Summary

Image of Lieutenant-Colonel Harold Edward "Pompey" Elliott on horseback. Elliott was the officer in charge of the 7th Battalion. By the end of the war Colonel Elliot had been promoted to a Brigadeer General; however, the denial of a Divisional Command appears to have been a source of bitterness. After the war Elliott was elected to the Senate on twice and receiving the command of the 3rd Division in 1927, along with a promotion to Major General. Elliott was troubled by his memories of the war, and committed suicide in March 1931.

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. McKenna was born in Castlemaine, Victoria, and 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

Uniformed man sitting upon a large bay horse. The landscape is rather sandy and barron. To the immediate right of the man stands a small makeshift structure with canvas walls. Directly behind the man and his horse stands a tent.

Physical Description

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

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