Mother and daughter find bottle with letters from WWI soldiers

Almost 110 years later, Debra was surprised to read the texts. They were written when the two were aboard a ship heading to war.

In his letter, Neville said he was having fun and praised the boat’s food, although he mentioned that one meal had been discarded for no apparent reason. “Dear old Ballarat is rocking and rolling but we are very happy,” he wrote.

At the end, he said a fond farewell: “Your dear son, Malcolm… Somewhere at sea.” Shortly afterwards, Neville would be killed in action in France, at the age of 28.

Curious about the story, Debra researched the internet and managed to locate a relative of the soldier. She found Herbie Neville, Malcolm’s great-nephew, through Facebook and got in touch with him. In an interview with ABC News, Herbie described his great-uncle as “a strong, determined man.”

The other message was written by William Kirk Harley, who briefly reported that the ship was sailing through a bay, without revealing the exact location. Harley’s granddaughter, Ann Turner, told ABC News that the find is a true miracle: “We are all absolutely stunned. There are five of his grandchildren still alive.”