HEADLINES OF OLD: RETURNING TROOPS WW1 Trove Tuesday 14h Mar 2023

Tuesday, 14 March 2023

RETURNING TROOPS WW1 Trove Tuesday 14h Mar 2023

Australian service personnel repatriated during World War I.

National Archives of AustraliaReturned World War I soldiers ...

These articles are but a few of the collection to be found in TROVE. The articles refer to not only some of the names of those returned but also the Welcomes, the Committees involved (often the Red Cross), offers to help, including the supply of housing and medical support. While the soldiers were in many ways happy to be home, it was also for some, mixed feelings about being able to settle into domestic life again.

These mainly young men had seen sights they would never be able to speak about, made great mates, though many of them would not be returning. Some were worried about how they could ever return to their former lives..or jobs.

Women had been employed in various jobs that would never have been accepted pre war.. and many didn't want to give them up. Hospitals were overcrowded and there weren't enough beds for all, even in the military hospitals.

If you haven't already, you can look for your connections via record search Almost all WW1 records held are free to all. You will find some still restricted, though not many. Search TROVE for articles in your family areas re returning soldiers, stories of their hometown, how were they welcomed, etc.

Some of these articles may be a little hard to read, you can always go to the highlighted link to see the original.