Australian War Memorial - Joseph William Mayersbeth


12/11/1644

                                              21 November    28.

Mrs. D. L. Mayersbeth,
  36, Grey Street,
    South Fremantle, W.A.


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 that struggle.   A certain
portion of this collection has for the last six 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 will be commenced
at an early date.

          In the library of the War Memorial there are preserved
the written records - that is to say, the war-diaries of the
A.I.F. 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 a direct bearing on the work of the Australian forces, news-
paper 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 forice, or merchant marine, as well as members of the
nursing service 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 preserve such worthy
documents.   The Australian soldier 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
the most valuable human documents, bearing evidence of supreme
  


Mrs. D. L. Mayersbeth                                          2.

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 Joseph William Mayersbeth, or any other
relevant papers, diaries, maps, photographs, etc.   It is of course
recognized that these documents are very precious to you, being in
the nature of cherised heirlooms which, if reatined 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 realized that they must
contain much of a private anf family nature.  The documents in the
War Memorial library, however, include many confidental State
papers, and are well guarded, and only to be inspectd by histor-
ians 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 pri-
vate 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
abstracts from them.  In that event all care will be taken of them,
and they shal be returned to you immediately the work has been
completed.

         In addition, you may know of interesting letters written
by your 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.


LETTER SENT IN RESPECT OF:- Captain J.W. MAYERSBETH, 48th Battalion, A.I.F. Telegraph linesman of Northam, W.Aust,; born England; came to Australia when 19 years old; joined the AIF on ; served at first with the 16th Battalion, being later transferred to the 48th; killed in action in the Battle of Messines, 12 June 1917, aged 45. Widow's name: Doris Lillian MAYERSBETH. (No alternative address)


Source: Australian War Memorial AWM 93 12/11/1644

Ensures CheckFtweb works