Summary
One of 108 images in an album from World War I likely to have been taken by Captain Edward Albert McKenna. The album contains photographs of the 7th Battalion in Egypt.
Image of the interior of the Mohammed Ali Mosque showing the fountain in the courtyard.
The Mohammad Ali Mosque in Cairo was built between 1830 and 1848 in memory of Tusun Pasha, eldest son of Mohammad Ali Pasha, ruler of Egypt in the early-mid 19th century. The mosque was built in the Ottoman style by Greek architect Yussuf Bushnaq and is the largest Ottoman mosque of the early 19th century. It is built on the site of the old Mamluk Palaces, destroyed by Mohammad Ali, and houses the tomb of Mohammad Ali Pasha. Today it is one of the most popular Egyptian mosques for tourists.
The album relates to the service of Captain Edward Albert McKenna. McKenna, born in Castlemaine, Victoria, was a 36-year-old department manager of soft goods when he enlisted on 17 August 1914. He lived at 5 St James Buildings, William Street, Melbourne, and had been married to Elizabeth ('Lillie') Mary McKenna since 1910. He embarked from Melbourne 19 October 1914 on the HMAT Hororata, and served in the 7th Battalion Australian Infantry.
He was killed in action in Gallipoli around 25-30 April 1915, aged 37. His kit bag was unusually full, even containing seven shirts, a pillow, six towels, a travelling rug, gumboots, and pyjamas and slippers. Also amongst his possessions was a camera, although no photographic prints or albums.
He was buried at 7 Lone Pine Cemetery, Gallipoli. His details appear on the honours roll on the web page of the Australian War Memorial.
Description of Content
The photograph shows the ablution fountain that is located outside the Mosque at the Cairo Citadel. To the left of the fountain a small group of men are standing talking, faced away from the fountain. Another man appears to be walking past the group of men and into the Mosque.
Physical Description
Black and white photographic print on paper with a white border.
More Information
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Collection Names
Returned and Services League (RSL) Collection, Military Memorabilia Collection
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Collecting Areas
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Acquisition Information
Donation from Mr J. Willis, circa 1986
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Acknowledgement
Mr. J. Willis
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Place & Date Depicted
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Photographer
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Creator
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Inscriptions
Hand written in ink on the support to the left of the photograph: 'Outside / the / Mosque / at Citadel' Hand written in ink on the back of the photograph: 'outside mosque at Citadel'
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Classification
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Category
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Discipline
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Type of item
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Image Dimensions - Photograph
84 mm (Width), 108 mm (Height)
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Image Dimensions - Photograph album page
174 mm (Width), 141 mm (Height)
Dimensions measurement is of the photograph album page.
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References
National Archives of Australia: McKenna Edward Albert, barcode 1949283, series B2455/1. 'Mohammad Ali (Alabaster) Mosque in Cairo,' TourEgypt.com, at: [Link 1] accessed: June 15, 2012 'Mohammad Ali Mosque,' Sacred Destinations, at: [Link 2] accessed: June 15, 2012 'Masjid Muhammad 'Ali al-Kabir,' ArchNet, at: [Link 3] accessed: June 15, 2012
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Keywords