Princess Royal Fortress Military Museum > Records

First World War Black and White Photograph of the Wailing Wall Jerusalem

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1917 - 1919

Overview

A small black and white photograph showing a group of Light Horse troopers visiting the Wailing Wall. The image shows a passage between two high walls in which several troopers can be seen. Two men are touching the wall on the right-hand side of the image and a group of at least eight (8) other men are standing to the left side with what might be a local guide. There is one man sat on a mat in the shadows of the wall and reading. The walls on both sides are of rough construction and there are plants growing from gaps in the stones. The end of the passage is also enclosed by a high wall, although a small door can be seen close to the group of soldiers. The reverse of the image has the proforma printing of part of a postcard and an inscription. The photograph has a small border and is in good condition with just a little staining on the reverse.

Historical information

Following the liberation of Jerusalem, soldiers on leave were able to visit the city and its sites. Many documented these visits through photographs.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-12-2022.1.82

Item type

Photographs

Themes

War and Conflict > World War 1

Material

Photo Paper

Width

89 mm

Height or length

66 mm

Inscriptions and markings

On the reverse in machine printing “POST / CORRESPONDENCE” with “Jews Wailing Wall / Jerusalem” written in black ink.

Contextual information

Trooper J. R. REGAN of 10th Light Horse writing to his wife. Published Kalgoorlie Argus 17 Sept 1918 "At last I have had my leave to Jerusalem, ………We saddled up our horses, 12 of us, including Lieut. Hughes, at 6 a.m. We got on the road, and after two hours' riding we came to the out-skirts of the town, dismounted, left our horses in charge of one of our chaps, and off we went to view the sights. The first was the old city built inside the walls, about 60 ft. high. We passed through the Jaffa Gates, where the proclamation was read when our boys first entered. Continuing our walk our guide took us through the native market place, which is awfully smelly, and on to the Jews' wailing wall. This is where the Jews come to confess their sins. Each one puts his or her name on it, or else drives a nail between the stones…..You can just imagine the names and nails the wall contains, for it has been there for thousands of years”.

Keywords

Firs World War

10th Light Horse Regiment

Jerusalem

Place made

Egypt

Year

1917 - 1919

Primary significance criteria

Historic significance

Comparative significance criteria

Interpretive capacity