Hope in 25 words. The story of Private John Franklin and how letters carried his family's love through the war.
A few words from home can mean everything in wartime. For Private John Franklin, who was held captive by the Japanese in the Second World War, letters and telegrams from his family were a source of hope during his time in Singapore and Japan.
Eighty years later, these personal messages have been donated to the Australian War Memorial. The “Letters from Home” collection offers a glimpse into the bond that helped keep soldiers and their families connected during separation.
“These letters and telegrams offer an extraordinary insight into the love, loss and hope experienced by families separated during the Second World War. It brings us closer to the human cost of conflict,” said Memorial Director Matt Anderson.
"This is not just John’s story, it is universal and remarkable that they have been preserved for 80 years.
“These ‘Dear John’ letters speak to the heartbreak of any family with a loved one at war and the emotional lifeline that letters from home can provide. Telegrams of 25 words can mean the world.”
Rae Maree Curtis, 91, sits surrounded by an array of letters.
The heartbreak of separation
Among the letters in the collection, one stands out most. Dated 11 August 1942, this was the first letter John received during his imprisonment.
John’s niece, Rae Maree Curtis, donated the letters and said words from home offered both a lifeline and a look into the home front experience.
“John’s mother and father wrote these letters not knowing if their son was alive or dead,” Ms Curtis reflects. “Uncle John missed out on so much, such as birthdays and marriages, but I imagine it must have given him so much hope to hear about life in Australia.”
In 1943, the Japanese imposed restrictions on correspondence between prisoners of war and their families, allowing only 25 words per telegram. This limit was an attempt to diminish the morale among prisoners but it also made every word even more precious.
“Telegrams were the first tweets. In just 140 characters, John’s mother managed to say everything she could and reassured him that his brothers in Bondi and Artarmon were safe, his family in Worcester were unharmed, and that she and his father were sending loving thoughts.” said Ms Curtis.
John’s niece, Rae Maree Curtis, 91, studies a photograph of her uncle.
Rae Maree Curtis points out her uncle in a photograph.
A full circle story
By 22 August 1945, shortly after Japan’s surrender, John’s mother Minnie wrote a jubilant three-page letter celebrating his freedom.
"This collection tells a full circle story. Uncle John’s one letter, on his way home, is such a contrast to the 25-word messages," said Ms Curtis.
In his letter to his parents, he wrote:
“Believe me I feel as though I’ve been born and am starting life all over again. I feel pretty guilty for the worry I must have caused you, but everything is okay now. Don’t try and send money or anything but I’d give a fortune for a letter.”
The profound impact of receiving letters reflects the personal and emotional weight they carry. The “Letters from Home” collection captures not only the pain of separation but also the joy of reunion. It reminds us that history lives not just in battles but in the quiet moments of love and resilience shared between those on the front lines and those waiting at home.
