A postal card from World War I stamped August 1, 1918, London, by Major David McCurdy. Photo / Te Papa
To commemorate Anzac Day, Travel shares a collection of postcards written by NZ soldiers serving in World War I and World War II. Some are sad, some sweet – all edged with the fragility of feeling far from home.
Born on December 7, 1894, Ebenezer Johnson was the son of William and Johanna Johnson and lived with his family at 12 Plunket Rd in Auckland’s Mount Eden.
At the age of 20, he enlisted on February 3, 1915, leaving for Gallipoli on May 30 that year. In September, having fallen ill, Johnson was transferred by the Hospital Ship Formosa to Port Said and then to Pont De Koubbeh General Hospital in Cairo.
While recovering in hospital, Johnson sent various photographic postcards to his family depicting daily life at Gallipoli.
Johnson went on to serve four years and 102 days in Gallipoli, Egypt and Western Europe, before being discharged on May 15, 1919, due to an injury sustained not in war action but a football match.
Johnson died on January 12, 1921 aged 26. The coroner found the wound to be self-inflicted.
– with thanks to Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections.
These are Ebenezer‘s stories from 1915:
Dear Es - where I have put no1 can be seen a sunken trawler which was evidently sunk at the time of the landing. No 2 shows the way up to Shrapnel Gully, which has well earned its name by the amount of Shrap’ we get there. Several chaps can be seen at the water having a ‘swim’. This particular part of the beach is quite a favourite spot especially about 6pm when a fellow generally has a little time for a wash. At that time of the day the fellows can be seen in hundreds – EB
Dear Mother - just a little snap of ‘Anzac’. Between the shoulders of the 2 Aus Chaps in the foreground you can see a flight of steps. These are leading up to Shrapnel Gully, which was ‘Our Camp’ home for quite a little time. Against the cliff on the left is the Field Hospital. Quite a few chaps have had pieces of lead taken out of them in these tents. Best of love from your loving son Eb
Dear Grace,- Still another one of the beach, but not quite such a good photo. Where no 1 is, is where a chap had his arm taken off, while I with some others was undressing for a swim in the vicinity of no 2. The poor fellow ran some yards to the dressing station, but he fainted and had to be carried, the rest of the distance. On the horizon on the right of the p.c. can be seen a hospital ship. Bro Eb
Charles Edwin Rosser, known as Rex to his nearest and dearest, was born in 1904. He spent much of his life pre-enlistment in Mt Albert, Auckland. In 1939, Rosser joined the NZ Army as Corporal Charles Edwin Rosser. He was captured in 1941 and imprisoned until 1945. He died in Auckland on May 15, 1984, aged 80.
– with thanks to Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.
These are Charles Rosser’s stories from Italy between 1943 and 1944:
Dear Laurie, Ken Moran just got your letter and let me know. Glad you are out of it safely. Could you see CPL. Arch Turnbull at Base Pay Office and ask him if he got my letter. To pack my things in the kit bag for home. Send food, smokes, chocolate parcel. Would appreciate your trouble in this matter. Regards to the boys and hope the dysentery is OK. Cheers, Rex.
Dear Lorna, Happy New Year to you. Am well and fit. Looking forward to our next NZ summer. Keep fit – will be needing it. Hoping for some letters soon. Regards to the friends Dick & Alice. Keep ma up to scratch. Very cold here now. Never want to see snow again. I play “contract” bridge now. Journey tomorrow. Love, Rex.