From:Rocky Hill War Memorial Museum
Name/TitleActive Service Testament, 1916
About this objectThis New Testament was published by Cambridge University Press for the Scripture Gift Mission and the Naval and Military Bible Society during the Great War. Over 1.5 million New Testaments were distributed to soldiers throughout the world by similar societies. They were for sick and wounded soldiers, sailors, prisoners of war, refugees, and troops preparing to go to the front, including Australians. The cover of this New Testament has been stamped with Active Service Testament, 1916.
This particular copy was acquired by Leonard Arthur HATCHETT (service number 7070). Leonard was a farmer from Proston, Wondai, Queensland and was married to Lily Hatchett. The Great Grandparents of the donor.
Leonard enlisted for the AIF on 26 September 1917, aged 29, at the Maryborough, Queensland recruitment office. He would join his brother William (Will), who joined up in August 1914. His rank on enlistment was a Private for the 26th Battalion, 21st Reinforcements. He departed Sydney on the transport ship on board RMS Ormonde on 2 March 1918.
Leonard and his mates arrived at Aden before sailing up the Suez Canal to Egypt. The Australians travelled to camps at Maadi on the Nile and Mena, situated near the pyramids of Giza. The training was arduous: marching through sand, digging and attacking trenches for eight hours a day, six days a week.
In May 1918, Leonard and many of the Australian troops continued on to Great Britain, where they were trained at camps/depots in southern England. He joined the 5th Training Battalion that was stationed at Fovant, on the Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire. It was a key military training area during World War I for the AIF, accommodating up to 20,000 men in prefabricated huts with essential camp facilities such as a YMCA, a Post Office, and a cinema. Here, they prepared for trench warfare on the Western Front, including training with new types of weapons and learning how to deal with poison gas attacks. It is most likely that Leonard was given this New Testament in Fovant.
In August 1918, Len was ‘Taken on Strength’ to the 49th Battalion and proceeded to France and the Western Front. He survived the war and returned to Australia on 5 August 1919, and passed away on November 07, 1974, aged 86. Leonard is remembered by all his descendants for his service and sacrifice. The bible has been a personal keepsake for family members over many years.
MakerScripture Gift Mission and the Naval and Military Bible Society, 15 Strand London
Maker RoleCambridge Universty Press
Date Madec.1916
PeriodEarly-20th-Century
Place MadeThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Place NotesCambridge
Medium and MaterialsBook Cloth (Textile Material)
Card
Paper
Printers Ink
Inscription and MarksOn left hand inner cover:
LORD ROBERTS'S MESSAGE
TO THE TROOPS
25th Aug 1914
I ask you to put your
trust in God. He will watch
over you and strengthen you.
You will find in this little
book, guidance when you are
in health, comfort when you are
in sickness, and strength when
you are in adversity. ---
Roberts F.M.
TechniquePrinting
MeasurementsOverall: 68mm (width), 98mm (height), 15mm (depth)
Subject and Association Keywords5th Training Battalion
Subject and Association KeywordsAustralian Imperial Force (AIF)
Subject and Association KeywordsBible Society
Subject and Association KeywordsFaith
Subject and Association KeywordsThe Great War
Subject and Association KeywordsBelonged to Leonard Arthur Hatchett
Subject and Association Keywords49th Battalion
Subject and Association Keywords26th Battalion, 21st Reinforcement
Subject and Association KeywordsBible
Credit LineDonated by Justin Croft
Object TypeEphemera
Object number2025.964
Copyright LicenceAll rights reserved
