Letter to Dorothy

19 September 1929

Mrs D G Linklater
27 Gillies Avenue
Wollenstonecraft, NSW

Dear Madam,

The Australian War Memorial, containing as it does the written records, the pictures, and the material relics of Australia's forces which served in the Great War, has been, as you are probably aware, established by Act of Parliament of the Commonwealth as the national memorial to those who fell or died in this country's service during the struggle. A certain portion of this collection has for the last seven years been exhibited in Melbourne and Sydney, but the whole will later be brought together and permanently housed at Canberra in a monumental building, the construction of which has now commenced.

In the library of the War Memorial there are preserved the written records- that is to say, the war-diaries of the AIF units as they were written up from day to day in the field, the signal messages written in battle, the correspondence files, air photographs, naval, merchant service, medical and New Guinea records, maps, and other official documents, as well as copies of most books or publications of both sides which touch or have direct bearing on the work of the Australian forces, newspaper files for the years 1914-1918, and a large number of private diaries and letters- all of which are now being studied by the official historians, and will through the coming centuries be the main source of information for all those writing of Australia's war effort.

Many living officers and men who served in the army, navy, air force, or merchant marine, as well as members of the medical and nursing services and numerous relatives bereaved during and since the war, have presented to the Memorial library records most precious to them. These gifts- covering life in the camps and hospitals etc, in addition to that at the front- are still continually being received; and it is especially fitting that every effort should be made to collect and worthily preserve such valuable human documents. The Australian soldiers and sailor frequently recorded in his diary or in his letters indications of the thoughts, hopes, and fears which were then uppermost in his mind, and descriptions of his own and others' work and actions. These papers are often of the utmost importance, bearing evidence of supreme effort and endurance in circumstances of which, unfortunately, there is in many cases nowadays practically no other existing record.

For this reason I am writing to inquire whether you can see your way to contribute to the War Memorial library now, or bequeath to it later, the letters received during the war years from your husband, the late Charles Henry Linklater, or any other relevant papers, letters, diaries, maps, photographs etc. It is of course recognised that these documents are very precious to you, being in the nature of cherished heirlooms which, if kept in your family cannot fail to inspire future generations of Australians with a spirit of devotion and self sacrifice and a determination also to serve their country well. On the other hand it may perhaps be reasonably held that, if included in a library such as the one being formed by the Australian War Memorial, they will be of even greater value to Australia as a whole, and, in the long run, more tenderly and carefully preserved.

In the case of letters, it is also realised that these must contain much of a private nature. The documents in the War Memorial library, however, include many confidential State papers, and are well guarded, and only to be inspected by historians on conditions strictly laid down. The confidence imposed by these conditions has never been and is never likely to be broken.

If you decide that you are unable to part with these private records, at least for the present, may I suggest that you will be so good as to allow the War Memorial library to copy or to make extracts from them? In that event all care will be taken of them , and they shall be returned to you immediately the work has been completed. If you prefer it, they could be left with the Curator of the War Memorial Museum in Sydney (Exhibition Buildings, Prince Alfred Park), who would have them carefully packed and sent on to this office for you.

In addition, you may know of interesting letters written by your late husband to others of his relations or friends, and possibly still preserved, which might suitably find a place in the War Memorial collection. The War Memorial Board would be grateful if you would assist it by sending to me the names and addresses of any friends who would be likely to present such letters.

Yours Faithfully,
Director,
Australian War Memorial.