Summary
Small photograph of AIF troops celebrating Christmas at Ismailia Camp, Egypt, in December 1915. The photograph is part of a collection of photographs belonging to Alfred Galbraith. Sapper Galbraith was in Egypt with the 2nd and 5th Division from December 1915 to June 1916, when the 5th Division sailed to France.
Alfred Galbraith described the day in a letter home, dated 28 December 1915:
'One turkey also chickens more like humming birds, soft drinks and a few biscuits. The chickens were dealt out 1 between 5 men and some of them would not feed 1 man let alone 5, the one we got we tossed up to see who would get it and I won but I half it with my pal & then the two of us went and bought some biscuits & some tin fruit, but we can't say everything because we are on Active Service now.' (ST 41203)
The photograph was apparently taken with an 'autographic' camera - one that allowed the user to write an inscription on the undeveloped film though an small door in the camera body, using a tiny stylus. Galbraith's camera, later in the possession of his niece, was an autographic camera. However, his inscription on the back indicates that he did not take this photo himself. The left hand cross on the image indicates Galbraith himself in the photo; the other indicates (probably) his friend 'Did'.
Description of Content
Small photograph of AIF troops celebrating Christmas at Ismailia Camp, Egypt, in December 1915. The image shows soldiers from the 2nd Division sitting on the ground around the outline of a table. A large wagon and rows of tents are in the background. There are two purple ink 'X' marking out people in the photograph. Written along the left-hand side edge: Christmas dinner
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 & Subsequent Transfer from Mrs M. Jamieson, May 1985
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Place & Date Depicted
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Person Depicted
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Individuals Identified
GALBRAITH, A.G.F.
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Format
Photograph, Sepia
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Inscriptions
Inscribed down left front of image: 'Christmas Dinner'. Written in purple pencil on back (seemingly a continuation of text on MM 067682): '(3) / am the others. I / am in this one in / the left hand corner / I have put a little / cross over my head / but cant be seen / very well. Did is / in this one too. / This was not taken / by me. This is / when we were / at Moarscar'
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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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Keywords
Army Camps, Australian Army, Australian Military Forces, Christmas, Christmas Dinners, Military Memorabilia, Wars & Conflicts, World War I, 1914-1918