Darge Photographic Company collection of negatives Accession Number: DA18335

Description

Studio portrait of Owen Thomas Tiller, possibly 7571 Private (Pte) Allan Thomas Tiller. A pastrycook from Carlton, Victoria prior to enlistment, Pte Tiller had been previously rejected due to his height. Following the relaxation of the height requirements he was able to enlist and embarked with the 25th Reinforcements, 7th Battalion from Melbourne on HMAT Themistocles on 4 August 1917. Later wounded in action he was evacuated to hospital. Following his recovery he rejoined his battalion and was awarded the Military Medal “For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during the enemy counter-attack at Lihons at 11/8/18….His admirable work and heroic example greatly cheered the small garrison of his comrades.” Following the Armistice he was granted leave to remain in England to study confectionary and returned to Australia on 22 August 1919. This is one of a series of photographs taken by the Darge Photographic Company which had a concession to take photographs at the Broadmeadows and Seymour army camps during the First World War. In the 1930s, the Australian War Memorial purchased the original glass negatives from Algernon Darge, along with the photographers’ notebooks. The notebooks contain brief details, usually a surname or unit name, for each negative.

Details

Conflicts

• First World War, 1914-1918