Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

An article appeared in the Cobram Courier during August 1916 regarding Archibald Sims.

“Driver Archie Sims, who is attached to a battery of artillery at the Maribyrnong camp, returned home to visit his parents at Cobram last week, and returned again on Monday. Archie has developed into a first-class soldier, a fine specimen of young Australian manhood, and if he only has half the skill with firearms as his father, or a fifth of his sire's instinct in ferreting out noxious vermin and destroying same, then he should account for many Germans when he gets to the front. Speaking of the father, reminds the writer to say that at 65 years of age there is no more wonderfully active man on the Murray River, equipped with a better knowledge of bushcraft than old Donald Sims, and if ever guerilla warfare prevailed in Australia, then Donald would be invaluable to the nation as a scout.”

Another article in 1917, described a visit by Archie to relatives in England.

‘Private Archie Sims, eldest son of Mr and Mrs D. E Sims, utilised his first leave off-in England to go and visit his grandmother and uncles, and when the big Australian entered his relative’s homes, they asked him not to hit his head against the ceilings. "Has Donald got many more like you?" they exclaimed when his identity became established, but Archie modestly replied that he wasn't quite sure whether he had eleven or twelve brothers and sisters in Australia, but they were all quite well, thank you, as also were the crop of nieces and nephews. I’ve needless to say they made a great fuss of Archie, particularly the old grandmother who is nigh on 90 years of age, and while she gazed on the huge stamp of manhood from the Southern Cross her thoughts naturally went back to the time when she bade good-bye to her 16-year-old son Donald, who was about to sail in the good ship "Malbar" for Australia. And that same young rover now owns to 65 years of life, and for his age is the champion field shot, and fisherman of the Murray.’