“Dear Charlie,
Since I heard you were missing as well as wounded, it has occurred to me to write the diary in the form of a letter. We hope to hear from you soon. till then cannot communicate with you & later on when you read this it will you know what has been happening Today I went to Mass at Clarendon St & Met Uncle Charlie & Auntie. Horribly wet & windy day. Called at Wiers & bought a christening present for Aunt Rita's baby. Jack is god father but could not be present as he is staying with Bernard O'Kelly for a few days shooting & hunting Nana & Cecil, Desmond & Andrew went to the church, baby is called Noel Andrew “he was born on Xmas Day". The boys had a great afternoon with Dermot & Brendan who have wonderful 1st Lieuts uniforms sent them by Dermot Donelan. Beatrice, Leo, Richie & Adela Woolett went to Hippodrom but the entertainment was very poor. Had cable from Marie —No news Good luck best wishes for 1916”
This is a diary entry written in letter form by Mary Martin in 1916 to her brother, Charlie. Within this letter Mary explains the significant events in her day to Charlie and shares the only piece of knowledge that she has on Charlie’s condition (that he was missing and wounded). As Mary has not asked any questions about Charlies health or condition we can see that she was not worried about him and she was living an everyday, casual life. Because of silencing most Australians, like Mary, would not have known what the conditions were like in the war.
Since I heard you were missing as well as wounded, it has occurred to me to write the diary in the form of a letter. We hope to hear from you soon. till then cannot communicate with you & later on when you read this it will you know what has been happening Today I went to Mass at Clarendon St & Met Uncle Charlie & Auntie. Horribly wet & windy day. Called at Wiers & bought a christening present for Aunt Rita's baby. Jack is god father but could not be present as he is staying with Bernard O'Kelly for a few days shooting & hunting Nana & Cecil, Desmond & Andrew went to the church, baby is called Noel Andrew “he was born on Xmas Day". The boys had a great afternoon with Dermot & Brendan who have wonderful 1st Lieuts uniforms sent them by Dermot Donelan. Beatrice, Leo, Richie & Adela Woolett went to Hippodrom but the entertainment was very poor. Had cable from Marie —No news Good luck best wishes for 1916”
This is a diary entry written in letter form by Mary Martin in 1916 to her brother, Charlie. Within this letter Mary explains the significant events in her day to Charlie and shares the only piece of knowledge that she has on Charlie’s condition (that he was missing and wounded). As Mary has not asked any questions about Charlies health or condition we can see that she was not worried about him and she was living an everyday, casual life. Because of silencing most Australians, like Mary, would not have known what the conditions were like in the war.