| Places | |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | AWM2016.30.1 |
| Collection number | 1DRL/0345 |
| Collection type | Digitised Collection |
| Record type | File |
| Item count | 15 |
| Object type | Letter |
| Physical description | 45 Image/s captured |
| Maker |
Henderson, Robert James Henley, Harold Leslie |
| Place made | At sea, Egypt, Greece: Aegean Islands, Lemnos, Ottoman Empire: Turkey, Dardanelles, Gallipoli |
| Date made | 1915 |
| Conflict |
First World War, 1914-1918 |
Letters from Robert James Henderson, 1915
Description
Letters relating to the First World War service of Private Robert James Henderson, 13th Battalion. These letters were predominantly written from Henderson to his family between 21 August and 30 December 1915. The letters detail the troopship voyage from Australia to Egypt aboard HMAT Shropshire, Henderson remarking that “…some of the lads say they will never leave Australia again” due to the rough voyage. Around this time he also sends two lettercards that depict the submarine AE1 and troops embarking from Australia. After arriving in Egypt in September, Henderson writes of his surroundings, finding the Egyptian people and places like Cairo fascinating. In early December he and the other reinforcements are sent to Gallipoli, where he joins the 13th Battalion in the line at Durrant’s Post. Henderson describes the land, the conditions, and life in the line. His last letter details the evacuation from Gallipoli. This file contains:
Lettercard from Robert James Henderson to his mother and family, [At sea], 21 August 1915;
Lettercard from Robert James Henderson to his family, [At sea], 11 September 1915;
Letter from Robert James Henderson to his mother, At sea, 26 August [1915];
Letter from Robert James Henderson to his family, At sea, 12 September 1915;
Letter from Lieutenant Harold Leslie Henley to James Henderson [father], At sea, 14 September 1915;
Letter from Robert James Henderson to his mother, Zeitoun, Egypt, 19 September 1915;
Letter from Robert James Henderson to his mother, Cairo, Egypt, 9 October 1915;
Letter from Robert James Henderson to his mother and family, Cairo, Egypt, 17 October [1915];
Letter from Robert James Henderson to his mother, Cairo, Egypt, 24 October 1915;
Letter from Robert James Henderson to his mother, Zeitoun, Egypt, 7 November 1915;
Letter from Robert James Henderson to his mother, At sea, 14 November [1915];
Letter from Robert James Henderson to his mother, Lemnos Island Harbour, 21 November 1915;
Letter from Robert James Henderson to his mother and family, Gallipoli, 12 December 1915;
Letter from Robert James Henderson to "Mr. Donoghue", Gallipoli, 12 December 1915;
Letter from Robert James Henderson to his mother, At sea, 30 December 1915.