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 Captains Henderson (left) and McKenna (middle) with a pay clerk. Captain Rupert Howard Henderson was assigned to the 7th Battalion B Company (later in charge of the newly formed C Company). He was killed in action in May 1915.

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 three unformed men, one sitting, one kneeling and one squatting, outside around a small wooden table. The man on the left of the photo is staring at the table, and appears to be writing in a book. The man in the middle is staring directly at the camera, with his pen poised as though he was halfway through writing something. The man on the right of the photo is staring at the book on the table. His hand is holding onto his hat and as a result is covering his face. In the immediate background a tent and some kind of building is visible.

Physical Description

Black and white photographic print on paper with a white border.

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