First World War Black and White Photograph of the Military Encampment, 'Kasr-el-Nil Barracks' Cairo

c. 1915
Overview

Small black and white photograph of the military encampment 'Kasr-el-Nil Barracks', with an Australian soldier standing outside his tent. A large stone structure with a dome centre piece can be seen in the background.

Historical information

This series of black & white photographs was collected by Private Eric Sydney BANNISTER, regimental number 19. He joined the Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force (ANMEF) on the 11th August 1914, just a week after war was declared on Germany. The mission of the ANMEF was to destroy German radio stations and occupy German New Guinea and surrounding areas. The ANMEF secured military occupation on the 13th September 1914. The photographs are from two areas of Australian military deployment during the First World War. Ten (10) are from a deployment to German colony of New Guinea in 1914 and another eighty (80) from Cairo dated 1915 and 1916.The photographs of his deployment are of national significance and show one of Australia’s first military action in the First World War.

Details

Details

Registration number
cwa-org-12-2018.3.49
Item type
Photographs
Material
Photo Paper
Width
109 mm
Height or length
67 mm
Weight
1 g
Inscriptions and markings

Handwritten in black ink on back "In Kasr-el-Nil Barracks".

Contextual information

The photograph shows the Kasr-el-Nil Barracks grounds. Originally occupied by the Egyptian-Ottoman army units, the major military building was taken over by the British in 1882. Located on the central street of Cairo's Ismailiya district and along the banks of the River Nile. During WW1 the barracks became one of the British Forces training camps, where Australian soldiers lived and trained.

Place made
Cairo, Egypt
Year
Primary significance criteria
Artistic or aesthetic significance
Historic significance
Scientific or research significance
Social or spiritual significance
Comparative significance criteria
Interpretive capacity
Rare or representative
Well provenanced
Google Maps search term / URL
https://maps.app.goo.gl/gWHZtRH1mm24SAjK8
Last modified
Monday, 21 September, 2026
Completeness
100
Princess Royal Fortress Military Museum

Princess Royal Fortress Military Museum

Photo of the grounds at Kasr-el-Nil Barracks, with Australian soldier standing outside a tent.
Photo of the grounds at Kasr-el-Nil Barracks, with Australian soldier standing outside a tent.
Rear view showing inscription.
Rear view showing inscription.

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