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time my brother has been away from his Battalion was on the occasion of two wounds he sustained, the first occasion for 9 days, and on the latter for 3 months after sustaining a very dangerous wound through the lung. He was recalled by wire prematurely to assume command of the Battalion owing to Colonel Durrant being wounded.
I am taking the liberty of enclosing herewith, the following letters addressed to my brother:-
From Col. J.M.A. Durrant, C.M.G., D.S.O. dated January 6, 1917, and ditto dated June 4, 1918.
" Gen. Sir W.R. Birdwood, dated December 2, 1916, ditto June 7, 1918, ditto October 7, 1918.
" Gen. Brand, C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O., dated June 5 1918.
" Gen. Sir John Monash, K.C.B., dated January 6, 1918.
" Lieut. Gen. Sir H.V. Cox (now Military Adviser of the Indian Office) dated December 3, 1916.
" Col. F.W. Ray (Senior Chaplain) dated December, 18 1917, and ditto dated June 7, 1918.
The above you will note are originals and I need hardly state, are much valued by my brother, so shall be glad to receive same back from you.
I fear that I have made my letter a very lengthy one, but will ask you to excuse same owing to my over-anxiety to see that some suitable position is obtained for my brother. He was 19 when he went away, and is now 24, the 5 years in the interval he has devoted exclusively to perfecting himself in Military Science, and would therefore be seriously at a disadvantage if he now has to seek commercial employment for which he has no special aptitude, and necessarily from his record, is without experience. He is well known to Mr. Bean, the Government Official Correspondent, who has had exceptional opportunities of seeing the work he has performed. I, pesonally, know of the very high opinion that Colonel Campbell (formerly Commanding Officer Sydney Defended Port on the ourbreak of War) has of his ability, and how desirous he is that he should be retained in the national service.
I fell so keenly on this matter Mr. Hay, that I can assure you of my deepest personal gratitude if you should be able to effect anything in the direction desired.
Yours sincerely,
[signature indecipherable]