Summary
One of 139 photographs in an album from World War I likely to have been taken by Captain Edward Albert McKenna. The photographs include the 7th Battalion training in Mena Camp, Egypt, and sight-seeing.
The image depicts (left to right) Lieutenants Grills, Rogers and Blick eating ice cream in the Egyptian desert, in front of a tent camp.
Lieutenant Shannon Grills belonged to the 7th Battalion F Company. Like Edward McKenna, he was a friend of Captain Geoff McCrae of the 7th Battalion. He was Mentioned in Dispatches in November 1915. He suffered from illnesses including typhoid and severe malaria during his overseas service, and was invalided to Australia in early 1916. In September 1916 he had sufficiently recovered to leave for overseas again, this time travelling to England. He then fought on the Western Front and was deafened by concussion, and again became ill. He was promoted to Major, and returned to Australia in December 1918.
Lieutenant Frank Oswald Rogers was assigned to the 7th Battion E Company. He was shot in the foot and thigh at Gallipoli, which caused a compound fracture, and also suffered from some 'neurasthenia'. He was transferred to England for treatment, and was returned to Australia in 1915. Both the caption and the inscription on the back of the photograph record Lieutenant Roger's name as 'Rodgers' rather than 'Rogers.'
Lieutenant Leslie Colin Blick was assigned to the 7th Battalion E Corp. He was killed in action during the second wave of the landing at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915.
The album relates to the service of Captain Edward Albert McKenna. McKenna served in the 7th Battalion Australian Infantry and was killed in action in Gallipoli on 25 April 1915, aged 37.
Description of Content
Three servicemen in foreground, one is sitting and the others stand on either side of him. All three men are facing the camera. The man on the left is holding what appears to be a glass of milk whilst the other two men appear to be eating something out of tin dishes. Behind the men there are tents.
Physical Description
Black and white silver gelatin photographic print.
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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Place & Date Depicted
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Person Depicted
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Person Depicted
Lieutenant Leslie C. Blick - Australian Imperial Force (AIF), Mena, Egypt
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Person Depicted
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Creator
Elizabeth (Lillie) M. McKenna, Malvern, Greater Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, circa 1918
Of Album -
Photographer
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Individuals Identified
Lieutenant Grills; Lieutenant Rodgers; BLICK, LIEUT.
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Format
Photograph, Black & White
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Inscriptions
Hand-written in ink on the support underneath the photograph: 'Lieut. Grills : Lieut. Rodgers : Lieut. Blick / Ice cream in the desert.' Hand-written in pencil on the back of the photograph: '47 / Grills / Rodgers / Blick / Icecream on the desert'
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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 album page
159 mm (Width), 195 mm (Height)
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Image Dimensions - Photograph
108 mm (Width), 85 mm (Height)
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References
World War I service records for soldiers depicted are held at the National Archives of Australia: Lt. Blick: barcode 3092518 Lt. Grills: barcode 4703867 Lt. Rogers (aka Rodgers) barcode 8037332
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Keywords
Troops, Wars & Conflicts, World War I, 1914-1918, Campsites, Tents, Food, Eating & Drinking