Muir, Frederick Warren (Private, b.1893 - d.1915) Accession Number: 2DRL/0316

Description

Collection relating to the service of 644 Private Frederick Warren Muir, 1 Battalion, AIF, at sea, Egypt, Gallipoli, Imbros, 1914-1915. Collection consists of thirty-five letters written by Private Muir to his mother, Mrs. Alice Blanche Chester O'Donnell of Unanderra, NSW; three letters of condolence - [Matron Frances Hope Logie Reddoch, HM Hospital Ship 'Glenart Castle' ; 675 Gunner George Lewis, 3 Field Artillery Brigade, AIF; 2659 Lieutenant Henry Herbert Neaves MC, 45 Battalion, AIF]; a diary kept by Private Muir from March to November 1915; a scrapbook containing the letters of Private Muir as published in the South Coast Times, Wollongong, and an obituary notice from the same newspaper, featuring a photograph of Private Muir. Muir died on 28 November 1915.

Contextual Description

The collection is notable for a letter written on 19 June 1915 in which Muir gives a lengthy and detailed description of his recent experiences, including a description of the scene on board SS Minnewaska on 24 April and in the pre-dawn hours of the 25th, the landing at Sari Bair/Anzac Cove, and the fighting he experienced during the rest of that day and during the night. Also of note are the detailed accounts of events and daily life on Gallipoli, found in Muir's diary.

Biographical note: 644 Private Frederick Warren Muir who, on the 28th of November 1915, died at sea, aboard HMHS Glenart Castle, of wounds received at Anzac. Other biographical details concerning him are: articled clerk; of Unanderra, New South Wales; born Unanderra; educated at Unanderra public school and Woolongong district school; joined the AIF on 22 August 1914. Son of Alice Blanche Chester O'Donnell.