Join us for an interesting ANZAC Day talk by Social History Curator Louisa Hormann and Archivist Connor Lysaght, who will delve into a collection of letters written by two local First World War servicemen, who were also brothers. 

The talk focuses on two farmers’ sons from the district, George and Frederick Blee. Fred fought overseas in the Sinai-Palestine Campaign, while George arrived in Europe at the very end of the war. Their story is primarily told through their letters, written to each other and to their father John who farmed at Ashton, Ashburton. 

The story of Fred and George Blee highlights the importance of familial connection, at a time when an entire generation of young men put their lives on the line during the ‘war to end all wars.’