Item ST 41203 Letter - Sapper Alfred Galbraith to Family, Egypt, 28 Dec 1915

Summary

Two page letter from Alfred Galbraith, describing how he spent Christmas 1915 in Egypt. The letter, which he signs 'Soldier Alf', was written at Ismilia Camp, 28 December 1915. He addesses the letter to family members including his mother - probably his stepmother, as Alfred stated in writing in a document dated 7 July 1915 that his mother was dead (p.16, service record).

Alfred writes that the men chipped in and bought Turkeys, that the Germans are close, and that there are some Australian and Ghurkha trenches 'to give them a welcome when they do come, they have already made one attack on the canal and a couple of mines have been found in the canal and some unearthed.' The letter was signed 'Soldier Alf'.

Galbraith took photographs of the Christmas celebrations; they were part of his personal effects returned to Galbraith's next-of-kin, his father, in 1917.

Born in Maryborough, Sapper Alfred George Finlay Galbraith was the son of Alfred and Amy C. Galbraith, of W.R. Institute, Flinders Street, Station Buildings, Melbourne. He trained as electrical engineer and enlisted in the Australian Army at the age of 20, in July 1915. His father gave written permission for him to join 'the Military Forces to serve the Empire abroad'. Galbraith served in the 5th Division Signalling Company, Australian Engineers, AIF, embarking from Melbourne on 23 November 1915 on the 'Ceramic'. He went to Egypt for further training, then was shipped to France, disembarking 27 June 1916 at Marseilles. Less than three weeks later, on 15 July, he received a wound in the thigh and a 'penetrating wound in the neck'. He died the same day at the 8th Australian Field Ambulance. He is buried at 254 Sailly-Sur-La-Lys Canadian Cemetery, France.

Physical Description

Two-page letter, hand-written in ink on one side of lined paper, now yellowed. In original envelope with date stamp.