A NEW book unravels the tumultuous progression of war, sharing personal accounts from wide-eyed enlistees to resilient, heartbroken soldiers.
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Letters From The Front, complied by a group of dedicated local residents, shares stories from those who sacrificed for their country.
The Daylesford and District Historical Society has spent four years collating the information and researching the group of WW1 soldiers.
They now have a file of more than 1100 men, and a small number of women (all nurses), who had a link to the region.
Volunteer Anne Dobbs said the letter-writers had become like family members over the years.
"You saw them go from being really excited about the war, to after Gallipoli when they had lost their mates and it was no longer a holiday," she said.
"Then when they got to the Middle East, it was one of endurance.
"You really see into their lives and their emotions."
She said many were heartbreaking and some politically incorrect, but nothing had been censored.
The letters were published in the The Advocate between 1914 and 1918.
Hepburn Shire and Daylesford RSL helped fund the project.
The books will be available for sale on Anzac Day at the RSL, and at the Daylesford Museum.
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The late Private R. Anderson, who died fighting for King and Country at Gallipoli, was attended in his last hours by a comrade well known in Daylesford.
Private E. Monaghan enlisted with Private Anderson, and wrote to Anderson's parents from Luna Park Hospital:-
"I hope you won't think me too forward in writing to you owing to me being a stranger. Well, as Bob and I were great friends I thought it was my place to write and let you know something about poor Bob.
It is very hard for me to write this, because he and I were always together. It was just like losing a brother when Bob fell.
We landed on Sunday April 25, just before daylight. We climbed the hills together until we reached the firing line which the first brigade had formed.
It was there Bob got shot in the shoulder.
We carried him back from the line and dressed his wound. After we had dressed him we made for the beach about a mile away, but owing to the ground being very rough and covered with thick scrub, our progress was very slow.
After two hours we reached a valley, and were making for a dressing station, where he could get properly treated, but he died before we reached there. It was terrible.
I could not think of anything else for days after. I cannot describe how I felt after my best friend had fallen. I do not know if I have done right in writing to you and bringing back sad memories, but I thought you would like to hear from someone over here.
I am writing this from the hospital and I would be very pleased if you would let me know if you receive this note. I am sorry I could not write before, owing to our letters being censored, but after coming back from the front I took the first opportunity."
- Printed in The Advocate, October 1915