P03236.343 Accession Number: P03236.343

Description

Outdoor portrait of Australian Prisoner of War (POW) 4854 Private (Pte) Robert Montgomery, 55th Battalion, from Auburn, NSW, at Schneidemuhl POW camp in Posen, Germany. Pte Montgomery enlisted on 23 September 1915 at the age of 34 and embarked for overseas on 8 March 1916 aboard HMAT Star of England. He was captured at Fleurbaix, France, on 20 July 1916 and held as a POW in various camps in Germany. While at Schneidemuhl, he wrote on 8 January 1918 "My back is still troubling me. Personally I believe I am suffering from lumbago. The winter here this year does not appear to be so severe as the last, but still quite cold enough for any Australians. We held successful concerts for both Christmas and the New Year and I believe they will be continued throughout the winter. They will relieve the general monotony of camp life." Pte Montgomery was repatriated to England on 1 December 1918 and arrived back in Australia on 4 March 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 403.

Details

Conflicts

• First World War, 1914-1918

Events

• Battle of Fromelles

Tags

• Prisoners of war