LETTERS FROM THE FRONT

A compilation of letters that were sent by Lance Sergeant Ernest Harcourt Ely, to his relatives in Harcourt Victoria detailing his experiences from the front lines of World War 1.

Ernest Harcourt Ely was born into the small rural farming community of Harcourt, Victoria, and along with his father and family grew apples. When the war broke out in 1914 he was among the first round of volunteers to join up on the 17th August 1914 and head off to the war. He was a prolific writer and sent many letters home detailing his experiences of life on the front line, his impressions of the country and the people he encountered. His family shared these letters through the local paper, giving people in the community news of front line life.

From his writings of his departure, his time in Egypt, on to Gallipoli and finally on to the European campaign his letters shed light on what was for him and many others an extremely trying time, throughout it all his sense of wit and the keen eye of a man of the country shines through in his writings.

Ernest Harcourt Ely was killed in action in France on August 18, 1916, aged 27, a member of the 7^th Australian Infantry Battalion. After the battle of Pozieres he was reported missing and for many years his family had no word as to where there son was. His younger brother, my grandfather joined up and went off to war in hope, in part, of maybe finding out what had happened to Ernest. Alas the war ended, my grandfather came home, but Ernest was still no closer to being found. Then on the 4th July 1923, 7 years after he had gone missing news finally came that his remains had been buried in Delville Woods Cemetry, Longueval , france.

I hope that you enjoy his letters, that they are able to shed light on this terrible period in history and that by reading his words a little piece of him lives on, and the sacrifices of all who went off to war are not forgotten.

Lest we forget.

Letters compiled by his Great Nephew, Brendon Ely.