Two handwritten messages sealed in a bottle by Australian soldiers during World War I have been discovered more than a century later on Australia’s southwest coast.
The remarkable find was made earlier this month on Wharton Beach near Esperance, Western Australia, by Deb Brown and her family while cleaning up litter. According to Brown, her daughter noticed a small glass bottle buried in the sand. “We always pick up rubbish when we visit the beach,” she told the Associated Press. “This one just looked special — and it was.”
Inside the bottle were two letters written in 1916 by Private Malcolm Neville, 28, and Private William Harley, 37. The soldiers had penned the notes shortly after setting sail for France during the First World War.
In his message, Pte Neville wrote to his mother, describing his journey and the good food on board. “We’re as happy as Larry,” he wrote cheerfully. Sadly, Neville was killed in action only months later. Pte Harley survived the war and returned home after it ended.
Though damp, the paper remained readable. Brown decided to track down the soldiers’ families to return the letters. Using details from Neville’s note, she found Herbie Neville, the soldier’s great-nephew. “It’s unbelievable,” Herbie said. “It feels like Malcolm is speaking to us after more than 100 years.”
The second message by Pte Harley was addressed “to the finder of this bottle.” His granddaughter, Ann Turner, expressed deep emotion upon hearing the news. “It’s like our grandfather has reached out from history,” she said.
The World War I messages in a bottle offer a rare and touching glimpse into the personal lives of Australian soldiers. More than a century later, their words continue to connect families and preserve memories of courage and sacrifice.
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