Princess Royal Fortress Military Museum > Records

Second World War Black and White Photograph of the 124th Heavy Battery RAA

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1940

Overview

A black and white photograph of the 124th Heavy Battery RAA (Royal Australian Artillery) taken in 1940 at Princess Royal Fortress, Albany, with hand-written names in blue ink on the reverse and dated February 1940. The original date of the photo is 26 January 1940.

Historical information

Citizens Military Forces in the Second World War were created using the structure of their First World War predecessors. “It has been said that Australia 'over-mobilised', with well over a million people in uniform from a population of barely seven million. Fit and able veterans of WW1 rejoined in large numbers for the defence of the Homeland. The Army in particular expanded rapidly and helped meet the burgeoning training demand of new recruits. Equipping it was another matter. It quickly became apparent that a much greater level of self-reliance would be needed than had been anticipated. Garrison Battalions were raised from the outset, to man PoW Camps, protect Vital Points and to man fixed Defences.” Source: https://vwma.org.au/explore/campaigns/54

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-12-2021.8.2

Item type

Photographs

Themes

Photography

War and Conflict > World War 2

Material

Photo Paper

Width

194 mm

Height or length

120 mm

Depth

1 mm

Weight

8 g

Inscriptions and markings

Written on back in blue ink “Gnr Sweeney - Gnr Powell - Sgt McLoud - Gnr Kilminster / Bds Watson - Gnrs Sinnott Seymour Cole Whitfield Gnr Farmer Gnr Shenfield / Sgts Gower Westerberg RSM Strike W/O Keay Lt Holland Captain Vaughan W/O Baker Sgt McDougall / Bevilaqua (Bugler) / Gnr Weir A/L /G Blake (Cook) Gnr Jackman A/L/G / Bds Doyle Gnr Shelverton / Feb 1940 / 124th HVY BTY / Complement Princess Royal Forts / Albany”.

Contextual information

Charles Frederick JACKMAN was born on 9 May 1919 in Lockwood, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, England. He travelled to Fremantle, Western Australia in 1934, arriving on 23 December via Colombo. JACKMAN enlisted in the 24th Heavy Artillery Battery , Royal Australian Artillery (militia) on 29 July 1937 at the age of eighteen (18). He spent three (3) years and ten (10) days in service at the Princess Royal Fortress, Albany, Western Australia, and qualified as a ‘Layer’ and ‘Lewis Gunner’ before being discharged on 7 August 1940. On 27 August 1940, JACKMAN enlisted in the 5th Veterinary Hospital and was discharged as “Medically Unfit” on 21 January 1941. He worked locally including at the Freemasons Hotel on Stirling Terrace for three (3) months until July 1941, and the Vacuum Oil Company from 28 June 1943 until 17 January 1946. JACKMAN married Betty Milne at St John the Evangelist Church in Albany on 12 April 1947, and died in Albany on 13 July 1985. He is buried in Allambie Cemetery, Albany.

Keywords

Charles Frederick JACKMAN

Princess Royal Fortress

124th Heavy Battery RAA

Second World War

Albany

Place made

Albany, Western Australia, Australia

Year

1940

Primary significance criteria

Historic significance