Object numberM2011/047:002
DescriptionLetter written in pencil, dated 14 October 1916, from William Soltan to his sister Eulalie Soltan. The letter refers to their brother Harry, who is still in England. The letter was most likely written from the trenches on the Front-line in France. The envelope is addressed to Eulalie Soltan, at 6/14 Crown Street, Surry Hills, Sydney; marked on active service. It is marked with a field censor stamp on the bottom left corner.
The postcard forms part of a collection of correspondence between siblings: Eulalie, Harry, Marcus and William Soltan during World War 1.
Harris (Harry) Soltan was one of eight children born to Jane and Solomon Soltan. The children: Wolfe, Harris, Milton, Marcus, Eulalie, David, Thelma and Hilda.
In 1915, 18-year-old Harry Soltan was given permission from his father to join the AIF (Australia Imperial Expeditionary Forces), provided he leaves a portion of his pay to his mother. Harry married Ms Farqahar on 8 December 1916. Harris (Harry) signed up and was a member of the 12th Reinforcements 2nd Battalion, leaving Australia on 7 January 1916, arriving in Alexandria 29 March 1916. He went to the French battlefields where he was wounded in action, suffering gas poisoning and was sent to hospital in England. He went AWOL for periods in 1917 and was eventually discharged in August 1918, returning to Australia with his wife and child.
His brother William (Wolf) also joined up in 1915 age 19 as a seaman, part of the 2nd Reinforcements, 19th Battalion, 5th Brigade.
The postcard forms part of a collection of correspondence between siblings: Eulalie, Harry, Marcus and William Soltan during World War 1.
Harris (Harry) Soltan was one of eight children born to Jane and Solomon Soltan. The children: Wolfe, Harris, Milton, Marcus, Eulalie, David, Thelma and Hilda.
In 1915, 18-year-old Harry Soltan was given permission from his father to join the AIF (Australia Imperial Expeditionary Forces), provided he leaves a portion of his pay to his mother. Harry married Ms Farqahar on 8 December 1916. Harris (Harry) signed up and was a member of the 12th Reinforcements 2nd Battalion, leaving Australia on 7 January 1916, arriving in Alexandria 29 March 1916. He went to the French battlefields where he was wounded in action, suffering gas poisoning and was sent to hospital in England. He went AWOL for periods in 1917 and was eventually discharged in August 1918, returning to Australia with his wife and child.
His brother William (Wolf) also joined up in 1915 age 19 as a seaman, part of the 2nd Reinforcements, 19th Battalion, 5th Brigade.
Production date 1916-10-14
Object nameletters
Materialpaper
Dimensions
- letter length: 168.00 mm
letter width: 112.00 mm
envelope length: 83.00 mm
envelope width: 118.00 mm
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Ms Patricia Bowes