Message from an Australian soldier

This is the page from an autograph book compiled during 1918-9. The book belonged to Nurse May Elliot who worked in Exeter’s Military Hospital number 5, located in the College Hostel, Bradninch House, Little Castle Street.

Each page of the book contains messages and drawings from the soldiers in her charge, many of whom were from Canada and Australia. The soldiers had seen active service in some of the worst battles of the First World War and were far from home. Many of their messages like this one show their longing for their homeland and their families.