Lest we forget Andrew / Rob Gourlay

On Friday, Maria (one of our lovely teacher aides) came to talk to us about one of her family members who had served in World War 2.
She also had some amazing personal items from the soldier which she showed us.
One of these is called an 'hassif', which is a sewing kit that soldiers would use to mend their uniform. In it were things like a darning needle, thread and buttons.

An hassif (sewing kit).

Inside the hassif. Can you see the needle, thread and buttons.
What else can you see?

Another thing she showed us were the soldiers 'pay book'. She told us how soldiers were paid to go off to war, and for many families this was their only source of income.
Inside the pay book were the soldiers dental records so that if the soldiers were killed in battle, and their book was on them then they would be able to be identified (along with their 'dog tag' which was a special necklace they wore as well).

Rob Gourley, who later re-enlisted in the army as his brother Andrew Gourlay.

A soldier's pay book.

Read the 'rules' for the soldiers. Why do you think these were important?

It was very interesting listening to Maria talk about her great great uncle. He was quite a character! 
Do you remember what he did to go to war?
He said he was older than he actually was. Later when he was found out to be only 15 and sent home, he signed himself up again, this time as his older brother - who was unable to go to war because he had polio (a disease which meant he couldn't walk properly).

He survived the war, but later died from war related illnesses.