LOCAL author and historian Reg Stevens is seeking help from family custodians to build a permanent record of letters and diaries sent by Northam soldiers to their loved ones from the battlefields of Gallipoli, the Middle East, France and Flanders during World War One.
Stevens intends to record the letters and diary extracts as well as photographs into book form to be a permanent record and reference for families and historians alike.
People holding such letters and diaries are asked to contact Stevens and discuss transcribing or photocopying the letters and diaries and providing the copies for the project.
More than 600 Northam men enlisted for service in WWI, with more than 150 losing their lives.
It is hoped many of the letters they wrote are still held by family members and can be copied to be included in this project.
It is the time now to do this with the centenary of WWI approaching and before these important documents are lost forever.
Recording the thoughts and first hand experiences of the Northam men will be an important and rewarding project and one that has not been done previously.
Included with the letters will be information on the soldier by whom it is written.
The last project Mr Stevens completed was his book The Men behind the Names, detailing the men from Northam who died in WWI, plus providing a complete nominal roll of those enlisting from Northam.
Completed and printed last year, the book has been very successful and well received.
The research involved in completing the book took almost five years.
The new project is hoped to be completed within 18 months depending on what information can be collated.
If you have any letters or diaries written by the Northam soldiers of World War One contact Stevens either by phone on 96 222 819 or by email at regstevens@westnet.com.au
