As our young men were exported around the globe in the Great War, so too was the Wingham Chronicle.
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A look at a two-volume book titled World War 1 – North Coast Anzacs, compiled by Ron and Wendy Gow and Val Birch, shows how much our local papers meant to our soldiers when they were overseas, in training and in the battle fields.
Our local papers were a much-loved comfort for the soldiers, helping them to still feel connected with home, and also allowing new friendships to be made.
World War 1 – North Coast Anzacs is a compilation of extracts from Manning Valley newspaper reports of the Great War from 1914-1918. We reprint some of the extracts below.
Mr L. Jack received a letter from Private W. Hunter in 1917. Private Hunter was in the employ of Mr E. Donkin of Karaak Flat before he enlisted from Wingham. He wrote from Plymouth, England, one week before he expected to leave for France.
“While I was at Hurdcott Camp I used to receive the Wingham Chronicle every mail, but when we leave a camp they never send the papers on. In consequence I miss the old paper.” - Private W. Hunter
Mr R. Meldrum, secretary of the Wingham branch of the Grand United Order of Oddfellows, received a letter from Private W.E. Gallagher when he was stationed in the UK for training in August 1917.
“There are a lot of Manning River boys amongst us, of whom the district might well be proud. I was delighted to read in the Wingham Chronicle that the dispute about the Oddfellows’ Hall was settled in our favour.” – Private W.E. Gallagher
Mr and Mrs W.L. Thomas received a letter from their son Jack Thomas from “somewhere in France” in 1916. The extract from the newspaper report is as follows:
“He also mentioned the fact that he received a parcel of papers – amongst the latter was a copy of the Wingham Chronicle. He was engaged in perusing the Chronicle … when another soldier happened along, recognised the title of the newspaper, and asked Jack if he came from Wingham. Having received the reply, the newcomer said he came from Killawarra, his name was Welsh, and he used to work for Mr Alic Moore. Naturally the two young soldiers had a chat, and Driver Thomas recollected that when in the Wingham Post Office he often sorted letters addressed to his new-made friend. It’s not such a big world, after all.”
Private Geoff Hammond wrote from Tel-el-Kebir, Egypt on January 12, 1916.
“I’ve received about six Wingham Chronicles since I left Australia. Where they all go I don’t know. The number of chaps from Wingham has lengthened out since I left.” – Private Geoff Hammond
Mr E. Hammond wrote from Cairo on February 6, 1915.
“Did you hear Don Gow (late of Wingham Post Office) died here a few days ago of pneumonia? I often used to have a yarn with him. Try and send a Wingham Chronicle along when you can, it will be very acceptable.” – E. Hammond
C.C. Wallace wrote to the local papers from active service in the UK in 1915.
“We will be pleased to hear from any of our friends, and I can tell you it requires news from local sources to just make our task easier. If you only knew how the Wingham Chronicle and the Manning River Times are appreciated and rushed for, you would just drop a post card next time you are at the post office. Must close now, with best wishes from Tent No. 1.” – C.C. Wallace