Diaries and personal narratives provide first-hand accounts of soldiers’ war experiences and reflections, giving insights which may not be available in other records.
Stories from the War
Thomas Richard Keating
Thomas Richard Keating was the third of seven surviving children, and was their eldest son of Janet and Richard. Tom was born while the family were living in St Marys, but to date there is no documentation confirming his date of birth...
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The Maxwell Family of East Hills
Edward Henry and Maxwell (nee Neale) were one of the earliest families to settle in the East Hills area of Canterbury-Bankstown. Sands directory shows Edward Henry Maxwell residing in Tower Street, East Hills, from 1900 to 1920...
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Sidney James Lees
Sidney James Lees, AIF #38361, was a resident of Rogers Street Canterbury. He was born on 29 September 1887 and enlisted in WWI on 28 April 1917, aged 24. On his attestation papers, his trade was described as gardener. Sid embarked from...
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Robert Noble
Robert Noble was the quintessential ANZAC soldier- a young man with no military experience leaving Australia’s shores. He never returned. Introduction The First Australian Imperial Force was perhaps the most significant...
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Frederick James Caton
The City of Canterbury Library holds World War 1 illuminated certificates in the Local History Collection. This is a photograph of the illuminated certificate for Private Frederick James Caton. From 1915 onwards, but particularly in...
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Edward Spalding
Edward Lawrence Spalding volunteered during WWI. Because his profession was groom (employed in the stables at Tooheys) he was attached to the 7th Light Horse Regiment Veterinary Corps. His ship arrived at Gallipoli three days after the...
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