On 9 November 1916, Charles Victor Barratt (my great grandfather - pictured above) boarded the ship “Argyllshire” and departed Fremantle as a soldier in the Australian Military Forces. He left behind his family, his friends, his country and the life he knew. He also left behind his sweetheart, Matilda Maria Crampton (my great grandmother).

Throughout the time he was away fighting, the couple constantly wrote to one another. In one instance, Charles sent Matilda a photographic postcard of himself and on the back wrote an acrostic poem.

You will notice the first letter of each sentence spells out “Your Own Soldier Boy”.

To my Darling Kitty
With Deepest Love
From Vic
Feb. 26 1917

Yours for ever
Our hearts as one
Until death do us part
Remember me
Our savior watcheth us both
We shall always pull together
Never doubt my love
Should auld acquaintance be forgot

Old friends are better than new
Like the ivy I cling to thee
Dear ones far apart
In the Lord do I trust
Ever of thee I’m fondly dreaming
Rose of my life
Beloved girl my pledge I’ll keep
Oceans wide divide us dear
Your sweet face is always beside me

Ever Yours dear girl
Vic

In spite of these difficult circumstances their love endured and on 24 September 1919 (three months after Charles returned home) they were married.

Jessica Barratt