Records of Nigel Fletcher Wastell : SUMMARY RECORD [PRG 1791] • Mixed material
![Letter from Nigel Wastell to Gwenny[?], from Cairo](https://d1red3q7jhuy4m.cloudfront.net/33/2c/015b-7f3f-554b-b9dd-846884234a00.jpg)
Letter from Nigel Wastell to Gwenny[?], from Cairo
Letter from Nigel Wastell, sent to 'My Dear Gwenny[?]', dated 17 April 1915, Cairo. In envelope addressed to Miss G. Killicoat, 8 4th Avenue St Peters, Adelaide. The letter includes discussion of 6 o'clock closing of hotels in South Australia, and arriving in Cairo.
Letter from Nigel Wastell to Mrs H. Girdlestone, from Gallipoli
Letter from Nigel Wastell, dated 12 July and 16 July 1915, Gallipoli. In envelope addressed to Mrs H. Girdlestone, St Peters College, Adelaide. The letter includes discussion of letters and parcels received, being away from the firing line, engagements with the enemy, men longing for home, and the value of human life.
Letter from Nigel Wastell to Rev. Henry Girdlestone, from Gallipoli
Letter from Nigel Wastell, sent to 'My Dear Head', dated 27 September 1915, Gallipoli. In envelope addressed to Rev. H. Girdlestone, St Peters College, Adelaide. Girdlestone was the Headmaster of the College from 1894 to 1916. The letter includes description of the dugout Wastell writes from and the surrounding landscape, and evocative detail about the ongoing danger from the enemy during the 19 weeks since he arrived, including the bullets cracking overhead during nighttime and the sound of machine guns and shells.
Letter from Nigel Wastell to Mrs H. Girdlestone, from Gallipoli
Letter from Nigel Wastell, sent to 'My Dearest F.M.', dated 5 October 1915, Gallipoli. In envelope addressed to Mrs H. Girdlestone, St Peters College, Adelaide. The original address is crossed out and 'Balhannah' has been substituted. The letter includes discussion of receiving letters and parcels, including new socks, news of the death of his grandmother, news of fellow soldiers and their injuries, and news from home.
Envelope used to store Gallipoli letters
Envelope addressed to Nigel F. Wastell Esq, c/o Messrs Dalgety & Co, Naracoorte, South Australia. The handwriting likely belongs to Mrs H. Girdlestone. A later hand has written 'Gallipoli Letters' on the front of the envelope, which was used to store the letters held in the collection as PRG 1791/6-13.
Letter from Nigel Wastell to Mrs H. Girdlestone
Letter from Nigel Wastell, sent to 'My Dear F.M.', dated 8 April 1915, Mena Camp. Other letters addressed to F.M. have been identified as sent to Mrs H. Girdlestone. The letter includes discussion of patrols in Cairo, first experiences of Egypt, seeing the Suez Canal, the journey to Mena, seeing sights in Cairo including parks and Shepheard's Hotel.
Letter from Nigel Wastell to Mrs H. Girdlestone
Letter from Nigel Wastell, sent to 'My dearest F.M.', dated 20 September 1915. The first page is on St Peter's College letterhead. Other letters addressed to F.M. have been identified as sent to Mrs H. Girdlestone. The letter includes discussion of food and tobacco in the camp [at Gallipoli, based on the chronology of other letters], time since landing and how few of the original men remain, illness among other soldiers.
Letter from Roy to Sissie, from Duntroon
Letter from Roy to Sissie, dated 29 May 1916 from Officers Training School Duntroon. The letter was included in an envelope of letters relating to Nigel Wastell's war service. The letter includes discussion of the health of Grannie and Tom Oliver, and experiences at Duntroon including training, and shooting rabbits.
Letter from Nigel Wastell to Gran and Sis after being wounded in action
Letter from Nigel Wastell, sent to 'My Dear Gran & Sis', dated 14 August 1916. The letter is written on British Red Cross and Order of St John letterhead, from a hospital. The letter includes discussion of his injuries to his right cheek and upper lip, sustained on 9 August, and the three day trip by camels, train and motor to the hospital which killed many of the badly wounded. Reports on the health of others including Bill Stevens, and discusses news from home. Mentions an enclosed snap of himself and other men, not named (see photograph at PRG 1791/9/2).
Photograph of Nigel Wastell and others during World War I
Photograph of three Australian soldiers during leisure time, sent by Nigel Wastell with a letter to his family on 14 August 1916 (see PRG 1791/9/1). Wastell is identified on the back of the photograph as the man on the right; the others are not named.
Cablegram sent by Nigel Wastell from Cairo
Cablegram sent by 'Wastell' to 'Killicoat, Fourth Avenue St Peters' on 18 August 1916. Text reads "Doing splendidly forward". Wastell had been wounded in action several days earlier (see PRG 1791/9/1).
Letter from Nigel Wastell to Sis, from Romani
Letter from Nigel Wastall, sent to 'My Dear Sis', dated 10 September 1916, Romani. The letter includes discussion of the health of Gran, news of Wastall's recover from injury, letters received, reflecting on news of casualties from France, and family news.
Letter from Grannie to Nigel Wastell
Letter from 'Grannie' sent to 'My Dear Nigel', dated 18 September 1918, from 'Sarnia' [likely to be the name of a property, not the Canadian city]. Wastell was serving overseas in World War I at the time. Includes news from home and hopes that the war will soon be over.
Letter from Helen Girdlestone to Nigel Wastell
Letter from 'F.M.' to 'My dearest Nigel', dated 25 September 1918. Letter is on Melbourne Church of England Grammar School letterhead. 'F.M.' is identified in other letters as Helen Girdlestone, and her husband the Rev. Henry Girdlestone was acting Headmaster of the school at this time. The letter includes discussion of sending tobacco and cigarettes, news of home in Melbourne and Adelaide, and reflections on the war and the role of the soldiers.
World War I bullet
A damaged bullet, reported to have wounded Nigel Wastell while he was on service in the Middle East in World War I. The action in which he sustained the injury is believed to be the one for which he was awarded the Military Cross.