AWM41 976 - Matron E Gray and Matron McHardie White - Part 2

C O P Y.

12/11/4711.

27th May, 1931.

Matron E. Gray, CBE, HRC,

"Epworth" Hospital,

Erin Street,

RICHMOND. Vic.

 

Dear Sir,

In a letter dated the 24th April, I ventured to

enquire if you would assist in completing the national collection

of war records by presenting any records you may possess

relating to your experiences and service throughout the war years.

It is hoped that you are giving this request sympathetic

consideration.

If you should have such records, and be desirous

of retaining them, at least for the present, may I suggest that

you should permit the War Memorial to make copies or extracts.

Should the records be forwarded for that purpose, they would be

acknowledged at once, the copying or extracting would be

completed as quickly as possible and the originals returned by

registered post without delay.

Each week private war records of this nature are

being received and it is hoped that you also will assist by

replying favourably to this appeal.

Yours faithfully,

J. L. Treloar,

Director.

C O P Y.

12/11/4711.

24th April, 1931.

 

Matron E. Gray, C.B.E., H.R.C.,

"Epworth" Hospital,

Erin Street,

RICHMOND. Vic.

 

Dear Madam,

The Australian War Memorial, as you are doubtless

aware, has been established by Act of Parliament of the Commonwealth

as the national memorial to those Australians who, while

serving with the forces, fell or died during the Great War, or

whose deaths since its termination have been due to the results of

active service.

In the library of the War Memorial there are

preserved the written records. These, which include naval and
New Guinea documents, the war-diaries and official records of the

A.I.F., and a large collection of private diaries and letters, are

now being studied by the official historians and will through the

centuries be the main source of information for those dealing

with Australia's war-effort.
I am therefore writing to enquire whether you can

see your way to present to the Memorial now, or bequeath to it

later, any similar records, papers, letters, diaries, maps,

photographs, etc., that you may possess, particularly those

relating to your own war service.

It is of course recognised that these documents

are very precious to you and that, if kept in your family, they

will be treasured by future generations. 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 realised that these must contain much of a

private nature. The documents in the War Memorial Library,

however, include many confidential State papers, and  re well

guarded, and only to be inspected by historians on conditions

strictly laid down. The confidence imposed by these conditions

has never been and is never likely to be broken.

Yours faithfully,

J. L. Treloar,

Director.

 

IN REPLY PLEASE QUOTE

NO 12/11/4711.

10th July, 1935.

Dear Mr. Withers,

Many thanks for the particulars which you

have supplied in your letter of 8th July of Matron

Gray's records.

With regard to Matron Gray's diary, as

apparently we can expect to receive either the original

or duplicate copy when she has assembled the latter, we

do not propose to take advantage of your offer to make

extracts at this date from the copy in your possession.

I know that you will look after our interests in the

matter, and will endeavour to ensure that the promised

copy is eventually received by the War Memorial.

Again thanking you,

Yours sincerely,

[[?]]

Mr. A. J. Withers,

Department of Defence,

Victoria Barracks,

MELBOURNE. S.C.1.