Summary
One of five newspaper cuttings (one is cut in two, making a total of six parts) relating to the death of Private William Nairn, who was killed in action on 4 July 1918, during World War I. They were probably collected by his family members who posted them: his sister Sarah, mother, brothers Dave & Ted, and wife Eileen. They are likely to have been cut from Victorian newspapers.
Three of the articles are personal notices; the other two are reproductions of a letter from Catholic Chaplain J.P. Gilbert, 15th Battalion, attached to the 60th Battalion, to William's wife. He explains that 'Your gallant husband was killed by a shell in the early morning of the 4th July 1918, during a successful attack on the enemy's position near the town of Morlancourt, between the Ancre and the Somme. Death was instantaneous...'
Physical Description
Rectangular cutting with personal notice printed on one side and advertisement for Wrigley's Juicy Fruit Chewing Gum 'Made in Australasia' on the back.
More Information
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Collecting Areas
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Place & Date Printed
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Person Commemorated
Private William (Bill) J. Nairn - Australian Imperial Force (AIF), Ballarat, Victoria, Australia, Jul 1918
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Inscriptions
Printed inscriptions as follows: 'IN MEMORIAM. / NAIRN.- In loving memory of my dear / brother, Pte. W.J. Nairn, 59th Battalion, / who was killed in action on July 4th, 1918. / No one knows the silent heartache, / Only those can tell, / Who have loved and lost a brother / Without a last farewell. / Inserted by his loving sister, Sarah'.
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Classification
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Category
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Discipline
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Type of item
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Overall Dimensions
64 mm (Width), 30 mm (Height)
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Keywords
World War I, 1914-1918, Military Memorabilia, Death & Mourning, Religions: Roman Catholic, Newspapers
