Treasure Trove of Handwritten Love Letters Unveiled From the Depths of War

Romantics and history buffs are being encouraged to decipher the letters depicting life in the front lines.

World War I Australian soldier Andrew Bayne's words to his wife in Brisbane, Australia. Andrew Bayne was killed in action near Messines Ridge, Belgium on Aug. 19, 1917. The letter was carried for more than 50 years in his wife Catherine's purse in the hopes that the news of his death was untrue and that he would eventually return home. AP Photo/Courtesy of the Biggs Family

Australia’s War Memorial has unveiled hundreds of thousands of handwritten love letters and diaries of war, including a poignant love letter penned by an Australian soldier in the hours before he died in the landing at Gallipoli.

The national collection has been published online as part of the Memorial’s transcription project, which invites history enthusiasts to decipher and transcribe these materials, ensuring their future discoverability for historians and the wider public.

Robyn van Dyk, head of the memorial’s research centre, said the letters paint a vivid picture of life in the army.

“The letters are an intimate insight into the daily life of couples separated by war and we are fortunate to now share them as part of this important project,” said Ms. Dyk during the project’s launch on Valentine’s Day.

The letters range from the first to the second world war, featuring correspondence spanning years between prisoners of war and their loved ones in Australia.

An excerpt from the love letter written by the man only hours before his death at Gallipoli. Courtesy of the Australian War Memorial

One such letter, penned by the man just hours before his demise at Gallipoli, reads: “I got your letter. You can’t imagine how delightful it was. I have only read it over 3 times but will read it through once a day until the next arrives. It was wonderful reading it. I actually cried and laughed. I felt oh so homesick…”

Another couple is Dorothy Williams and her husband Malcolm “Mac” William Keshan, who served as a prisoner of war in Germany from 1941-45 during World War II.

“The only good thing about all this passing time is that each day brings you a little closer, I feel pretty certain that it won’t be much longer sweetheart,” she wrote to him in one of hundreds of heartfelt letters between the pair.

“All this time passing only makes me miss you so more and more, and—I’m waiting for you Mac.”

From his prisoner-of-war camp in Germany, Mr. Keshan wrote to her home in Bexley, New South Wales: “Well darling I’m getting old, I’m a whole 25 this month, it’s going on for four years since you last saw me.

“Maybe you will get a surprise when I come back, still I don’t think I have changed a great deal. Well, it’s Cheerio for now. All my love, Mac.”

He did not seem spared from jealousy, as reflected in his remark: “I thought we had banned your Jerry and his cute friends from my letters, I'll just shove that one on the bottom of the pile.”

Peter Keshan inspects letters donated to the national collection by his mother Dorothy Keshan, at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. Courtesy of the Australian War Memorial

Seeking War Document Transcribers

With more than 6,000 pages to be transcribed, the Memorial is calling for anyone with good comprehension of cursive handwriting to get involved with the project.

Volunteer transcribers can register their interest in joining the project at the Australian War Memorial’s website.

They can delve into the War Memorial’s archives relating to the Australian experience of war and oppressive imprisonment, and transcribe these documents from scratch or with the assistance of AI.

A supplied diptych obtained and generated on Wednesday, February 14, 2024, shows a letter from a serviceman to his love from the national collection of the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. Handwritten love letters from servicemen are many documents from the Australian War Memorial collection published online as part of a transcription project. Courtesy of the Australian War Memorial

This launch follows Australia’s recent commemoration of the 20th anniversary of honouring the nation’s prisoners of war.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said prisoner-of-war stories need to be told, as they testify to their endurance.

“This memorial is an eloquent expression of their spirit. It is a record of patience, perseverance, and humour,” he said.

“And, above all, hope.”