These papers are comprised of correspondence, diaries, battalion association ephemera, typescript memoirs and postcards.
The correspondence consists of Harold Shapcott's family correspondence, including while on active service in World War I (1915 - 1919), correspondence with Returned Soldiers and Battalion Re-Union commitees, 1919 - 1943, as well as other personal correspondence received between 1919 and 1972.
There are also eight war service diaries kept between 1915 and 1919, three semi-autobiographical typescript memoirs, 17 group of ephemeral publications relating to service in World War I and battalion re-unions, as well as a collection of unused postcards.

A poem titled 'Digger'. Forty stanzas over 6 typescript leaves. The header of the first leaf states 'First reunion of the 8th Australian Field Ambulance, Abbeville France, 1918'. The poem appears to relate to the experiences of the 8th Australian Field Ambulance soldiers after learning about the Armistice of 11 November 1918 while based in Abbeville, France. The poem was originally folded into an envelope. The front of the envelope states the title of the poem and 'Do not read this now -- but take it home with you and keep it as a souvenir. It is a clever piece of work by our old friend, Paddy ("Staff") Hughes' in typescript. There is a handwritten annotation on the front of the envelope stating 'each man received this on entering the room'.

This bound volume is a is a personal record of Corporal Gallwey’s experiences as a soldier in World War I from 1916 to The Armistice of 11 November 1918. It consists of a title page, and index, 1243 paginated pages over 12 chapters and 5 pages of correspondence as appendices. This volume appears to start after the first volume of 'When nations quarrel'. It starts at page 1340, chapter 22 and ends at page 2583, chapter 33. The appendices contain eleven letters from the Australian War Memorial and the Minister for Home and Territories to Corporal Gallwey regarding the donation of his memoirs to the Australian War Memorial. The appendices also contain two letters from the Australian War Memorial to Corporal Gallwey's mother regarding the donation of the letters she sent her son during World War I to the Australian War Memorial. These letters are dated from July 1927 to February 1930. These letters and the topics of the memoir suggest that it was written between 1917 and 1930. The front paste endpaper contains a University of Queensland book plate stating, 'Presented to the Fryer Memorial Library of Australian Literature by Mrs W.D. Gallwey, Hawken Drive, St Lucia, June 1975. Listed below are the contents of the chapters of this volume:

• Four weeks recuperation at Henencourt Wood and Lavieville, Somme
• Review of the 4th division by General Birdwood and departure for Flanders
• "Steenwerck". Three weeks vigorous preparation for the onslaught of Messines
• En route to the firing line
• The Battle of Messines, Thursday, 7th June, 1917
• The second phase (counter attack and repulse)
• Last days in France
• Convalescence in England
• Preparations to return to France
• Learning the art of signalling
• Assistant instructor of signalling
• Signing of the Armistice, 11 November, 1918 and demobilisation of the Australian Imperial Forces

Box 1
Folders 1 - 4: 118 letters by Harold Shapcott to his family, written while on active service in World War I, 1915 - 1919
Folder 5: Typed transcript of letters in folder 1 - 4
Folder 6: 7 letters to Harold Shapcott from his family, 1916 - 1919.
Folders 7 - 10: 45 letters and 35 greeting cards from friends to Harold Shapcott, 1917 - 1922; 1929.

Box 2
Folder 1: 4 letters from Returned Sailors & Soldiers Imperial League of Australia, 1919 - 1921.
Folder 2: 12 letters from the 42nd Battalion Re-Union Committee, 1927 - 1943.
Folder 3: 17 items of correspondence relating to War Pension, 1936 - 1972.
Folder 4: 1 letter from Lloyd Hodge relating to 'War Babies', 15 April 1959.
Folder 5: 15 items of correspondence relating to 'Overseas trip', including earlier letters from France, 1919 - 1964.
Folder 6: 12 items of correspondence, including in relation to memberships and motor vehicles, 1938 - 1967.

Letters to Colin Basil Peter Bell from men who had worked at Westland, during their World War I service, 13 letters, 1915 to 1918. Correspondents include: Bob Thompson Cowlishaw and Harold E. Lawrence. Photocopies maps and newspaper cuttings related to World War I battle sites accompany the letters.

Letter to cousin Annie telling her about the possible capture of 'Click' by the Germans.

Handwritten emendations (photocopied).