First World War Black & White Photograph of a Polo Match at Ghezieh Sporting Club, Cairo

c. 1915
Overview

Small black and white photograph showing a group of men on horseback playing polo.

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-12-2018.3.62
Item type
Photographs
Material
Photo Paper
Width
103 mm
Height or length
63 mm
Weight
1 g
Inscriptions and markings

Handwritten in black ink on rear, "Polo match on Ghezieh / Sporting Club".

Contextual information

In 1915 the sport of polo was primarily a game for British and Imperial officers stationed in Cairo. This photo was taken at the exclusive Ghezieh Sporting Club on the island of Zamalek, in Cairo.

Keywords
Australian Naval and Military Expedition Force
First World War
Egypt
Men At Sporting Function
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
Object’s condition or completeness
Rare or representative
Well provenanced
Google Maps search term / URL
https://maps.app.goo.gl/gWHZtRH1mm24SAjK8
Last modified
Tuesday, 30 June, 2026
Completeness
100
Princess Royal Fortress Military Museum

Princess Royal Fortress Military Museum

Photo of a polo match at Ghezieh Sporting Club, Cairo.
Photo of a polo match at Ghezieh Sporting Club, Cairo.
Rear view showing inscription.
Rear view showing inscription.

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