Princess Royal Fortress Military Museum > Records

First World War Photograph of a Large Group of Australian Soldiers

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Pte. Eric BANNISTER

c. 1914

Overview

Black and white photograph showing a large group of Australian soldiers standing & seated outside a building. The soldier standing far left with an "X" mark next to him is Pte. Eric BANNISTER. Handwritten in blue ink on rear is, "Back from / Toma".Toma is a town in East New Britain, New Guinea.

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 of his deployment are of national significance and show one of Australia’s first military action in the First World War.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-12-2018.3.9

Item type

Photographs

Themes

War and Conflict > World War 1

Material

Photographic Paper

Width

106 mm

Height or length

81 mm

Weight

1 g

Inscriptions and markings

Handwritten on rear "Back from / Toma", in blue ink.

Contextual information

Photograph shows a large group of Australian soldiers, in various states of uniform, seated and standing on a verandah building. From inscription on the rear of the photograph, these men have recently returned from 'Toma', a town in East New Britain, New Guinea. The 'X' mark on the left side indicates Pte. Eric BANNISTER.

Keywords

1st World War

Australian Naval and Military Expedition Force

Papua New Guinea

Place made

Papua New Guinea

Year

c. 1914

Primary significance criteria

Historic significance

Scientific or research significance

Social or spiritual significance