The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
Collection relating to the service of Lieutenant Samuel James (Jim) Topp, 58 Battalion AIF, Egypt, France, 1915-1917. Collection consists of two bound volumes of carbon typed extracts from letters written by Lt Topp to his wife, Gladys Ellen Topp. Each volume is almost identical in content except for the inclusion of two letters of condolence in one volume and a studio portrait of Lieutenant Topp in the other. One volume was kept by his wife, the other (with the portrait) was sent in 1917 by Mrs Topp to Mr A C C Holtz, General Manager of the Melbourne Argus newspaper, for whom Topp had worked prior to enlistment. The letters describe the voyage to Egypt for further training, comments on active service in France, promotions, the defeat of the first conscription referendum, and the battalion being at half strength due to heavy casualties. The collection also contains four letters written in 1915 by Lt Topp to Mr Holtz.
Biographical note: Samuel James Topp was born in Caulfield on 12 May 1880 to Horatio and Louisa Mary Topp. Prior to enlistment Topp was a clerk working in the Advertising Department of the Melbourne Argus newspaper. He enlisted in the AIF as a private in July 1915 and married shortly after. He embarked for overseas with the 11th Reinforcement of the 6th Battalion from Melbourne on 11 October 1915 aboard HMAT Nestor. He trained in Egypt before being sent to France. Serving with 58th Battalion Lieutenant Topp was killed in action at Bullecourt on 12 May 1917 (his 37th birthday) when leading an attack on the German line. He is commemorated on the Villers Bretonneux Memorial, France.
Studio portrait of Lieutenant Samuel James Topp, 58th Battalion from Elsternwick, Victoria. A 35 year old clerk prior to enlisting on 6 July 1915, he embarked for overseas with the 11th Reinforcement
Collection relating to the First World War service of Second Lieutenant William George Blaskett, 48th Infantry Battalion, Egypt and France, 1915-1919. Collection consists of letters written home to fa
Collection relating to the First World War service of Second Lieutenant John Alexander Raws [known as Alec], 23 Battalion AIF, and Lieutenant Robert Goldthorpe Raws [known as Goldy], 23 Battalion, AIF
Collection relating to Lieutenant Colonel James William Albert Simpson, 36 Battalion AIF. Collection contains letters and a diary written home to his wife; various certificates of commission; official
Collection relating to service of Lieutenant James Clement Burges, 34 Battalion, England and France, 1916- 1917. Collection includes diary and letters written to his wife in Australia. Lt. James Cl
Collection relating to the service of 2nd Lieutenant Alfred Charles Harrop Jackson, 6 Battalion AIF, Gallipoli, 1915. Collection consists of photostat copies of letters of condolence and of a letter
Collection relating to service of Lieutenant Stanley Robert Callaghan, 34 Battalion, Oxford and France, 1917. Collection includes copies of letters written home to family in Sydney, NSW. Biographic