Anzac Day

So post-Anzac Day, I looked up my Grandfather, and two Great Uncles' war service records.  My Grandfather Paddy was in WW1.  Paddy's brother John was in WW1 and WW11.  And my Grandmother Ruby's brother Les was in WW1.

What a treasure trove is to be found on the National Archives' Service records.

Amongst 111 digital records of Ruby's brother - Les Makin - is this letter above from Ruby's mum (my Great Grandmother Marion Frances Makin) to the war office after they got the telegram saying he had been injured, but no other details.

Marion said "It is so strange that one cannot put word as to the hospital he is in or the nature of wounds, after serving four years without a break."

This was dated three days after his death in France.  In the final telegram to my great-grandmother, they said "This officer was leading his company in the attack on 23-8-18 when he was struck by a shell."

How tragic - he joined up in 1914 at the age of 20, went to Gallipoli, survived, contracted typhoid in Lemnos, was sent to recover in England in 1916, then sent to France and died two months before Armistice was declared in November 2018.

There's also letters from Marion asking about the whereabouts of a 'valuable trunk' that fifth batallion has in London because "I don't fancy he took it to France".

Plus, another letter dated 1967 from my Grandmother Ruby to the war office requesting one of his medals that was never sent to the family.

Incredible stuff.  Paddy's service record revealed he was sentenced to two days confinement and a day's pay docking due to his late return from leave on day........

Go to below link if your're interested in searching for your family - in any war / service. http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/NameSearch/Interface/NameSearchForm.aspx.