Summary

Framed image of a seated serviceman with a woman. Around the image are hand-painted floral embellishments and a draped Australian flag headed with the words 'He Heard The Call & Answered' across a banner.

Although the provenance of the image is unknown, the phrase 'He Heard The Call & Answered' appears to have been used in the context of World War I commemoration. The headstone of Sergeant Harold Jackson V. C. of the 7th East Yorkshire Regiment bears the same inscription as does a newspaper obituary for Private F. H. Rister from March 1917. The phrase 'He Heard The Call & Answered' also appears on the Pictorial Honour Roll for both South Australia and Western Australia with the added phrase 'He fell open eyed and unafraid.' A similar framed image of Private Henry George Foster, who died in September 1918, can be found in the collection of the Australian War Memorial, although this image has different floral embellishments (a red waratah and a sprig of forget-me-nots) it is also surmounted with the phrase 'He Heard The Call & Answered.' The serviceman depicted was probably one of the over 60,000 soldier deaths during World War I.

Both the serviceman and the woman are unidentified, although the woman wears a rising sun badge as well as an 'Australia' badge. The woman also appears to be wearing a wedding band but it remains unclear whether she is married to the serviceman depicted or simply related to him in some other manner (e.g. his mother or his sister).

Description of Content

Framed image of a seated serviceman with a woman who stands on his right (but the viewers left) and has both hands on his shoulders. The woman wears two badges, one that says "Australia" and the other depicting the rising sun as worn by the A.I.F. The image has been mounted and placed behind painted glass. The hand painted design provides a border around the image. The top part of this border is in the form of an unfurled scroll and displays the words "He Heard The Call & Answered." On the left side of the image is a blue vase holding green foliage and along the base of the image is an Australian flag, depicted as though it has been draped on the border. The design has been painted on both sides of the glass to provide a sense of depth. The frame is made of wood with a floral design.

Physical Description

Framed photograph of seated serviceman beside a woman who stands with her hands on his shoulders. Around the image are hand-painted floral embellishments and a draped Australian flag headed with the words "He Heard The Call & Answered" across a banner. Glazing is convex. Moulded wooden frame with decoration in relief.

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