Historical information

Vida Evelyn Holmes born 1903, Byaduk, second daughter of Joseph and Agnes Holmes, Byaduk. Worked as a nurse and died in Warrnambool hospital in 1928.
7358 Pte William Thomas Harper, born 1896, Byaduk, 8th Battalion-24th Reinforcements, embarked in Melbourne on HMAT A 70 Ballarat, and killed 3rd May 1918, aged 22 years, buried in Outtersteene Communnal Cemetery Extension, Bailleul, France, Grave
HMAT A70 Ballarat, a transport ship sunk by a submarine in the English Channel

Physical description

1809.1-1R envelope 14.5 x 9.00cm, opened along upper side
1809.2-4R letter 22.5 x 15.00cm, 3 pages of buff writing paper, handwritten blue on both sides
1809.5-.5R military pass 19,00 x 10.00cm, commercial pull out sheet, slight pertains on left hand side
1809.6-.9R postcards 14.00 x 9.00cm, sepia photographs/views, green ink, red 1d penny stamp and handwriting.

Inscriptions & markings

1809.1-1R envelope: light sepia, ink postage stamp and black ink address and sender details, reverse has lead pencil calculations
1809.2-4R letter: buff writing paper, blue ink handwriting on both sides
1809.5-.5R military pass: printed, blue stamped and handwritten information, red signature Wm T Harper; reverse - black printed instruction and chart
1809.6-.9R postcards: Souvenir of Salisbury/Views Only, partial postmark.Miss Vida Holmes/Byaduk/Hamilton/Victoria/Australia Reverse inside note signed 'Yours Sincerely/Cousin Bill/ One of the "Ballarat' heroes/...s the King calls you/ Wednesday May 9th 1917Love to all the children/and Mother and Father