 Members had the pleasure of the company of Carol Rosenhain, a Melbourne writer and historian, who gave us a very interesting presentation on James Malcolm Lean. Carol's book "The Man Who carried the Nation's Grief and the Great War Letters" describes the extraordinary work of James Lean, whose office at times received over 100 letters a day from distressed families. Carol selected a number of letters and responses and quoted them verbatim in all their rawness. Illustrating the frustration of families when trying to discover the fate of their loved ones, during the WW1 campaigns at both Gallipoli and the Western Front. Carol set the scene for her findings by illustrating the communication difficulties of the time. The lack of accurate and timely data, yet the requirement for James Lean and his of Office to answer the many enquiries and establish complete records for the whereabouts and status of all AIF soldiers, during the Great War. Every enquiry was made of the available overseas sources. Every letter was answered with patience and courtesy and every letter carried the same signature, J. M. Lean. Given his crucial role as the link between anxious families and the bureaucracy of the AIF, James Lean's remarkable work is a surprising omission from the vast body of World War I literature. Carol's book rectified this and the many illustrations she gave last Wednesday, were an eye opener for all present. It took 5 years after WWI for James Lean to receive his MBE and just as long to finalise much of the correspondence to families who had lost their loved ones. The idiotic fact was that mothers were not the suitable contact for the AIF, to provide the details of their son's loss. Carol has completed another book, titled the "Men Behind the Myth" which is awaiting publication. When complete, she would be happy to return in the future for a presentation to members. |
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