This is a transcription by Sandra Dexter of the original WW1 diary which was donated to ANZAC House by John Howden, F.W. Mawson's nephew. Sandra augmented the words in the diary with additional material including photos to give context to the people, places and events referred to in Frederick Mawson's words. Published with Surrey Hills Historical Society funds with permission of Anzac House librarian, Fred Pratt. Transcribed as a result of the loan of the original for the exhibition mounted as part of the 'Gallipoli and Beyond 2015' raft of events coordinated by City of Boroondara and the historical societies of Boroondara. Details re Fred Mawson (source AIF Project): Regimental number: 3073; Place of birth: Carlton, Victoria; School: Surrey Hills State School, Victoria; Religion: Presbyterian; Occupation: Carpenter; Address: Bona Vista Avenue, Surrey Hills; Marital status: Single; Age at embarkation: 22; Next of kin: Father, Frederick Mawson, Bona Vista Avenue, Surrey Hills; Enlistment date: 12 July 1915; Rank on enlistment: Sapper; Unit name: 5th Field Company Engineers; AWM Embarkation Roll number: 14/24/1; Embarkation details: Unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A40 Ceramic on 24 November 1915; Rank from Nominal Roll: Lance Corporal; Fate Killed in Action 9 November 1917; Miscellaneous details (Nominal Roll): *second given name is William; Place of death or wounding: Ypres, Belgium; Age at death: 24; Place of burial: Ramparts Cemetery (Row J, Grave No. 24), Ypres, Belgium; Panel number, Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial: 24. Also listed on the honour roll of The Shrine in the Surrey Gardens. A transcription (with footnotes and illustrations, including photographs) of a diary written in 1916 in F.W. Mawson during part of his period of service during WW1.(mrs) f w mawson, holmsdale, house names, bona vista avenue, surrey hills, world war 1, 1914 - 1918, diaries and journals, (mr) frederick william mawson, (mr) fred mawson,, (mr) frederick mawson (snr), surrey gardens memorial, sandra dexter

By arrangment with local and family history librarian, Myra Dowling, this diary was transcribed by Sandra Dexter from the original, which was donated to the City of Boroondara Library Service following the Boroondara Remembers project in 2015. It is a day-to-day account of a soldier's experience going to fight in World War 1, 1914-1919. Robert Thomas Garford (SERN 1138) was born in Fitzroy in 1892. He was aged 23 and living in Camberwell when he enlisted on 14 September 1914. He embarked from Melbourne on board HMAT A38 Ulysses on 22 December 1914. He was a sapper with the 2nd Divisional Signal Company. He was awarded a Military Medal: 'At CLERY, near MT.ST. QUENTIN, on the 31st of August 1918, this soldier was engaged as a linesman at the Brigade Forward Station. Throughout the day forward lines were repeatedly broken by enemy shell fire. Despite this Sapper FARFORD [sic], with very conspicuous coolness patrolled the lines from end to end repairing one break after another. His untiring efforts were responsible for the constant maintenance of communications from the Brigade Station to the Battalions.' Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 115, 10 October 1919. He returned to Australia 3 December 1918. He married Annie Christina Devine in 1941. They lived at 16 York Street, Surrey Hills and later 17 Blackburn Street, Surrey Hills. He died 30 May 1969 at Surrey Hills and is buried in Box Hill Cemetery: P-A-0054.A day to day account of a soldier's experience going to fight in World War 1, 1914-1919world war, 1914-1918, diaries and journals, (mr) (sapper) r garford, box hill cemetery, robert thomas garford