Hail and Farewell: Letters from Two Brothers Killed in France in 1916

In July 1916 journalist and recently appointed AIF officer, Alec Raws, was sent to the front line during the Battle of the Somme. Amidst the unparalleled horror of that battle he discovered that his younger brother Goldy was killed just days before he arrived. Shortly afterwards, he too was killed in battle.

It was the sort of tragedy that touched almost every Australian family in World War I, but the Raws brother have left us a unique legacy in this extraordinary collection of letters. In writing to their parents, relatives and friends, Alec and Goldy provide a first hand account of the experience of war – the suffering, the violence of sustained battle, the death of comrades as well as the ever present humour. As an historical record these letters are immediate and personal; as a condemnation of war, not easily forgotten. First Edition, pp. 174 Illusts #0717