Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales

Letters from Charlie Sherwin, 1914-1916
MLMSS 5767/1/1

[Page 1]
Fabrica de Palvora Nos Chile 1928
Letters from Ernest Johnson Anita Langlands from Chacra Los Aromas[Alamos] Melipella Chile 1927-31 to Lucia Sherwin their sister and her children at Prince Albert St Mosman re their Father's Estate
Letters from Anzacs to their Great Aunts Florence & Eveline Sherwin (neices of Dr William Sherwin and of Eleanor Huntley, brother & sister, of Huntley's Point House.
Letters from Eliza Johnson (Mrs Alfred [Schoneburg?] Johnson & Lorelai Sherwin) of Santiago to her sister Eleanor Huntley.

[Page 2]
Alfred to [indecipherable] Nov 1903 – Dec 1906
Lucia & Charles at Cargo mostly 1875
1884 Lea R James Powers letter to C.A. Sherwin re sale to him of land worth 2000!
Lucia} [indecipherable] Nov 14 1884
The Point [indecipherable Dec 9 1884 A.S. Huntley to Charlie
[indecipherable] Dec 5 1884
[indecipherable] Nov 8 1884
Hunters Hill 12.12.75 [indecipherable]

[Page 3]
Frank
[indecipherable] F.H.Sherwin
F.A. Brigade, Aust Division, On Active Service 27.8.1916
Frank Light Horse Camp Liverpool NSW
Frank 15 2.16
1. No. 4106
Walter 10th Reinforcements, 20th Batt, 5th Brigade, AIEF Egypt
" Pry Belgium 2.2.1919
" Private 4106 10th Reinforcements 20 Batt AIEF Egypt

[Page 4]
Sgt.W.H.
2nd Lieut. W Elkington A.Co. 20th Batt. AIEF aif
Private W.H.Ellington
N Sherwin [indecipherable] Egypt 4.8.1915
Norman D Sherwin Palestine 31 May 1917 319 C Troop ALH
Trooper N Sherwin C Troop B Squad 6th ALH 2nd LH Brigade 7-7-1915
Norman Sherwin Ghezirea Hospital 19.8.1915

[Page 5]
Charlie Sherwin Horseferry Rd London c/- Aust Commonwealth Office 8/12/15
Arthur B Coy. Bendigo Military Camp 10.10.15

[Page 6]
1914-18 war years
Anzacs to & from Front
From nephews to Aunts at Homebush

[Page 7]
At Sea
26.12.1914
Dear Mother,
Just a line to let you know we have had a very fine trip so far. We are just shaking down into our places now &: are better off in some ways than in camp. [indecipherable] have called no where to date so I have not yet received any letters. Tell May I was sorry to have missed her but of course it could not be helped.
Much love to all & best wishes for New Year from Your Affectionate son Charlie

[Page 8]
Maadi Egypt 24/4/1915

If I owe you a letter here goes & if I don't well you'll owe me one. I am not out on parade as my horse is on the sick lines having a slight touch of the mangey & was looking a bit moth-eaten. How is shorthand etc progressing? The flies here a very bad & cause a great deal of swearing as, if you put a towel over your head to keep them away they wake you up in about 5 minutes humming "get out & get under" & you find they have lifted up one corner of the towel & you can almost hear the ones acting as ushers singing out "this way please". We have a picture show in the camp & also often have concerts in the Y.M. C. A. tent. Ask Mother to pay my insurance premium out of the money from the barracks when the Coy send the mother will you. I owe Connie a letter or two but will write later. Has she left Ashfield yet?
Love to all Chas

[Page 9]
24.4.15

[Page 10]
[Envelope marked] On active service 2 AIF Pte Sherwin NC 500 6 AIF
28.6.1915
Mrs C A Sherwin
25 Frederick Street Ashfield near Sydney Australia

[Page 11]
[Envelope marked]
Malta 21/6/1915

[Page 12]
Block E Ward 1 21.6.1915 St Andrews Hospital
Dear Mother,
Since we left Egypt we have been helping to remind Turkey that there is a place called Australia. They do not like us, although we do not eat our prisoners as the Germans led them to believe. If you could see our position you would feel astounded that the first of our troops to land ever took it – it is a day's work to get up the hills carrying nothing & with roads made – yet they did it in the face of rifle, machine gun & shell fire not to mention obstacles such as barbed wire etc

[Page 13]
  & chased the Turks & Germans out – some of them singing "this bit of the world belongs to us".
I think everyone that has nothing to keep them – young fellows I mean should join. At times the Turks have been about 4 to 1 & sometimes send over to tell us if we are still there in 24 hrs they will drive us into the sea but it is only a joke – they will never get us out till we are ready to go. They have tried several times and push the trenches forced on by German officers & singing out Allah – Allah Mahomet etc, but few return on such occasions. I have seen thousands lying dead in front of our

[Page 14]
trenches among the scrub & wild flowers & in time they became such a nuisance that we had to give them an armistice to bury them. I was about three weeks in the trenches & was hit in the leg by a fragment of shrapnel & so have been sent to Malta – a hospital base – I expect to be here some time as the above address will find me.
The bone of my leg is not injured so I expect it will heal up alright though of course it will take time. I hope you are all well with love to all from your affectionate son
Charlie
over

[Page 15]
P.S.
Let Kath know my address in case the letter I wrote goes astray will you – I am putting some postcrip on both letters

[Page 16]
Block E Ward 1 St Andrews Hospital Malta 28/6/1915
Dear Papa
You will have heard from a previous letter I expect that we have been fighting on the Gallipoli Peninsula & that the reason I am here is that a piece of a burning shrapnel shell tore the calf of my leg a bit – it is only a flesh wound & is getting on alright though owing to the ragged nature of such missiles may take a good while before I can get back to my Regiment. I am comfortable here but it is monotonous in bed. The People in Mata are very good & I am never short of tobacco & cigarettes etc. While on the Peninsula I witnessed the sinking of H.M.S. Triumph by a German submarine it was a rather impressive sight – she was assisting us by throwing shells over our head onto the Turks position when it happened. By the way will you get a "Tatts" ticket out of my money about once a fortnight & of course my insurance premiums as they come due. How is business progressing & the property etc. I heard the back paddock had been sold a long time ago. I have missed all my last letters owing to dodging about to different places but expect to get them later on. Well goodbye for the present.

[Page 17]
28.6.1915 Malta
love to all
Your affectionate son
Charlie

[Page 18]
The address of the soldier boy Charlie
29.6.15
NO 500 Private C. R. Sherwin wounded. 6th Light Horse Regiment C/o Australian High Commission London. S.W

[Page 19]
[Telegram]
Victoria Barracks Melbne 28/7/16
Mrs L Sherwin 25 Fredk St
Regret Private C R Sherwin wounded not reported seriously no other particulars available will immediately advise anything further received
Secretary Defence

[Page 20]

29/6/15

[Page 21]
[Telegram]
Melbourne 34 2/6 Section 95 7pm 13th
Mrs L. Sherwin 25 Frederick St
Now reported Private C.R.Sherwin slightly wounded disembarked from Hospital Ship [indecipherable] and Sicilia at Malta June 20thwill advise upon receipt further particulars
Secty Defence

[Page 22]

[Blank page]

[Page 23]
M.S.W.9048
Australian Imperial Force, Base Records' Office, Victoria Barracks, Melbourne, 10th August 1915
Dear, Madam,
The following is an extract from a Nominal Roll of wounded who landed in Malta on June 20th 1915 from Hospital ship, NO. 500 Private C.R. Sherwin, 6th Light Horse Regiment , suffering from "Shrapnel wound left thigh" Should further information be received you will be immediately notified.
Yours faithfully
J Mc Lean Capt.
Officer i/c Base Records
Mrs L. Sherwin 25 Frederick Street Ashfield N.S.W.

[Page 24]
10.8.1915

[Page 25]
[Envelope]

O.A.S Tpr Sherwin 500 6th Aust Light Horse Reg
Mrs C. A Sherwin 25 Frederick Street Ashfield near Sydney Australia

[Page 26]
E-9 St Patrick's Hospl Malta 21/8/1915
Dear Mother
Thank you very much for good wishes & cash which I received safely. You will see by above that my address is changed. St Patrick's is a Camp Hospital to make rooms for fresh cases in the usual ones. My leg is very nearly healed & is not at all sore but the muscles prevent me from walking without crutches. I expect it will be three or four months getting right. I may go to England or return to Australia soon but if I could get back to the front there would be a good chance of getting a commission as I know several others have done.
 

[Page 27]
2
I hope you & Papa & Family are all quite well & that the war is not being felt too much in Sydney. The Turks are, I think getting near the end of their tether as their communications are practically cut & their supplies must be uncertain & insufficient. Malta is rather a pretty place although I have not seen much of it. I went for a drive round in a sort of cab the other day which was very interesting.

Goodbye for the present love to all

Your affectionate son Charlie

[Page 28]
P.S I suppose you know Norman Sherwin has been wounded? I do not know where he is. Some go to Egypt & some to England. Most of our Gun Section have been put out of action wounded but I have not heard of any deaths in the Section.
Chas

[Page 29]
E.9. St. Patrick's Hospital, Malta. 31/8/1915
[Annotated Copy also sent to May & Annie]
Dear Alf,
Your letter dated 20/7/1915 to hand to-day. I have been moved here from St Andrew's Hospt. lately – this is a camp or field Hospital. Malta is rather a pretty little place but I have not been able to see much of it so far as I can't walk yet without crutches which are a confounded nuisance. On June 7th we had three men on each gun in the firing line – we had just started breakfast when the Turks landed an 18 pounder on the parapet a few yds from the gun, it seemed to burst right in my face but did no harm as it did not come in our direction. However it covered us with dirt and spoilt our breakfast and our language. I scraped the dirt off my biscuit and put fresh jam on when the Turks repeated the manoeuvre on the other side of the gun and followed it up with one near the right gun, the result being no damage but much dirt, in consequence of which I was preparing a fresh biscuit hoping to get a few bites down before the next, when they lobbed one right into the trench between two fellows on my right. It blew one's head off as clean as though cut off with an axe one of the pellets from the shell entered the other's eye and killed him instantly and a piece of the shell hit me in the calf of the leg and knocked me head over heels and felt like a hit from a sledge-hammer. When the stretcher-bearers cut off my trouser leg I saw much to my surprise a large hole in the calf of the leg. However it has now completely filled up and I had skin grafted on from the other leg which has now nearly covered it. I expect to get full use of the leg in time. Probably I will be going to England shortly and may go on to Australia. By the way if I was a married man I would

[Page 30]
not enlist unless necessary. Most likely a month will finish Turkey even if the Balkan States and Greece don't chip in. We have about two of the original gun-section left in the trenches through casualties and sickness but of course the reserve sections fill their places. You see some horrible sights at the front but you do not notice it as much as you might imagine and apparently in most cases the worse the wounds are the less pain they give at the time owing to a kind of numbness. I have been missing most letters owing to so many changes of address but am gradually getting them now. Mother cabled me £3 and I heard in a previous letter about Papa's ankle which I hope is better. I hope Robin and the rest of the family are now quite well. With love to all of them I am,
Your affectionate brother
Chas

[Page 31]
[Blank page]

[Page 32]
[Envelope]
O.A.S. Tpr Sherwin 6th A.L.H. Regt 5-9-15
C.A. Sherwin Esq, 25 Frederick Street, Ashfield near Sydney Australia

[Page 33]
St. Patricks Hospital Malta 5.9.1915
Dear Papa,
I am leaving Malta to day for England I dont know what my address will be but will write again later from there. I expect I will be going back to Australia from there after a while as I expect it will be a long while before my leg gets right. Had a bit of a drive round Selima, Valletta & Floriana the other day as I expected to be leaving soon.

[Page 34]
We were told last night at 10 P.M to be ready at 7 A.M this morning so am in a hurry.
Love to all
Your affec. Son
Charlie

[Page 35]
[Envelope]
Mrs C A Sherwin 25 Frederick Street Ashfield near Sydney Australia

[Page 36]
E Hut St Thomas' Hospital Westminster London 23.9.1915
Dear Mother,
As you will see I am in London in one of the best hospitals in England. I can walk a little with a stick instead of crutches now & expect to go to the convalescent home in about a week. Had a very nice letter from Aunt Bell a day or two ago & expect to go & stay with them for a few days later on . I have not had any letters since I left Malta – it is rather awkward when I keep moving from place to place to get them as they keep following me about. I went for a trip in a motor boat about 10 miles down the Thames & found it very interesting from here down to Woolwich. I suppose you have heard Norman was wounded in the hand & has had sunstroke but is leaving Egypt again for the front. I heard it from Aunt Bell so I suppose she means Norman Sherwin. This Hospital is right opposite Parliament House (across the river)

[Page 37]
  & we can see the top of Westminster Abbey behind it.
I will send you my next address later on
love to all from
Your affectionate Son
Charlie

[Page 38]
Hut E. 8. Woodcote Convalescent Camp Epsom England 20/10/1915
Dear Mother,
I think there will be a mail leaving tomorrow which this letter should catch. I expect to got go out on Furlough in about a fortnight. I can walk a bit without even a stick & broke my record since 7th June by walking about three miles with a stick. Of course I will go & see our relations if I get a chance. We get a free pass to travel anywhere to spend

[Page 39]
2
the furlough. As I have had no letters for about three months I will not give any more addresses while I am in England for the present as it will give them a chance of catching me up. If I leave here I will call or send for them here later on. The Army postal service is apparently rotten. The last letters I got were dated about 9thJune & addressed to Egypt except your cable & a letter from Alf

[Page 40]
3
in Malta. Hardly any of the boys get their parcels which are sent from Australia although we do not mind if we knew the boys at the front would get them more there. I like England very much & the people could not be nicer – they are very good to Australians. Hoping to hear you are all well when I do get a letter. I am your affectionate Son
Charlie

[Page 41]
[Blank page annotated Epsom England 20.11.1915]

[Page 42]
[Envelope]
31-11-1915
Mrs C.A. Sherwin 25 Frederick Street Ashfield near Sydney Australia

[Page 43]
[Blank page envelope]

[Page 44]
31.10.1915.
Dear Mother,
I am on furlough now & as you will see by above address, I am staying at Spring Hill for a few days. I hope to see the Giants Causeway & Killarney before returning to England. This is a very pretty place here & I like Aunts very much- they are very good to me showing me round etc. Have a bit of a cold at

[Page 45]
present but am getting rid of it. Of course my leg is pretty well alright now but it will be some time before I could go in for violent exertions & so the doctor marked my papers "Home service" which may mean getting something to do in England or Egypt for a few months & then returning to the front, or perhaps returning to Australia. I Hope you are all well Aunt Bell tells me that some time ago you were not getting letters from me, although I write on an average about once a fortnight or three weeks. I have

[Page 46]
had only one letter since I was wounded but of course have been changing addresses time after time & expect to collect some soon. Should you get this letter & no other before Christmas I wish you all a very happy Xmas with love to all from
Your affectionate Son
Charlie

[Page 47]
c/o Australian Offices London 17/11/15
Dear Mother,
I got 29 letters in a bunch at the office about 5 from everyone. Have got an extension of Furlough for a week. I had plenty of money & went to stay a few days with Aunt Bell & Marny who were very good to me & Aunt Bell would give me 5 pounds when I was leaving. As you know by last letter I am on Home Service & may go back to Australia for a while. Am quite alright but a bit weak in the leg after a days walking. Had a splendid week at Killarney Lakes & also at Giants Causeway near Port Rush. Heard Miss Hamilton Mays friend had come over to Guy's Hospital but when I called the other day she had not yet arrived there. I have written fairly often & was sorry to see you were apparently rather worried about me

[Page 48]
perhaps you did not get all my letters. The wound was in the calf of my leg & was only serious in that it cut all the muscles & caused foot-drop which took some five months to get alright, but was not dangerous.

I will let you know as soon as possible my next move after my furlough is finished.
with love & best wishes to all I am
Your affectionate Son
Charlie

[Page 49]
[Blank page annotated 17-11-15 Aust Offices London]

[Page 50]

[Cablegram]
Pacific
London
15/16
Sherwin
Use three pounds for Christmas & send Kath one have plenty
Charlie Sherwin

[Page 51]
c/o Australian Commonwealth Office Horseferry Road London 8/12/15
Dear Aunt Evie
Received your letter dated 29th August on 6th Decr. As you will probably know by now I am fairly right now, but having been marked unfit owing to my leg may leave for Australia in a month or two. We (all light horse machine guns) left Egypt shortly after the infantry before our regiments left – to assist the infantry. We could not land our horses or gun wagons as Turks were shelling our boats & the beach so left 5 of our men to go back with the horses & carried our guns & material, one of our section was wounded losing his arm & our gun had three shrapnel holes in it which we were able to get repaired. As the Turks made a big attack about 3 a.m we were bustled into the trenches & attached to the 2nd infantry Battallion. The Colonel told

[Page 52]
us we had to hold the trench to the last man as he had brought up all the men he had & the Turks were about 5 to 1. They rushed our trenches but the boys hopped up on the parapet to get a better aim & fired till their rifles were too hot to hold, then the machine guns wiped whole lines of them out. They lost about 4000 men while we had very few casualties that day. I was hit about a month afterward by a shell which burst near our gun in the trench. I did not see or hear of my friend Sid Stout since. Saw Norman Sherwin a couple of times while on the Peninsula before I left. While on furlough in England I went to see Aunt Marnie & Bell & stayed a few days – they were awfully nice. I also went to Killarney before leaving Ireland which was beautiful.
Well good bye for now with love to all from
Your affectionate Nephew
Charlie

[Page 53]
c/o The Australian Commonwealth Office Horseferry Road London 8.12.1915
Dear Marg,
Got your letter dated 1st Aug. on the 5th Decr & was sorry to hear that a blacklist cow in the paddock had got you bluffed by staring at you. I had a great time on Furlough & saw Killarney lakes & Giants Causeway. Was also staying with our Aunts in Londonderry & have been to Dublin & Brighton, also stayed some time in London. There is an advertisement in one of the tube railways under London which amused me – it was a lot of rabbits diving into a burrow & had "we all go the same way home" under it – they are very handy for getting about though. I used to think if I went to London I would get lost, but got on alright by asking the way occasionally. I suppose you know it is very dark at night all over the London

[Page 54]
district as the lights are nearly all out owing to Zeps, & you have to "watch out" for the traffic. One of our men was killed here the other night – he was a scotch man but had been 2 years in Australia. He had been married 3 weeks when he got killed. I was one of the men picked out for the firing party & about 1500 of the men went to the funeral. We had a large band & massed bugles blew the last post after we fired 3 volleys over the grave. Ask Papa to get me a ticket in "Tatts" now & again will you when there is any of my money over after paying my insurance. I wrote to him asking if he would write I was in Malta but don't know whether he got the letter. Hoping you are all quite ok with love to all
from your affectionate Brother
Charlie

[Page 55]
[Telegram annotated 12.12.1915]
Sherwin 25 Frederick Ashfield Cable

[Page 56]

Westham Camp. Weymouth. England 4.1.1916
Dear Mother,
I am here at the final base from which we leave England, & am at present supposed to be waiting for a boat home but may not catch the next one which leaves in a few days: in fact it is not yet quite certain yet whether I shall go at all but is probable. Am quite alright now except for leg being still a bit weak. I hope this letter will reach you in time to wish you many happy returns of the 14th prox. & also the same to Marg. If Connie & Donald are in Sydney now remember give my love to the whole "Darn" family including them the boys. This is a rotten place here for rain & mud so the sooner I get somewhere else the better. It rains here nearly all the time & if we get half a fine day

[Page 57]
it represents a drought here, but we would like several just now. I had several letters from Marg's friend Miss Hamilton at Abbey Wood Camp near Woolwich & she called to see me but the guard did not let her in & as I left very suddenly, will unfortunately miss seeing her as it is a long way from here to London.
Goodbye for the present love to all specially yourself
from your affectionate son
Charlie

[Page 58]
[Blank page]

[Page 59]
Westham Camp, Weymouth, 19.1.1916
Dear Mother,
Yesterday I got a parcel from you containing 4 prs of socks. Thanks very much they will come in handy. This place is very wet now but would I think be a nice place in Summer. I am still supposed to be temporarily unfit although I am alright now & I will be going back eventually to Egypt I expect. It would be a good idea if Germany threw in the sponge wouldn't it. I feel rather bored here. I have just written to aunt Bell who sent me a very nice silver [indecipherable] pipe for Xmas.
I don't know exactly what money there is left after paying insurance but when there is any over use it if you should want it at any time. I was not short of

[Page 60]
money of over here while on furlough as I had about £35 to draw. I have a month's furlough & have about £5 on my book to draw now. I hope you are all O.K at home. I have not had any letters for about a month or so. I suppose you got my letters. I write about once a fortnight or three weeks but of course sometimes to [indecipherable] or Brisbane.
There are 250 men leaving for Australia to-day and also about 300 for Egypt, but I will be here some time yet I am afraid.
With love to all from
Your affectionate Son
Charlie

[Page 61]
[Blank page]

[Page 62]
Westham Camp Weymouth 4.2.1916.
Dear Mother,
I have not heard from Australia for about 6 weeks now I expect some letters may be side – tracked somewhere. The last two days it has been raining cats & dogs as the saying goes. We had a parade in the rain to-day which was not too pleasant. It is likely I shall in due course be going back to Egypt or elsewhere as I have got alright again. Aunt Bell says Norman's people have not heard from him for some time. I only had one letter from him it was a long time ago though. He does not write much at all.
How are things progressing with you all? There is nothing much to tell you of here it is not much of a place to be in Winter. We often go to the theatre such as it is. Syd Stout was

[Page 63]
sent to Egypt from the Peninsula with an abscess on his arm but I have not heard from him since I left Anzac. A friend & myself are at present getting a model made of a sort of shield which headquarters will probably take up if it passes certain tests.
Well goodbye for present love to all from your affectionate Son
Charlie

[Page 64]
[Blank page]

[Page 65]
Monte Video Base Camp Weymouth England 12.2.1916
Dear Mother,
I have just had a big bundle of letters from Australia. Re that £5 you sent thanks very much. I have not had it yet but expect it is still at the bank & I am making enquiries. I suppose you know Kath is engaged to a Mr Hassis who I understand has left for the Front. I am sorry of course but am not worrying at all as I understood it was probable before I left & does not make any difference to our friendship & I still like to know that you hear from her occasionally. It will give me more time at home with you when I get back. Sid Stout left Anzac a long time after I did, either with an abscess or a wound on the arm I understand & I

[Page 66]
think he went to Egypt but have not heard from him at all as I could not get his address. Aunt Bell tells me Norman Rae has got a commission I could have got one in the English Army but prefer to stay with the boys & the pay would be about what I get now with more expenses added. Probably I will go to Egypt soon most likely to Maadi again. I am all right now & am on guard today, which is better than fleet patrol which means walking for three miles along the Coast to shoo misguided submarines away and make the people put the lights out. I know you worry a good deal & I wish you wouldn't. I do not a bit for even if I did not come back it would only be a bit previous & it is all in the game & our side wins. As far as my wound is concerned although it was a big one I did not know the skin was broken (as it only felt like a big bruise) until I looked at it & although

[Page 67]
there was a hole I could put my fist through it never felt as bad as a bad tooth-ache or spoilt my sleep or appetite. Hoping you are all keeping in the best of health & that everything is O.K. I am your affectionate Son
Charlie
P.s. if you like you could show this letter to Kath as she seemed rather miserable when last writing Chas.

[Page 68]
[Blank page]

[Page 69]
27.2.1916
Dear Marg
I know you will be interested to hear that I was out all day yesterday with Miss Flo. Hamilton. Had a strenuous day on Hamstead Heath in about 9in of snow & borrowed a toboggan on which we slithered down the hills much to Miss H's delight. She seems to like her place very much but seems to miss you a good deal. We also went to "Tales of Hoffmung" at the Shaftsbury Theatre last night. It was in English & was the last night so had some speeches etc. I enjoyed the music very much. am just having a week or two leave in London. Should have left England last week for Egypt I expect but

[Page 70]
had to come up here in connection with a small invention belonging to a friend & myself & one of our Lieutenants. We are waiting for a report from Vickers Maxim to the Minister of Munitions to see what can be done in the matter.

Well goodbye for now
Your affectionate brother
Charlie

[Page 71]
Tel –El- Kebir Egypt 15.4.1916
Dear Mother,
The above is my present address, but but may not be for long so letters for me had better be addressed to the Australian Base P.O. Egypt. I want you to send five pounds (£5.) of my money to Mrs E. W. Buckhitt, 79 Weinberg Road, Glenferrie Melbourne as she looks after her brother in law Chas. T. Buckhitt's affairs & he got £10 cabled over & gave me half to save cabling expenses. I will mention this matter in my next letter in case this one goes astray. I may not be able to get back to my regiment owing to my long absence, but will let you know later if I join anything else. We had a good but uncomfortable trip across from England, & I was glad to be able to get ashore at Gibralta & Malta.
Love to all from
Your affectionate Son Charlie
N.B. To be censored.) Tpr Chas. R. Sherwin 500. 6th A.L.H. Regt.

[Page 72]
[Envelope]
Mrs C.A. Sherwin, The Moorings, Gibb Street, Croydon near Sydney NSW

[Page 73]
21.5.1916 Tel El Kebir Light Horse Details
Dear Mother,
Just writing a few lines to let you know everything is alright, although there is no news to tell you even if the letters were not censored everything seems the same here from week to week. I have so far been unable to get a move since returning from England. It is not much use writing from here as there is nothing to write about the

[Page 74]
only feature of interest here is the old battle-ground of Tel-El-Kebir of about 35 years ago. The old formation of trenches & the British square are still in evidence & are marked by bones & skeletons, old cartridges (in some of which the powder will still explode & a few other pieces of uniform etc. I suppose you are all settled down in the new place now. I have had no letters for a couple of months, & cannot apparently get back to the regiment or a transfer

[Page 75]
into anything else for the present. love to all from your affectionate Son
Charlie
P.S. Met Walter here but he has since left.

[Page 76]
Tel – El –Kebir 10.7.1916. 6th A.L.H Details
Dear Margaret,
I believe the mail closes sometime this week so am writing a few lines. I have not much time just at present, but anyhow there is no news except that although we will most likely move from here, it does not seem likely that we will ever leave Egypt. I owe Connie a good many letters but am not sure of her address so will send them via Croydon. Hope you enjoyed your holidays & that you like your new position. Kind regards to M Heard.
Love to all from your affectionate brother
Charlie

[Page 77]
[Envelope]
500 Tpr Sherwin 6th A.L.H Details O.A.S 10.7.16
Miss Margaret Sherwin The Moorings Gibb Street Croydon near Sydney Australia.

[Page 78]
Australian Imperial Force
Base Records Office, A.I.E.F.
Victoria Barracks. Melbourne. 22nd August 1916
Dear Madam,
I now beg to advise you that No. 500 Pte. C.R. Sherwin, 6th Light Horse Regiment, has been reported admitted 3rd Australian General Hospital, 11/8/16, suffering from gunshot wound elbow and back (severe) and in the event of further information coming to hand, you will be promptly notified.
In the absence of further reports it is to be assumed that satisfactory progress is being maintained.
It should be clearly understood that if no further advice is received this Department has no further information to give.
Yours faithfully,
J.M.Dean Major.
Officer i/c Base Records.
Mrs L. A.Sherwin "The Moorings", Gibb St., Croydon, near Sydney, N.S.W.

[Page 79]
[Telegram]
Melbourne 27 1/11 540p 2nd
Mrs L A Sherwin The Moorings Gibb St Croy NSW
Now reported Pte Charles R Sherwin progressing favourably will promptly advise if anything further received
Base Records

[Page 80]
[Blank page]

[Page 81]
[Telegram]
Cable Eastern 30 Cairo 9 wds 1st 745p
Sherwin Croy Sy
Thanks nearly convalescent August twenty seventh
Sherwin

[Page 82]
[Blank page]

[Page 83]
[Newspaper clipping listing of casualties annotated Sept 4th and pencil markings next to Pte. C.R. Sherwin]

[Page 84]
[Newspaper clipping]

[Page 85]
[Envelope]
Mrs C.A Sherwin 25 Frederick Street Ashfield Sydney Australia 19.9.1916

[Page 86]
[back of envelope postmarked Aden 21 JA. 15 3 PM

[Page 87]
E.R.H. Commonwealth of Australia. Department of Defence, Melbourne. 19th September, 1916
Dear Madam,
I am in receipt of cable advice to the effect that No 500 Private C.R. Sherwin, 6th Light Horse is returning to Australia and is due in Sydney about the end of September,1916. It ids regretted that the movements or name of the transport on which he is arriving cannot be disclosed.
It is to be noted that owing to possible mutilations in the cabled advice and other causes this notification may not be correct pending verification from the roll on arrival of the Troopship
Yours faithfully J.N.Lean. Major,
Officer i/c Base Records.
Mrs. L.A. Sherwin,
The Moorings Gibb Street Croydon. N.S.W.

[Transcribed by John Kerr for the State Library of New South Wales]