Good luck with the diaries!
Thanks
Bear with me , My mother's father severed in 1st World War, ( she kept ) Stuff for a long long time. !!!!
In May 2023 when she moved into a nursing home, my youngest brother and I = where's PAs Diaries ? = no where to be seen.
He was not some whippersnapper = was going on 32 when enlisted = posted , spent time in Egypt , Flanders, Ypres and the Somme.
Was Gassed, spent Time in England/ recovery/hospital.
Passed away walking up to shops =, sat down on a brick fence in 1970 !!!!
The real Gobsmacked Sxxt , !!!!!
EDIT:
Mum gave some boxes to the Salvation Army at least 10 years ago and it turns out his diaries were in them.
On ANZAC day while watching ceremonies I googled his name ( I've done this before with no luck ).
This time I added the year he was born and to my amazement a result.
There was a link to newspaper article about found diggers diaries and trying to find relatives.
The date of the story was December 2014 so again not holding hope but there was an email address so I sent off an email.
I got a reply .
So is at least some chance we'll get PAs diaries back.
Still lots of luck needed !!!
Update .
The genealogist, whose email address it was rang me this early arvo = good old chat and more to come .
Listening to her description of how she became involved = 1 **** event , mum accidently threw out and quite a few good gobsmacked ( in the good side )=events took place to = where now .
Where Now!!!
In the NSW State Library!!!
I got the impression that's where they're staying ( and I do wonder if that's not better ).
A little disappointed , I rang my youngest brother after talking to her and the same but they are on display and as relatives we can visit and access and read .
Asked about copies being made = answer = hopefully at the end of the week.
Genealogist also said there was 19 pages of service history for him , have looked but not in detail at this time.
She also said can get reproduction medals made .
My brother said his son ( turns 14 in a couple of weeks ) wants to join the army, joined the Army Cadets last year.
My brother while trying to be supportive , also trying to steer him.
I'm thinking through this part of the conversation = go Airforce ( I spent my working life in aviation = including ,I worked on RAAF 707 tankers, C130 Hercules transport and 14 years on FA18 Hornets,
And He said Airforce = yeah.
He has mentioned Officer training.
That would be super cool ( and proud ) to see a nephew as an Officer wearing his and my grandfathers and his Great Grandfathers medals.