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Message in a bottle from WWI found on WA beach

Message in a bottle from WWI found on WA beach

Update: 2025-10-26
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A bottle has been found on a beach in Western Australia containing letters from two Australian soldiers who were on their way to World War I.

The diggers threw the sealed bottle overboard from a troop ship, several days after departing Adelaide in August 1916.

It's now been found 109 years later by the Brown family at Wharton Beach near Esperance.

Guests:

Deb Brown, whose family discovered the letters in a bottle. The find is yet to be verified by a historian, but the names, dates, details and handwriting all match official records, along with the bottle which matches those available in 1916

Ann Turner, the grand daughter of Private William Harley

Herbie Neville, great nephew of Private Malcolm Neville

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Message in a bottle from WWI found on WA beach

Message in a bottle from WWI found on WA beach

Australian Broadcasting Corporation