Summary
Alternative Name(s): Postcard
Black and white studio photograph of Australian serviceman, Private Edgar James McCarthy, service no. 5422, 8th Battalion, A.I.F., taken in 1916, during World War I.
Edgar McCarthy was a 19-year-old labourer from Rosedale, Gippsland, Victoria, when he enlisted on 4 February 1916. As he was under 21 years of age, his father Henry gave his consent. Edgar was placed in the 8th Battalion, 17th Reinforcements (no. 5422) on 19 January and embarked for England on 4 April on the HMAT Euripides. He was shipped to France on 30 December 1916 and joined his unit on 4 February 1917 and his battalion on the 7th - probably in preparation for moving to the front. He was wounded in action on 16 April, including a fractured back and a severe head injury ('SW Head' may refer to a shell wound, although another document in his file refers to a gunshot wound). Edgar died at 8:40pm on 22 April at the 13th General Hospital, Boulogne, France. He had survived as little as ten weeks at the front.
Eight years later records in the National Archives indicate that his mother was 'still a patient at the Kew Hospital for the Insane'. Alice's incarceration was not related to the death of her son - she had been admitted there in 1899, probably as a result of post-natal depression. It is not known to whom this and other items relating to Edgar was given, although a note in the Museum's supplementary file says that the donation of his material was 'handed to me (possibly the donor) from his mother, Alice McCarthy, about 1950'.
Description of Content
Black and white studio photograph of Australian serviceman, full-length, withpainted backdrop depicting a rural scene with a river and boat in the foreground.
Physical Description
Black and white photograph on paper.
More Information
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Collection Names
Military Memorabilia Collection, Returned and Services League (RSL) Collection
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Collecting Areas
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Acquisition Information
Donation & Subsequent Transfer from Victorian Branch, Returned & Services League of Australia Limited (RSL), Miss E. Simms, 02 Jun 1981
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Person Depicted
Private Edgar J. McCarthy - 8th Battalion, A.I.F., 1916
8th Battalion, A.I.F. -
Maker
Kodak (Australasia) Pty Ltd, Australia
Maker of photographic material, rather than photographer. The actual inscription on the image is 'Kodak Austral'. -
Individuals Identified
MCCARTHY, EDGAR JAMES (PTE)
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Format
Photograph, Black & White
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Inscriptions
Handwritten on back: 'Mrs. B. Davis / Drouin / Aunty Clara / from / Edgar' Printed on back: 'POST CARD / CORRESPONDENCE ADDRESS ONLY' Printed on back top right corner: 'KODAK / AUSTRAL / KODAK / AUSTRAL'
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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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References
National Archives of Australia - Edgar James McCarthy, item barcode 1939171.
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Keywords
Death & Mourning, Militaria: Australian, Military Memorabilia, Portraits, Wars & Conflicts, World War I, 1914-1918