Watercolour of La Lovie Chateau, 1918

Overview

Watercolour of facade of La Lovie Chateau painted by Edwin Charles Garbett in 1918. In early April 1915, agreement was reached between the Allies and the Belgian government whereby the local population would be paid for the premises used by the army. With the troops billeted in farms this usually was of mutual benefit with the local farmer gaining the assistance of the troops to help in the harvest. Chateau La Lovie was used throughout the war as a Corps Headquaters location.

Historical information

Edwin Charles Garbett was born in Melbourne, Victoria on 15 March 1889. He came to Western Australia by cattle ship in 1897 and moved around the southwest and attended many different schools before settling in Midland in 1904. He attended Chidlow Wells School and in 1907 he won a Midland Junction Technical Education scholarship in mechanical drawing, forming part of his apprenticeship in diesel engineering with the WA Government Railways Workshop in Midland.
After Edwin completed his apprenticeship, he moved to Sydney to work on ships, before sailing on a steamer to England. Edwin documented this trip in detail, drawing the workings of the ship’s engine in pencil on various scraps of paper. On arrival in England, he found work as a fitter with a railway company and again, describes their locomotives, illustrating them and recording information.
Edwin returned to Western Australia and continued his work as a fitter at the Midland Railway Workshops before enlisting with the 2nd Light Railway Company on 24 March 1917, his service number was 1909. Edwin undertook further training as a blacksmith and fitter at Broadmeadows in Melbourne before sailing aboard the “Ascanius” in May 1917. He was stationed at St Lucia Barracks, Borden in Hampshire and promoted to 2nd Corporal where he was paid 8/- per day as a fitter. He sailed from Southampton to France in September 1917.
Edwin sent postcards home, stating he was “somewhere in Belgium” is 1917 and from December 1918 until February 1919, he was stationed at Courtrai near the French border with 2nd Australian Light Railway Operating Company. After the Armistice, Edwin was granted leave from June to August 1919 to do a design course at A.H Clarkson Ltd, advertising specialists located in Fleet Street, London. Following this, he returned to Western Australia and his job at the Midland Workshops. Edwin died, aged 42, in 1932, from pneumonia and pleurisy.

Details

Details

Registration number
cwa-org-32-99-812
Inscriptions and markings

Initialed ECG. Dated 28.5.18

The domain near Poperinge is now known as De Lovie and is used for education and care for children and young people with intellectual disabilities. A project is underway for an exhibition about the castle and grounds during WW1.

Contextual Information

From August 2023 to February 2025, the Australian Army Museum of WA is presenting an exhibition of Edwin Garbett’s technical drawings and watercolours relating to his wartime service with the Railway Operating Division.

Australian Army Museum of Western Australia

Australian Army Museum of Western Australia

Organisation Details
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Watercolour of La Lovie Chateau
Watercolour of La Lovie Chateau
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Postcard of Chateau La Lovie
Rooftop panorama
Panorama from the Imperial War Museum collection from Chateau Lavolie rooftop showing camouflage tented camp.

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