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.