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 citizens of Ismalia waiting for the Cairo bound train.

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

A large group of Egyptian men, women and children standing and sitting on a train platform at Ismailia. Bundles of belongings and sleeping material sit around the people on the platform. The men are all wearing thawbs and turbans or fezs', while the women wear head scarves. Some of the men stand around a book stall at the back of the platform, with a sign that reads 'Anglo American Bookstall'. On the other side of the platform, a large sign on the back wall reads 'To Cairo'. Beneath this sign are a number of advertising signs in english.

Physical Description

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

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