
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Telegram (June 1915)
Urgent telegram from Robert Duncan Colquhoun in Mareeba, Queensland, to the Secretary of Defence in Melbourne, regarding his son Sergeant Harold Robert Colquhoun being wounded in action. He writes that he has received the wire and asks for a message to be sent to Harold.
Harold Colquhoun was shot through the lung during a bayonet charge at Quinn's Post, Gallipoli, Turkey, on the 29th May 1915. Marion Noon of Yeppoon, who is mentioned in the telegram, was Harold's fiancée.
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Receipt (17 June 1915)
Communication from Captain J.M. Lean from the Base Records Office, Victoria Barracks, Melbourne, to Robert Duncan Colquhoun in Mareeba, Queensland, acknowledging receipt of Colquhoun's telegram concerning the wounding of his son, Harold Colquhoun at Gallipoli on the 29 May 1915.
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Telegram (26 June 1915)
Telegram from a member of the Colquhoun family in Mareeba to Robert Duncan Colquhoun in Innisfail. They write that they have had no information from the Department of Defence concerning Harold Colquhoun's injuries.
Harold Colquhoun was seriously wounded at Gallipoli, Turkey, on the 29th May 1915.
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Telegram (28 June 1915)
Urgent telegram from the Australian Secretary of Defence in Melbourne to Robert Duncan Colquhoun in Mareeba, Queensland, informing him that his son, Harold Colquhoun, who was wounded at Gallipoli, is now out of danger.
Harold Colquhoun was seriously wounded at Gallipoli, Turkey, on the 29th May 1915.
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Letter (29 June 1915)
Letter from Doctor F.C. Rorke in Herberton, North Queensland, to Robert Duncan Colquhoun in Mareeba, expressing relief that Harold Colquhoun, who was wounded at Gallipoli, is now out of danger.
Harold Colquhoun was seriously wounded at Gallipoli, Turkey, on the 29th May 1915.
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Letter (29 June 1915)
Letter from Edward Doran, head teacher at the Leichhardt Ward State School in Rockhampton, to Robert Duncan Colquhoun in Mareeba. Doran expresses sympathy on behalf of the school in regard to Colquhoun's son, Harold, being dangerously wounded at Gallipoli. Harold was a teacher at the school at the time of his enlistment.
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Letter (7 July 1915)
Letter from J.D. Story, Under Secretary of the Department of Public Instruction, in Brisbane, Queensland, to Robert Duncan Colquhoun in Mareeba. He expresses sympathy on behalf of the minister and officers of the Department regarding the wounding of Harold Colquhoun at Gallipoli.
Harold Colquhoun was a teacher at the Leichhardt Ward State School in Rockhampton, Queensland, at the time of this enlistment.
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Telegram (13 July 1915)
Telegram from a member of the Colquhoun family, in Mareeba, Queensland, to Robert Duncan Colquhoun, in Atherton, Queensland. They write that the family has received a letter from Harold Colquhoun, who is in the Government Hospital at Alexandria, Egypt, and has been wounded in the chest.
Harold Colquhoun was wounded at Gallipoli on the 29 May 1915 and was listed as being seriously injured.
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Letter (24 July 1915)
Letter from Sergeant Harold Colquhoun at the Ras-el-tin Convalescent Camp in Alexandria, Egypt, to his father, Robert Duncan Colquhoun, in Mareeba, Queensland. He writes that his wound has healed but his lungs have been weakened. He expects to return to Gallipoli in about three weeks.
The letter is written on letterhead of the Young Men's Christian Association Army Department.
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Letter (25 July 1915)
Letter from Sergeant Harold Colquhoun at the Ras-el-tin Convalescent Camp in Alexandria, Egypt, to his sister, Dorothy, in Mareeba, Queensland. He writes of receiving a photograph of her.
The letter is written on letterhead of the Young Men's Christian Association Army Department. The envelope is included.
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Letter (17 August 1915)
Letter from Sergeant Harold Colquhoun at the Mustapha Pasha Military Base in Alexandria, Egypt to his sister, Dorothy, in Mareeba, Queensland. He writes that he is leaving that morning for the Dardanelles.
Harold Colquhoun was killed in action at Gallipoli on the 27 August 1915.
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Telegram (8 December 1915)
Telegram from a member of the Colquhoun family in Mareeba to Robert Duncan Colquhoun in Cairns, Queensland, writing that they are "all down ill".
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Letter (7 May 1916)
Letter from Maud M. Kennedy in Longreach, Queensland, to Robert Duncan Colquhoun in Mareeba offering sympathy to the family about his son, Harold, being missing in action.
Harold Colquhoun was killed in action at Gallipoli on the 27 August 1915. Maud M. Kennedy was a school teacher in Longreach.
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Letter (8 May 1916)
Letter from George Scott, Honorary Secretary, of the Australian Red Cross Society, Queensland Division, in Brisbane to Robert Duncan Colquhoun in Mareeba, North Queensland. He provides information about the death of Harold Colquhoun at Gallipoli.
Harold Colquhoun was killed in action at Gallipoli on the 27 August 1915.
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Letter (1 June 1916)
Letter from a friend in West Maitland, New South Wales, to the parents of Harold Colquhoun in Mareeba, North Queensland, extending their sympathies on Harold's death at Gallipoli.
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Letter (4 August 1916)
Letter from General Sir Ian Hamilton in London, England, to Mrs Marianne Isabel Colquhoun, mother of Sergeant Harold Colquhoun, in Mareeba, Queensland. He writes of receiving her letter requesting details of her son's death at Gallipoli. He provides some general information and tells her that he has forwarded her letter to Major General Godley who should be able to provide more details.
General Sir Alexander John Godley was a senior British Army officer who was in command of the New Zealand and Australian Division at Gallipoli.
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Letter (28 August 1916)
Letter from General Alexander John Godley at 2nd Anzac Corps Headquarters to Mrs Marianne Isabel Colquhoun, mother of Sergeant Harold Colquhoun, in Mareeba, Queensland. He provides brief information about the circumstances of Harold's death at Gallipoli.
General Sir Alexander John Godley was a senior British Army officer who was in command of the New Zealand and Australian Division at Gallipoli.
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Letter (21 January 1917)
Letter from a relative in Narrogin, Western Australia, to Dorothy Colquhoun in Mareeba, Queensland. They write of family affairs and relations serving in the war including Edwin Harold Mathews who was killed in action on 25 January 1917 and Captain Oswald Mathews who served with the Hospital Transport corps and 6th Field Ambulance.
Harold and Oswald Mathews were the brothers of Harold Robert Colquhoun's mother, Marianne Isabel, nee Mathews. The envelope is included.
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Note (1915)
Short undated note from Sergeant Harold Robert Colquhoun in Egypt to his sister Dorothy in Mareeba, Queensland. He writes of being shot by a Turk but that he is nearly recovered.
Harold Colquhoun was shot through the lung during a bayonet charge at Quinn's Post, Gallipoli, Turkey, on the 29th May 1915.
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Bookmark (Undated)
Small bookmark bearing the inscription "Be strong fear not" contained in an envelope addressed to Miss D Colquhoun (Dorothy) in Mareeba, North Queensland. The sender is not specified but may have been her brother, Harold Colquhoun.
The envelope bears the stamp "Melbourne Y.M.C.A. on Service with the Australian Military Forces.
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Card (1915)
Small plain card inscribed by Harold Colquhoun, serving in Egypt and Gallipoli, to his sister, Dorothy, in Mareeba, Queensland, wishing her happy birthday for February 1915.
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Postcard (Undated)
Postcard addressed to Mrs R.D. Colquhoun (Marianne Isabel Colquhoun), mother of Harold Robert Colquhoun, in Claremont, Western Australia. The sender is not specified and the postcard is written in some sort of code.
The postcard features a faded photograph of two dogs sitting on stools.
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Card (Undated)
Photograph of Stannary Hills township in the Herberton district, North Queensland, pasted to a card. The card is inscribed by Jim and he has marked where he used to live with a cross.
The Colquhoun family lived at Stannary Hills from 1917 to the 1920s.
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Letter (1910)
Letter from Dorothy Colquhoun written when she was a small child to her father, Robert Duncan Colquhoun.
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Letter (25 June 1915)
Letter from Hugh Fraser at Wolfram, North Queensland, to Robert Duncan Colquhoun in Mareeba, Queensland. He sends his sympathy regarding Robert's son, Sergeant Harold Colquhoun, being seriously injured at Gallipoli.
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Envelopes (Undated)
Five assorted empty envelopes.
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Series 2: Colquhoun Family Photographs (1900-1946)
This series contains photographs from the Colquhoun family album including: Studio portraits; World War I soldiers in training camps and stationed in Egypt; Female military personnel and Red Cross nurses during World War II.
[Items 48-75]
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Series 3: Colquhoun Family Personal Papers (1897-1944)
This series contains Colquhoun family personal papers including Harold Robert Colquhoun obituary, memorial card and Robert Duncan Colquhoun's enlistment.
Description
Items in this series:
Memorial card for Harold Robert Colquhoun (1916)
Memorial card for Sergeant Harold Colquhoun. The card features information about Harold Colquhoun's death at Gallipoli, and a photograph of the memorial tablet which was erected at the Leichhardt Ward Boys' School in 1916. Colquhoun was a teacher at the school before enlisting in World War I.
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Memorial card for Harold Robert Colquhoun (1916?)
Memorial card for Sergeant Harold Colquhoun. The card features a photograph of Harold Colquhoun, particulars of his death at Gallipoli, and a photograph of the memorial tablet which was erected at the Leichhardt Ward Boys' School in 1916. Colquhoun was a teacher at the school before enlisting in World War I.
The space on the front cover designed for a photograph of the deceased is blank.
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Australian Imperial Force Enquiry Form regarding Sergeant Harold Robert Colquhoun (1915?)
Enquiry form regarding the fate of Sergeant Harold Colquhoun which was sent by the Colquhoun family to the military authorities.
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Harold Robert Colquhoun obituary (1915)
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Bound copy of The Rime of the Ancient Mariner (1909)
The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge was presented by Harold Robert Colquhoun on the 20th November 1914, at the period of his enlistment in World War I, to his father, Robert Duncan Colquhoun.
The book is inscribed "To Dear Dad from Harold 20/11/14". The work was published by Robert Riviere & Son, London, 1909.
Description
9.5 x 6.5cm
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The Silence of Ramu Valley (1944?)
Handwritten copy of a World War II poem by Ian Healy.
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In Memorium (1913?)
Typewritten copy of the poem "In Memorium" by L.E.M. The copy is signed "R.D.C. [Robert Duncan Colquhoun] 24/3/13".
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Last Will and Testament of the Kaiser (1918)
Printed by J.H. Robinson, Collins Street, Melbourne.
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Robert Duncan Colquhoun Enlistment Form (18 January 1916)
Form completed by Robert Duncan Colquhoun stating that he would be willing to enlist at a later date if it was necessary to call up married men of his class.
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Colour patch of the French flag
Possibly related to World War I.
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Mareeba D.O.B. Society Badge (1915-1919)
The D.O.B., Doing Our Best Society, was established in Mareeba in July 1915 to raise funds for local men serving in the Australian Imperial Force and to care for wounded returned soldiers. Robert Duncan Colquhoun was the president of the society.
The small badge features an illustration of two flags; the British Union Jack and the Australian Red Ensign. The badge bears the inscription "D.O.B. Society".
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Aviation Week at Blackpool Illustration (October 1909)
In October 1909 Blackpool in Lancashire, England, hosted one of the first air shows in Great Britain. 200,000 spectators attended the event which featured displays of the latest biplanes and monoplanes, races and feats of daring.
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Will of Robert Duncan Colquhoun (19 June 1905)
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Harold Robert Colquhoun Birth Certificate (11 March 1897)
Harold Robert Colquhoun was born in Fremantle, Western Australia, on the 25 November 1896.
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Series 4: Colquhoun Family Posters (28 October 1915)
This series contains the Mareeba Patriotic Poster. A coloured hand-drawn poster for a performance of the comic opera "H.M.S. Pinafore" to be staged in Mareeba, North Queensland, on 28 October 1915. The proceeds from the performance were to be used to buy Christmas gifts for the troops at Gallipoli. The poster was possibly created by Harold Colquhoun's sisters, Minna, Flora and Dorothy who appeared in the production. Their mother, Isabel Colquhoun, was the organiser of the event.
The poster features an illustration of an Australian soldier chasing a Turk with a bayonet.
[Item 90]
Description
680mm x 590mm
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Series 5: George Foulds Gilmore Objects (1917-1920)
This series contains George Foulds Gilmore's leather wallet. The wallet contained the photographs and papers of George Foulds Gilmore during his service in World War I.
[Item 91]
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Series 6: George Foulds Gilmore Photographs (1917-1919)
This series contains photographs from George Foulds Gilmore's album including: George Foulds Gilmore with other Australian soldiers and French civilians in France; Australian soldier manning a field gun; and Australian soldiers outside the university in Charleroi, France, where they studied after the war.
[Items 92-99]
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View the items
Series 7: George Foulds Gilmore Personal Papers (1919)
This series contains George Foulds Gilmore's special duty pass and letter of recommentation.
Description
Items in this series:
George Foulds Gilmore Special Duty Pass (3 March 1919)
Special Duty Pass issued to George Foulds Gilmore by the Divisional Education Officer, 2nd Division, Australian Imperial Force. The pass authorised Gilmore to attend the University Travail at Charleroi in Belgium where he was an instructor in motor mechanics.
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George Foulds Gilmore Letter of Recommendation (22 April 1919)
Letter of recommendation, written by the Education Officer of "B" Australian Division Group, for Temporary Sergeant G.F. Gilmore regarding his work as an instructor in motor mechanics at the Universite-du-Travail in Charleroi, Belgium.