Steele, Philip John Rupert (Lieutenant, b.1889 - d.1917) Accession Number: AWM2016.587.12

Description

Collection relating to the First World War service of 6416 Lieutenant Philip John Rupert 'Ru' Steele, 4th Australian Artillery Brigade, France, Australia, and United Kingdom, 1916-1917.

Collection consists of 14 letters relating to the period immediately proceeding and following the death of Lt Steele. The first letter is written by Lt Steele on 17 June 1916 and discusses a gas attack in France during the night. In addition, there are 7 letters written by his brother, Cpl Henry Cyril Augustus Steele. These letters are written to their mother and father and discuss his brother's medical condition. Six of these letters are dated prior to Lt Steele's death, with one immediately following. Mixed into the letters written by Cpl Steele, are three written by Lt Steele, also to their parents. These also relate to his health. Also included is a letter offering condolences from Dvr J J Gray to the Steeles' mother, dated April 1917.

The final two letters are official letters expressing condolences to the Steele family from the King and Queen, and Kew Town Council.

Also included in the collection are an empty envelope addressed to the Steeles' father, P J Steele, and an envelope with four newspaper cuttings relating to a tie pin that was lost by Mr Lock in 1935, and a new one being sent to him by Queen Mary's secretary.

Details

Accession Number
AWM2016.587.12
Classification
Private Record
Object Type
Souvenir
Measurement
Extent: 1 cm
Wallet/s: 1
Date Made
1916-1917
Place Made
Whole/Part
Collection
Item Count
16
Access
Open
Copying Provisions
Copyright expired. Copying permitted subject to physical condition. Permission for reproduction not required.
Copyright
Copyright expired - public domain

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Last modified: 7 October 2026 - 3.19 am