LETTERS home to loved ones feature in a book released recently by a local history identity. Bathurst District Historical Society vice president Alan McRae has researched and written Remembrance Weekend 2018: Observing the end of World War One a century ago in Bathurst. Mr McRae was the curator of the Remembrance Weekend exhibition held in 2018 at the Walshaw Hall, which featured images from around Bathurst and the various battlefields overseas and photos of local servicemen. His 159-page book remembers Bathurst and district service men and women from World War One and features a large number of historical photographs and a comprehensive index. ALSO MAKING NEWS: Mr McRae said one section, called On This Day, covers what was happening in and around Bathurst and overseas from September 23, 1918 to November 17, 1918, the closing days of the Great War, "and how it affected everybody". "The book includes letters from the Front that were sent home to parents and loved ones and to the newspapers in Bathurst at the time," he said. "The National Advocate and the Bathurst Post held a lot of information on these war years. "Another section has a large number of World War One service men's and women's portraits along with their stories and information on each. "Their stories give the reader a fascinating insight into living through the time of the Great War. "Another segment has a mass of images of wartime scenes and Bathurst from 1914 to 1918. "There are scenes from Gallipoli, Egypt, Palestine, France, Belgium and England and photos of crashed planes, pontoon bridges, horses and camels, the trenches, troopships, processions, POWs, hospitals, machine gun practice, and the list goes on. "Also covered are a number of wartime trench art items and mementos which the soldiers brought home, some very cleverly made. "These include a brass shell water bottle, invalid feeding cup, rum measure, love tokens, cameras and two-up pennies. "The final portion shows some photos and information from the exhibition itself at the Walshaw Hall." As the Bathurst District Historical Society museum in Russell Street is temporarily closed, the book, which sells for $40, can be obtained by phoning Alan McRae on 6331 5404 or emailing amcrae@lisp.com.au. Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can access our trusted content: