Obituaries Australia

The death occurred on Saturday at Ardoyne Red Cross Home at Chelmer of the soldier poet, Bernard Archer. He was born in Toowoomba, but as a child was taken to Tamar Valley in Tasmania, and educated at Launceston Grammar School. After three years A.I.F. service Mr. Archer was wounded, and returned to Australia. Ultimately he came to Queensland, where he took up the occupation as a bush-worker. After three years he had to go into the Red Cross Home, where he endeavoured to ease his suffering in composing some beautiful poems, which are all the more courageous because they showed the cheerfulness of the man whose health was gradually falling. Soon after returning to Australia he published a charming book of lyrics, entitled Singing Bird and Battlefield. His collected poems, with an introduction by General John Monash, were sent to London for publication some months before his death.