Bibliography

1.) http://cas.awm.gov.au/item/P02939.030
2.) http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/axford-thomas-leslie-jack-12159
3.) http://www.awm.gov.au/units/people_8223.asp
4.) http://cas.awm.gov.au/item/P00681.001
5.) http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/1410108
6.) http://jimmythejock.hubpages.com/hub/World-War-1-Trench-Living
7.) http://trenches.jynx.ca/?page=trenches
8.) http://www.aif.adfa.edu.au:8080/showPerson?key=AXFORD/TL/3399
9.) http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/axford-thomas-leslie-jack-12159
10.) http://content.lib.washington.edu/costumehist/image/339.jpg
11.) http://www.anzacday.org.au/history/ww1/homefront/homefront.html
12.) http://freethepinkerton3.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/diary1923.jpg
13.) http://www.flickr.com/photos/xtauymatiao/3879354932/
14.) http://jameshubbert.tripod.com/soldier1.gif
15.) http://wintersun.ws/shop/images/SD075-Australian.jpg

Recruitment Poster

Diary Entry

Dear Diary,

Today, like the usual routine, we woke up really early to be able to keep watch on our enemies in case they attack. We had bread and cheese for breakfast. Some of the soldiers were complaining that it was not enough. It's true. It wasn't  enough for any of us, but what can we do? To quench our thirsts, we drank tea that tasted like petrol. It tasted like petrol because as usual, we make our teas in empty petrol pots. After we had breakfast, we got into our positions. When the enemies attacked, we fired at them while being careful not to get injured. The loud firing and booming of guns echoed in the horizon. The soldiers who got injured got treated by either other soldiers or by doctors or nurses from nearby hospitals. It's unfair for the soldiers who did not get treatments from a doctor, but because there isn't enough doctor or nurses, they can't do anything about it. Other injured soldiers died because of not getting treated immediately. Like any other days, today was a hot day. The heat was so intense that our clothes were soaked in sweat. Annoying flies are everywhere, buzzing around dead bodies. Rats looking for any chance to eat our only supply of food available. In winter, it's completely the opposite. The trenches get very cold giving other men frostbites. Life here is really harsh. You're not only in danger of getting killed  from a gunshot but also from infections from rats and insects. When the night came, we had our dinner which was satisfying than our breakfast. We had baked potatoes and petrol-tasting tea. After we had dinner, we stayed up for another two to three hours keeping watch. After that, we selpt to get ready for tomorrow.

Soldier Profile

 Corporal Thomas Leslie (Jack) Axford

Full name: Thomas Leslie Axford
Service Number: 3399
Date of Birth: June 18,1894
Place of Birth: Carrieton, South Australia
Address: Carrieton, South Australia
Religion: Roman Catholic
Appearance: Average height; lean; grey eyes; black hair; dark complexion
Occupation: Clerk, Labourer, Soldier
Marital Status: Married
Date of Enlistment: 9 August 1915
Place of Enlistment: Kalgoorlie, Western Australia
Age of Enlistment: 21 years old

Death: Corporal Thomas Leslie Axford died on the 11th of October 1983 on an aircraft between Dubai and Hong Kong

Letter Home

 Dear Lily,

How are you and the kids? I hope you're doing well. I am included in the 16th Battalion. Lily, to be honest, going to war is not what I expected it to be. I thought it was going to be fun and exciting. I was wrong, life here in the trenches is very hard. It was a big shock not just for me but for other soldiers too. We have to live in these trenches where it's so hot especially in the day. We get restless nights and we don't really get a chance to sleep because we have to watch our enemy. The smell of unburied bodies is so strong that sometimes it makes me feel sick. The dead bodies attract heaps of rats and flies. They infect other soldiers causing them to die.

As for me, you don't have to worry. I 'm fine. I can go through this. Even though life here is hard and you have to carefully watch your every move, you and the friends I made make all the heardships disappear. I met kind soldiers who are older than me. They taught me many things that helped me a lot during the war. I am very grateful to them. Due to the stress and anxiety that are enveloping us, others soldiers sometimes get into fights. 

I know you want to know about our enemies. They are very cunning. They'll kill you without mercy.  You have to act and think quickly for you to be able to survive. You have to be tough and brave.

War is very hard. You cannot take it lightly. You have to put your needs and feelings aside. The battlefield is a very harsh place; it's like hell. Whenever I go to war, I don't think about anything else; I focus. Going to war has changed me a lot. It taught me how to be brave, fight and most importantly, it taught me how unity and teamwork can lead to success.

Well, it's time to say goodbye now. Lily, you have to take care of yourself and the kids. Don't worry about me. I'll be fine. I don't know when I will be able to write you a new letter so until then, please be safe. Always pray to God. I love you and the kids. I miss you. Goodbye. 

Sincerely, Thomas

Sources

Primary Source

A full length studio portrait of Corporal Thomas Leslie Axford.



Secondary Source

 

An article that says the soldiers who got awards. 

The first soldier mentioned was Corporal Thomas Leslie Axford.