All stories
She prefers the khaki uniform to the feminine mode of dress
Maud Butler
In December 1915, Miss Maud Butler, a waitress working in Sydney, cut her long brown hair, donned the woollen uniform of an Australian soldier, and walked down to the transport ships moored at... » read more
The angel of Durban
Ethel Campbell
Ethel Campbell was born in her mother’s homeland, Scotland, but raised in her father’s home, South Africa. He was a doctor, descended from a line of wealthy sugar planters and, like many of their... » read more
The last wattle you sent
Evelyn (Tev) Davies
Evelyn (Tev) Davies arrived on the island of Lemnos just as the August Offensive began on Gallipoli. She was part of the first contingent of nurses sent to staff No. 3 Australian General Hospital.... » read more
Aftermaths
Kathleen Skinner and James Agnew
After the First World War, around 15,000 European women, the vast majority British, married Australian soldiers. They boarded the troopships that carried these men to war and made a new home for... » read more
All that crying
Rigney Brothers
We don’t know why Rufus and Cyril Rigney, Ngarrindjeri men from the Port Macleay Mission, chose to join up. Perhaps it was the hope of something better than toiling on a farm; perhaps—as for many... » read more
Asleep in the deep
Gordon Corbould
Leading Seaman Gordon Corbould was the first and only son of Ernst and Alice Corbould of Epping, New South Wales. He served on the AE1, Australia’s first submarine, and took part in the capture of... » read more
I seem to dream of blood
Walter Dexter
Walter Dexter was one of twelve Army chaplains charged with the spiritual care of the First AIF. He watched the Gallipoli Landing, but was forbidden to go ashore with the men. He passed that day (and... » read more
Quite a decent type of man
Cornelius Danswan
It was late in the morning when Dr Benjafield, a medical officer assigned to the Repatriation Department in Sydney, finished his examination of Cornelius Danswan. In many ways that day’s appointment... » read more
The hands of our own men
Daisy Schoeffel
Daisy Pearse was a fourth generation Australian. She belonged to one of the oldest (white) families in Fremantle and achieved some acclaim as an Australian author. But Daisy married Alfred Schoeffel—... » read more
The man with half a face
Gordon Wallace
Gordon Wallace, a labourer from Warrnambool, enlisted in 1916. A shell tore his face to pieces in the third battle of Ieper. Private Wallace was evacuated from the Belgian battlefields to England. He... » read more
