Summary

Leaflet entitled 'A Cheering Letter to the Australia Troops at the Front' written by Jeanie Jobson, a teacher at Ballarat Agricultural High School, 12 May 1915. It was printed by Arbuchle, Waddell & Fawkner, Melbourne.

According to Rosalie Triolo (2012), the author was first named as Jeanie Dobson, who addressed her words to Australian soldiers recovering in Malta. Thirty years later, a history of Ballarat High School revealed that Jeanie had received a huge response from serving soldiers, including 60 in a single day. A reporter visited the school to ask for a copy of the original letter, which was eventually located in Malta. It was published in the Times and Australian newspapers - for example, in the Melbourne Leader on 28 August 1915, under the heading 'A Cheering Letter. Ballarat Lady's Tribute. "Thank God I Am Australian."' In late 1917 Jobson wrote again, in the form of a 'Christmas letter to the A.I.F.'. It was distributed as a leaflet to troops.

'A Cheering Letter to the Australia Troops at the Front' was donated to Museum Victoria with material associated with the World War I service of Sapper Alfred Galbraith, who was killed in the conflict.

Physical Description

Printed leaflet, single page folded to create four pages, all printed.

More Information