100-year-old Anzac artefacts stolen and recovered in hours

A veritable treasure-trove of World War I artefacts has been uncovered in the small central Queensland town of Emerald. The handwritten documents were produced by Private James Nicholas Murray, and include what are thought to be the most detailed maps of the time of Russel’s Top, a critical line of defence in the eight-month long battle at Gallipoli.

Private Murray, a licensed surveyor used only a compass and a piece of string to sketch out the trenches and tunnels above Anzac Cove, also recording his thoughts in a small diary. All this while under fire.

The documents were unearthed and recognised for their importance by Margaret Rawsthorne, a researcher from the Emerald RSL, and Murray’s grandson, Mark Murray, also a surveyor. Murray (the younger) had kept his grandfather’s work stored in a chest of drawers for years until s Rawsthorne asked to see it.

Not long after the documents were discovered and being prepared for display, a thief broke into Mark Murray’s office, making off with the entire collection. With public assistance and quick work by local police forces, however, all the documents were returned safely.

After visiting Emerald to inspect the maps and diary, Captain Andrew Craig, who is in charge of commemorating the Anzac Centenary in Queensland is now exploring ways to digitise the maps and field notes so that the public can access them.

You can explore Private Murray’s map here.

Image credit: ABC