Letter titled “Dear Sis”
Soldier: Private Edmund Charles Mortimer Lindner

Edmund Lindner was born in Halbury on the 15th of January 1889. Edmund and his wife, Eliza had three children; John, Hilda and Edmond who was born posthumously on October 2, 1915.

Edmund enlisted in the 10th Battalion AIF on the 14th January 1915, Service No 1973 and embarked for Suez on HMAT Hororata on April 20th. He served at Gallipoli from the 8th of July.

In one letter to Eliza, he included this page for her sister, Alice. It has been kept in her family ever since. It has now been restored by Artlab to preserve it into the future.

The descriptions of the war and the feelings he expresses, paint a vivid and poignant picture of life on the battlefield.

On the 7th of August Edmund was wounded. He was transferred to the 15th General Hospital in Alexandria where he arrived on the 12th.  Even though the bullet was located in the hospital, Edmund died whilst waiting for an operation on the 29th of August 1915, aged 26 years.

Edmund is buried in Alexandria (Chatby) Military and War Memorial Cemetary, Alexandria, Egypt.

The inscription on Private Edmund Lindner headstone reads:

A noble hero, true and brave,
Peacefully sleeps
In a soldier’s grave

Eliza never remarried.

Written by Christine Gordon
Great Niece
Owner of the Letter “Dear Sis”

Images:
Artlab Conservator: Jodie Scott, Senior Paper Conservator
1. Private Edmund Charles Mortimer Lindner.
2. The letter was flattened using a gentle humidification treatment as well as a small heated spatula along the heavy fold lines.
3. The Japanese repair paper was pasted out with a small brush and diluted wheat starch paste.
4. The Japanese repair paper with a thin coating of dilute wheat starch paste was placed on a tear on the verso of the letter.