War story links lost family
When journalist Mike McSweeney reflected on the valiant efforts of his great-uncle and grandfather during World War I for the _Albany Advertiser _, he did not expect it would lead to uncovering a collection of their war-time postcards and photographs.
The _Advertiser _ published a story about McSweeney's great-uncle Sergeant Joe McSweeney and grandfather Corporal Mick McSweeney, who served with the 3rd Light Trench Mortars Battery with the 11th Battalion during World War I (Courage under fire shown by brothers, 23/4), in the lead up to Anzac Day.
By chance, Australind couple Kevin and Cynthia Blacker were watching television when the 5.30pm news aired and featured headlines from local newspapers across the State.
Mr Blacker said his ears pricked up when he heard the name "McSweeney" and he put in a call to the _Advertiser. _
The _ Advertiser _then put him in touch with the article's author.
Mrs Blacker said the postcards, which were sent to her grandmother May Erbe, sister of the McSweeney brothers, came into her possession after May's death.
She said the photos and postcards had sat on her shelf for the past three decades during which she tried to find a member of the McSweeney family, with no luck.
"I would have had them for about 30 years and I didn't know how special they were," she said.
The Blackers donated the postcards, which were sent from France, to the Australian War Memorial about two years ago.
McSweeney was sent copies of the postcards and said he was "blown away" by the result.
"When my grandfather and great-uncle's photo appeared on the front page of the paper, it didn't even cross my mind that it would result in me finding distant relatives," he said.
McSweeney said he had been working to learn more about his grandfather and the latest discovery was another piece to the puzzle.
"Until recently the only references I had of my paternal grandfather, who died when I was a toddler, were a couple of photos," he said.
"A couple of years ago I started piecing together my family's history and came across additional photos of him and some paperwork. It has been quite an emotional journey, but then to get these pictures and postcards out of the blue, it was incredible."
