Letters mainly by William Daniel Brown to his daughter Doreen Brown, together with Brown family photographs, 1916-1951

MLMSS 9762

fonds

1916-1951

Textual Records, Graphic Materials, Photographs

1000055

0.02 metres of textual material and photographs (1 folder) - manuscript

William Daniel Brown was born on 19 April 1879. He enlisted in 1916 at the age of 37 to serve in the First World War, leaving behind his wife (Adelene Brown nee O'Connor) and four children (Clarence, George, Doreen, Kenneth) in Burnie, Tasmania. He was already serving overseas when his fifth child, daughter Lorraine Mae, was born. He served in France as a corporal, and later as sergeant, with the 26th AIF Battalion. During his Western Front service he sustained combat injuries including a leg wound and gas inhalation, and in 1917 spent time recovering in hospital in Birmingham, England. He returned to Australia in 1919.

William’s son Clarence (1906-1964), known as "Mont", served in the Second World War and was captured by the Japanese during the fall of Singapore in 1942. He was subsequently sent to work on the Thai-Burma Railway. Despite surviving the war, Clarence suffered long term health effects caused by his experiences as a prisoner of war. His daughter Jeanine ("Jenny Jean") went to live with her grandparents when Clarence enlisted in September 1939. She died at the age of 22.

The collection comprises 7 letters, 10 postcards (8 original and 2 photocopies), 2 cards and 7 family photographs (4 original and 3 reproductions) as follows:

Four letters, eight postcards and two cards were written in 1916-1917 by William Brown to his daughter Doreen (Dawn), who was six years old when he left Australia to serve in the First World War in Europe. They demonstrate a tender affection for his daughter, whom he calls “my dear sweet Womie” and “my dear little Doreen.” They were sent from Cape Town, Salisbury, London, "somewhere in France", Birmingham, and Weymouth. One of the cards contains three "everlasting silver leaves from Table Mountain, Cape Town, South Africa". The other card features a fine silk embroidery on the front with the words "To my dear Girlie".

Two postcards (photocopies) are to baby May, 1917, who was born while William was serving in France. One is from William and the other is from Doreen and Kenneth.

Two letters are by William Brown while in a Repat Hospital in Hobart, to Doreen Brown in 1951.

One letter is by William's wife Adelene to her daughter Doreen in 1946.

The photographs show William Daniel Brown in army uniform and in later life, and his wife and children.

A typed transcript of the letters and postcards is included with the collection.

Out of copyright: Photographs created before 1955
Copyright status:: In copyright - manuscripts
Research & study copies allowed: Author has been deceased for more than 50 years
Copyright holder:: Heather Rossiter
Rights and Restrictions Information:: No publication without prior written approval of copyright holder
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales and Courtesy Heather Rossiter

Typed transcript of the letters and postcards provided by Heather Rossiter (donor of collection).