On 18 November 1915, 24 year old Patrick Ohlstrom departed Adelaide aboard HMAT Geelong on a journey that would change his life. He had enlisted to serve his country in the Great War. He would have been aware of the death and suffering of those who had served before him in the Gallipoli campaign but duty called and he was determined to answer it. Throughout the 3 long years of his service in the 32nd Infantry Battalion he recorded his thoughts and experiences in a diary.
Working with award winning Writer and Director Eddie White, Virtual War Memorial Australia has used his personal diary and other primary sources such as his Service Record to create this film as a learning resource specifically for Yr 9 History (WW1 unit). However, it can be used as a general resource across upper Primary and Secondary levels. Refer to the accompanying teaching materials to the right of the screen.
The production of this short film was made possible by a grant provided by the Department for Education of the Government of South Australia.