My great uncle’s 104-year-old sketchbook

During a recent clear out at my parents’ house, I stumbled across this old sketchbook tucked away carefully in a protective plastic sleeve. After slowly pulling it out and turning back each page, I was blown away by the talent that lies inside.

The sketchbook belonged to my great uncle, George Joseph Hill, who died at the age of 20 while fighting in Gallipoli. Most of the drawings inside were dated 1911, meaning that he was a fantastic young artist at the age of 16. This August it’ll be 100 years since his death.

I think the cartoon above is probably my favourite in the whole sketchbook.

I’d like to think he found time to draw in the trenches, as he was clearly passionate about it. But it makes me sad to think that if he did have a sketchbook while in the war, we’re never going to see it.

If he did draw while in Gallipoli, I wonder what his drawings were of. His pictures in this sketchbook are mostly of his dog, landscapes, political figures and a mysterious woman with dark hair. Some of his drawings are funny, some are cute and some make me think he was much more mature than his years. But perhaps his drawings in the trenches were less cheerful.

Over the last 10 years or so, my Dad, teamed with my Grandma and Grandpa on my mother’s side, have worked really hard to research our family tree. The bookcases in my parents’ living room are filled with folders labelled with our surname and the surnames of distant relatives So after discovering George’s sketchbook I decided to consult the Hill folder to find out more.

He was born in 1895, and was one of seven. One of his siblings, Frank, died as a baby, but his younger brother, John James, was also a soldier, won several medals, married and his wife Mary gave birth to my Grandad. John James died when my Dad was 19, so he remembers him well.

Leafing through the folder, I noticed a photocopy of one of the letters George wrote to his parents while in the war. It was dated July 25th 1915, just 13 days before he was killed. It reads:

“Dear Mother & Father.

We have come straight through to the Dardanelles without disembarking anywhere. We landed on the Peninsula nearly three days ago & came straight into the trenches. Of course, we’re not in the firing line, we’re in the rear trenches. When we landed we saw the “River Clide” you read about this boat I should think.

Her bows are right up on the land in very shallow water, she looks fine but what an awful time the men must have had landing. It isn’t so bad in the trenches, there is no danger so long as we keep low. Our food is moderately fair when you come to think where we are anyway. It is better than what we got on the “Ionian” and we do it justice I can assure you.

It is very hot during the day and awfully cold in the night, we have to discard most of our clothing in the daytime and put as much as we have on in the evening. We are pestered with thousands of flies its no use trying to get forty winks during the day, they bite so much. I am getting quite used to the shells flying above but we were all a trifle scared at first. The men of the first line “the old boys” you know, whom have joined are right good fellows (and warriors all). You could hardly believe what they have gone through.

I am sharing a dugout with a very nice fellow (a catholic by the way) his home is use to be very close to where you are living now. He is a native of St. Chads parish.

Well I will close now assuring you that I am quite well & hoping you are all the same as I left you last, with love to you both & all. Your affectionate son George xxxxxxxxxxx Please send me a paper”

This sketchbook isn’t the only treasure that I discovered the other day. I also stumbled upon a tin of war medals, tons of old photos, and newspaper cuttings. But I’ll save all that for another post.

Are you interested in your family history? Perhaps you’ve already learned quite a bit about your ancestors or you’re thinking of researching your family tree in future. Let me know in the comments 🙂