P01981.035 Accession Number: P01981.035

Description

Outdoor portrait of a group of nine Australians from the 16th Battalion at a Prisoner of War (POW) camp at Friedrichsfeld, Germany. Identified standing, from left to right: 2053 Corporal (Cpl) John Williamson from Perth, WA; 3839 Sergeant (Sgt) Charles Herbert Turner, MM from South Bridgetown, WA; 6596 Private (Pte) Joseph Wallbank from Boyup Brook, WA; and 2700 Cpl Walter Benjamin Sanders from Perth, WA. Identified sitting, from left to right: 3927 Pte George Thomas Isbister from Perth, WA; 214 Sgt Hugh McLatchie Orr from Perth, WA; 400 Pte Aubrey Jesse Whittington, MM from Brookton, WA. Cpl Williamson enlisted at the age of 21 on 18 February 1915 and embarked for overseas on 26 April 1915 aboard HMAT Hororata. He was wounded in action at Gallipoli in September 1915 but recovered to go on to serve on the Western Front. Awarded a Military Medal (MM) for his devotion to duty at Mouquet Farm, France, in October 1916, he was then captured at Riencourt, France, on 11 April 1917. He was held as a POW in Germany until repatriated to England on 22 November 1918. Cpl Williamson arrived back in Australia on 24 February 1919. Sgt Turner enlisted at the age of 28 on 22 September 1915 and embarked for overseas on 22 December 1915 aboard HMAT Ajana. He was awarded the Military Medal for devotion to duty on the night 6 February 1917 at Goodwin’s Post, France. On 11 April 1917, he was wounded in the right thigh and captured at Bapaume, France, and held as a POW until repatriated to England on 25 October 1918. Sgt Turner arrived back in Australia in January 1919. Pte Wallbank enlisted at the age of 24 on 13 April 1916 and embarked for overseas on 13 October 1916 aboard HMAT Suffolk. He was wounded and captured at Riencourt, on 11 April 1917 and while a POW, had his foot amputated. He was repatriated through Holland to England, arriving on 18 August 1918 and was admitted to King George Hospital. Pte Wallbank arrived back in Australia on 28 May 1919. Cpl Sanders enlisted at the age of 22 on 21 June 1915 and embarked for overseas on 2 September 1915 aboard HMAT Anchises. He was wounded and captured at Riencourt, on 11 April 1917 and held as a POW until repatriated to England on 22 November 1918. Cpl Sanders arrived back in Australia on 16 November 1919. Pte Isbister enlisted at the age of 23 on 25 August 1915 and embarked for overseas on 22 December 1915 aboard HMAT Ajana. He was also wounded and captured at Riencourt and held as a POW until repatriated to England on 22 November 1918. Pte Isbister arrived back in Australia on 13 April 1919. Sgt Orr enlisted at the age of 23 on 18 September 1914 and embarked for overseas on 22 December 1914 aboard HMAT Ceramic. After serving at Gallipoli, he went on to serve in France where he was captured at Riencourt, on 11 April 1917. He was held as a POW in Germany until repatriated to England on 22 November 1918. Sgt Orr arrived back in Australia on 10 April 1919. Pte Whittington, enlisted at the age of 21 on 21 September 1914 and embarked for overseas on 22 December 1914 aboard HMAT Ceramic. He was also wounded in action at Gallipoli and went on to serve in France where he was captured at Bullecourt, on 11 April 1917. While being held as a POW in Germany, he escaped to Holland and arrived in England on 17 November 1918. Pte Whittington arrived back in Australia on 24 February 1919. One of a series of over 400 photographs sent by Australian POWs in German camps to Miss M. E. Chomley, Secretary, Prisoners Department, Australian-British Red Cross Society, London. Original album housed in AWM Research Centre at RC00864, Album image number 250.

Details

Conflicts

• First World War, 1914-1918

Places

• London
• Germany

Units

• 16th Australian Infantry Battalion

Tags

• Group portraits
• Prisoners of war camps