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 53rd Sikhs in goatskin coats on what appears to be the Avenue to the Pyramids (See HT 32614).
A Sikh is a follower of Sikhism, a religion founded by Guru Nanak approximately 500 years ago. The 53rd Sikhs is was an Indian regiment created by Lord Kitchener's military reforms in 1903 from the 3rd Regiment of Sikh Infantry. The 53rd Sikhs served in Egypt and Aden (Yemen) during World War I.
The Avenue to the Pyramids (also known as Pyramid Road) connects the Pyramids of Giza to Cairo. The road was built by Isma'il Pasha for the Empress Eugenie of France who visited Egypt in 1869 for the inauguration of the Suez Canal. The acacia trees that originally lined the root were donated by the Empress, but were later replaced by Eucalyptus trees.
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
Sepia image of two Inidan servicemen standing on a road lined by what looks like Acacia trees. Carriages and other means of transportation can be seen in the background.
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 underneath the photograph: '53rd Sikhs in their goatskin coats' Hand written in ink on the back of the photograph: '53rd Sikhs. Note his / goat-skin coats.'
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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)
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References
National Archives of Australia: McKenna Edward Albert, barcode 1949283, series B2455/1. Midhat J. Gazale, Pyramids Road: An Egyptian Homecoming, The American University Cairo Press (Egypt, 2004), p. 164; at: [Link 1] accessed: August 6, 2012 'Introduction to Sikhism - the Sikh way of life,' at: [Link 2] accessed: January 9, 2013 '53rd Sikhs (Frontier Force),' Wikipedia, at: [Link 3](Frontier_Force) accessed: January 9, 2013
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Keywords