The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
Troops by their thousands passed through Albury. The change of railway gauges at the border meant changing trains, and the long Albury platform became familiar territory to troops who frequently had to spend long hours waiting for connections. The boredom of waiting could always be lessened by a game of cards under feeble glow of the platform light. In 1942, Donald Friend enlisting with the AIF, was posted as a gunner to the artillery unit near Albury. Friend was initially at the Hume Army camp and stationed there until mid-1943.In 1945, Friend was selected for appointment as official war artist. He travelled to Morotai, Labuan and Balikpapan, recording sights which confronted him and drawing in particular on the expressive potential of human form. Friend was extraordinarily prolific, producing 53 paintings and 143 drawings for the Memorial.
Portrait of a sailor reclining. Donald Friend enlisting with the AIF, was posted as a gunner to the artillery unit near Albury. In 1945, Friend was selected for appointment as official war artist. He
Depicts three unidentified Japanese prisoners. In 1942, Donald Friend enlisting with the AIF, was posted as a gunner to the artillery unit near Albury. In 1945, Friend was selected for appointment as
Depicts a wrecked Japanese bomber on the air strip at Labuan, Borneo. In 1942, Donald Friend enlisting with the AIF, was posted as a gunner to the artillery unit near Albury. In 1945, Friend was sele
Japanese prisoners of war and their belongings being searched by Australian personnel on arrival at prison camp. In 1942, Donald Friend enlisting with the AIF, was posted as a gunner to the artillery
Depicts exhausted Australian soldiers asleep in the carriage of a railway train at Albury, New South Wales during the Second World War. In 1942, Donald Friend enlisting with the AIF, was posted as a g
This work depicts Australians liberated from Japanese custody in Balikpapan, Borneo. Friend shows the deteriorating physical condition of the men held prisoners of the Japanese after such a long perio
