| Places | |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | AWM2021.544.1 |
| Collection type | Private Record |
| Record type | Collection |
| Measurement | Extent: 4 cm; Wallet/s: 2 |
| Object type | Letter |
| Maker |
Kimberley, John Robert |
| Place made | Australia, Egypt, Ottoman Empire: Palestine |
| Date made | 1915-1918 |
| Access | Open |
| Conflict |
First World War, 1914-1918 |
| Copying Provisions | Copyright restrictions apply. Only personal, non-commercial, research and study use permitted. Permission of copyright holder required for any commercial use and/or reproduction. |
Kimberley, John Robert "Jack" (Staff Sergeant, b.1889 - d.1966)
Description
Collection relating to the First World War service of 857 Staff Sergeant John Robert ‘Jack’ Kimberley, 3 Light Horse Field Ambulance and Australian Army Service Corps, Australian Imperial Force, Australia, Egypt and Palestine, 1915-1918.
Wallet 1 of 2 – Contains two folders of correspondence relating to the service of Staff Sergeant John Robert ‘Jack’ Kimberley with 3 Light Horse Field Ambulance in Australia and Egypt in 1915 and 1916.
Wallet 1 of 2, Folder 1 of 2 consists of 52 letters from Staff Sergeant Kimberley to his mother, Mrs Christina Kimberley (née Wilson), and sisters, dating between January and December 1915. These letters were written by Staff Sergeant Kimberley during his initial training in Australia and service with 3 Light Horse Field Ambulance in Egypt. In these letters, Staff Sergeant Kimberley writes about his enlistment, training, preparing horses for service overseas, his arrival in Egypt, his impressions of the local culture and environment, taking care of horses for the Australian forces, receiving letters from home, sightseeing, transporting wounded soldiers to hospital, camp life, daily routines, news from the Turkish front, sickness in the camp, news of friends being killed and wounded, and Christmas celebrations. He also responds to news from home and sends his love.
Wallet 1 of 2, Folder 2 of 2 consists of 44 letters from Staff Sergeant Kimberley to his mother, Mrs Christina Kimberley (née Wilson), and sisters, dating between January and December 1916. These letters were written during Staff Sergeant Kimberley’s service with 3 Light Horse Field Ambulance in Egypt. In these letters, Staff Sergeant Kimberley writes about seeing old friends, receiving mail from home, moving to another camp, the weather conditions, being on leave, working in a convalescent hospital, living in the desert, hearing about the causalities in France, serving in the Sinai and Palestine Campaign, being ill, recovering in hospital, and attending a training camp. He also responds to news from home and sends his love.
Wallet 2 of 2 consists of 45 letters from Staff Sergeant Kimberley to his mother, Mrs Christina Kimberley (née Wilson), dating between January 1917 and May 1918. These letters were written during Staff Sergeant Kimberley’s service with 3 Light Horse Field Ambulance and the Australian Army Service Corps in Egypt and Palestine. In these letters, Staff Sergeant writes about hearing news of his friends serving in France, working in a hospital, re-joining his unit to serve in the Sinai and Palestine Campaign, sending and receiving mail, the weather, looking after camels and wagons, his transfer to the Australian Army Service Corps, being promoted to Staff Sergeant Farrier, looking after the health of the Army horses, being tired of war, transporting supplies to the front line, having boils, recovering in hospital, being on leave, and personal finances. He also responds to news from home and sends his love.