News Corp to tell diggers stories in Anzac campaign with State Library of NSW
News Corp Australia has partnered with the State Library of New South Wales to share diggers stories from World War 1 to today.
The announcement:
News Corp Australia and the State Library of NSW today announced a partnership that will see the two organisations work together to bring to all Australians for the first time the evocative and often confronting war diaries of diggers who served in World War I.
The partnership is part of a broad ANZAC centenary program that will see also see News Corp Australia:
• Encourage modern day diggers to share their stories at war working with the Australian War Memorial (AWM) to capture a contemporary view of war
• Produce a library of rich and comprehensive materials that become an ultimate resource for high-schools around the country to access and contribute to
At the end of World War I in 1918, the State Library of NSW embarked on an extraordinary collection drive for Australian soldiers’ war diaries, and received diaries from soldiers across the country. Many of these diaries have never been seen by the general public.
Today, over 1,100 WWI diaries and letter collections exist in the Library alongside maps, photographs, artwork, books and objects from the battlefield. The collection is a priceless resource that sheds light on what it was like for men and women on the front line.
For instance, Hector Brewer, a Sydney horse groom when he enlisted aged 19 in 1914, wrote: “The pitiful part of these attacks is that many badly wounded men are unable to get back and receive proper comfort and attention. It makes one heartsick to hear the poor chaps moaning and crying for the help which cannot be given. This is the crowning horror of war I think.”
News Corp Australia will work with the State Library of NSW to publish such stories of Australian service men and women under the title “100 Years of Untold Stories: ANZAC to Afghanistan.”
Through its national network of newspapers including The Daily Telegraph, Herald Sun, The Courier-Mail and The Advertiser (Adelaide) and their websites, News Corp Australia will use the latest and most innovative storytelling techniques to take readers to the front line.
In addition to working with the State Library of NSW, News Corp Australia has also announced that it will work with the AWM to encourage active servicemen and women to also contribute their own stories to the collection.
The call-out for and collection of modern-day diggers’ diaries and other correspondence including digital correspondence such as tweets, emails and Facebook posts aims to ensure the nation continues to build a contemporary view of war.
News Corp Australia’s chief executive officer, Julian Clarke said: “The First World War not only took a terrible human toll it was also critical in forming our national character. Its importance continues to be deeply relevant today.
“We are proud to support this commemoration. As part of this support, we will bring to all Australians the often raw thoughts and moving experiences of Australians fighting at Gallipoli and on the Western Front, as told through their diaries.
“Their accounts are vivid, thought-provoking and sad. They write about everyday life on the front, fear and bravery in battle, and the loved ones at home that they missed so terribly. We will honour their stories, and bring their experiences, to all Australians,” Mr Clarke said.
NSW state librarian and chief executive Alex Byrne said: “Thanks to the tremendous support of News Corp Australia, compelling stories of the First World War will be told through some of the 1,100 personal diaries held in the State Library of NSW’s unrivalled collections.
“It’s not until you read these moving first-hand accounts –written by soldiers, doctors, nurses, stretcher bearers, journalists and artists, often in very difficult conditions – that you begin to understand Australia’s role in what was called the ‘war to end all wars’.
“We are digitising, transcribing and making our diaries and related WWI material accessible and searchable on our website, as well as working closely with News Corp Australia to release this rich historical content across its many platforms. We look forward to great community interest in these moving personal accounts and the interactive features that will be available,” Dr Byrne said.
The third element of News Corp Australia’s ANZAC centenary program will encourage involvement from high schools across the country. Through the comprehensive collection of archival and contemporary war diaries and communications, students and teachers can utilise the ANZAC diaries library of information as a reference and teaching resource.
In addition, students will be invited to submit their own ANZAC research with the opportunity to have this research published alongside News Corp Australia’s 100 Years of Untold Stories material.
Source: News Corp press release.
