11. Correspondence concerning the War, 1914-1916

 
Containers:
Box 4, Box 5
Component identifier:
Series
Scope and content:

Personal and Private' correspondence for 1914-1916. Much is not in chronological order or is reverse order. Some enclosures are included. Novar's correspondence with George Pearce (October 1914- December 1915) covers administration of the Army and defence planning; medical services for troops; recruiting; Novar's visits to Army camps; and Novar-Pearce relationship. Correspondence with General Sir William Bridges (October 1914- May 1915) covers Australian forces in Egypt and at Gallipoli. Letter to Sir Henry McMahon, September 1915, concerns reinforcements. Correspondence with General Sir John Maxwell (September 1915- March 1916) deals with Australian soldiers at war. Correspondence with Major-General JG Legge (March 1915- October 1915) concerns soldiers at war; Gallipoli; and General Bridges. Correspondence with Colonel FD Bird (July 1915- May 1916) is on soldiers in Egypt and Gallipoli. Letters from Sir Ian Hamilton (October 1914- October 1915) refer to the command of Australian troops and top-level British and Australian conduct of the War.

Comprises Items 3328-3675.

Immediate source of acquisition:
The papers were received in 1961 from Mr A.B.L. Munro Ferguson and the Trustees of the late Viscount Novar. Thirty photographs copied from the Novar albums in the possession of Mr Munro Ferguson were added to the collection in 1985. Subsequent additions include five illuminated manuscripts purchased from a dealer in 1990 and transcripts of extracts from Novar's diaries donated by Professor John Poynter in 1997. Six volumes of diaries, on long-term loan from Mr Ronald Munro Ferguson (great nephew of Lord Novar), were added to the collection on 12 January 2004. The diaries were kept by Lord Novar while he was Governor General of Australia between 1915 and 1920.

Access and use

Location of this collection:
Parkes Place
Canberra ACT 2600, Australia
Contact: