Search the collections
Similar items over time
Letter - Private Albert Edward Kemp to Ethel Kemp, Personal, 12 Jul 1917
Reg. No: HT 13599
- Summary:
- Hand-written letter on Australian Imperial Force letterhead paper to six-year-old Ethel Kemp from her father Private Albert Edward Kemp. Albert Kemp was serving on the Western Front during World War I. He was killed nine weeks later, on 21 September 1917.
Albert notes that Ethel is now at school, and is 'getting on well' and becoming 'quite a lady'. He hopes she is being good to her brother George. He goes on to describe Belgium as 'something beautiful', with a harvest field 'in splendid order', beautiful weather and ripening fruit trees. He says that there is not much news, and hopes to find her 'in the best of health as it leave myself at present'. He signs off hoping for 'a safe return with the help of God Almighty above us all, Yours, Daddy'. - Description:
- Hand-written one-page letter, on off-white lined paper (inscribed on both sides). Printed at top with outlined shape of Australia, rising sun symbol and red triangle printed at top - representing the Australian Imperial Force, the YMCA and the Australian Commonwealth Military Forces - accompanied by inscriptions (see below). Paper yellowed, with foxing and deep creases.
| Discipline: | History |
| Dimensions: | 20.30 cm (Height), 12.40 cm (Width) |
More information
| Tagged with: | death mourning, domestic life, wars conflicts, world war i 1914-1918 |
| Themes this item is part of: | Herald & Weekly Times Newspapers, Melbourne, Victoria, Albert Edward Kemp Mourning Collection, Albert Edward Kemp, AIF (1884-1917), 6th Battalion Diary Extract, September 1917, Childhood & Youth Collection, Public Life & Institutions Collection |
| On Display at: | Melbourne Museum |
| Primary Classification: | MILITARY HISTORY |
| Secondary Classification: | Personal Effects |
| Tertiary Classification: | correspondence |
| Inscriptions: | Printed text at top: '"Melbourne Herald" and "Weekly Times" (Australia) Hut./AUSTRALIAN' Within rising sun insignia: 'COMMONWEALTH/MILITARY FORCES'. Overlaying outline of Australia and red triangle: 'Y.M.C.A./ WITH / THE / AUSTRALIAN IMPERIAL FORCE.' Hand-written text: 'France/12/7/1917 / 'My Dear Ethel/Your mother tell me you/are going to school now and/getting on well and making/quite a lady of you and you/are a good girl to your/Brother George and Mother/So I wish you to carried/that on the same until/your daddy come home/again the place over here/is something beautiful/the harvest field looked/in splendid order and/the weather could not/be better and the fruit/tree are all getting ripe/for the boys to have a/good feed of them so/that will be nice to/well dear Ethel there is/not much news just now/so I will bring this letter/to closed hoping this to/find you all in best of/health as it leave/myself at present with/fondest of love to you/of a safe return with/the help of God Almighty/above us all/Yours Daddy.' |
| Author: | Private Albert Kemp - 6th Battalion, Australian Imperial Force (AIF), France, 12 Jul 1917 |
| Organisation Named: | Australian Commonwealth Military Forces, Australia |
| Organisation Named: | Australian Imperial Force (AIF), Australia |
| Organisation Named: | YMCA (Young Men's Christian Association), Australia |
| Organisation Named: | Herald and Weekly Times Pty Ltd, Australia |
| Place Used: | Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
| References: | National Archives of Australia hold records relating to Albert Kemp - Series number B2455, Barcode 7368872 |
| Bibliography: |
|
Themes
This item is part of the following themes:
Add your question or comment