Historical information

The letter was written by William Darwin while convalescing in Scotland from wounds to Mrs Symes re Arthur Edward Symes No 1001 7th Batt AIF. Darwin No 780 enlisted on 18.8.14 in the 7th Batt AIF age 22 years. Embarked for Egypt 19.10.14, hospital 15.3.15 with Influenza, returned to duty 3.4.15, embark for Gallipoli 5.4.15, promoted A/Sgt 28.8.15. Admitted to hospital 18.9.15 classed Typhoid then Enteric, documents also state that he was buried by a shell explosion for 3 - 4 hours, dug out and was unconscious for 2 - 3 days. When recovered could not use left arm or leg and vomited frequently independent of food, there was also a wound to the left leg. He is returned to Australia on 17.10.16 classed Shell Shock and discharged medically unfit on 31.1.17. Refer 892 re “Symes”.

Physical description

.1) Typed letter and written by Sgt W Darwin, 7th Battalion 1st Division, to Mrs Symes on 6/7/16, from Kirkliston, Scotland re A.E Symes and how he died. The second part of the letter is the first 2 verses of a poem dedicated to Symes.
.2) Typed, 2 more verses finishing the poem in .1)

Inscriptions & markings

Handwritten signature: "W Darwin Sergeant 7 Bn 1 Div"