Summary

Postcard featuring soldiers aboard the A7, taken between December 1916 and February 1917, during World War I. It was sent by Private William (Bill) Nairn to his sister Sarah Jackson. Bill is depicted on the far right of the centre row, with a moustache. He writes that he has been to Holy Communion and explains 'I must [?] keep myself good + conscience clear for going to the front, & it will go a long way to carrying me through'.

Bill left Melbourne on the 'Medic' on 16 December 1916 and arrived in Plymouth, England, on 18 February 1917. He was killed in the trenches of France on 4 July 1918.

The photograph was reprinted in a newspaper, possibly published in Geelong - see HT 42741.

The A7 was also known as the HMAT Medic. The Medic had been built in 1899 and had carried troops to the Boer War. It was part of the flotilla to leave Albany in November 1914, bound for World War I.

Physical Description

Postcard featuring a black and white portrait taken on a ship of 22 uniformed Australian soldiers in three informal rows, with an additional man seated with his back to the camera, wearing soft cap and braces. The soldiers' uniforms include peaked and slouch hats and puttees. The reverse of the postcard has extensive hand-writing over a printed postcard format.

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