First World War Photograph of a Crowd of Soldiers & Locals at the Giza Plateau

c. 1915
Overview

Small black and white photograph of a crowd of soldiers and locals sightseeing at the Giza Plateau, location of the Great Sphinx and Pyramids of Giza. The photo has been taken from the side of the Great Sphinx, partially seen on the left side.

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-12-2018.3.79
Item type
Photographs
Material
Photo Paper
Width
113 mm
Height or length
70 mm
Weight
1 g
Inscriptions and markings

Handwritten in black ink on back "At Gizeh Pyramids - / a crowd sightseeing".

Contextual information

The photograph shows soldiers and locals sightseeing at the Giza Plateau, with the side of the Great Sphinx captured on the left of photo.

Place made
Cairo, Egypt
Year
Primary significance criteria
Social or spiritual significance
Comparative significance criteria
Interpretive capacity
Well provenanced
Google Maps search term / URL
https://maps.app.goo.gl/gWHZtRH1mm24SAjK8
Last modified
Thursday, 17 September, 2026
Completeness
100
Princess Royal Fortress Military Museum

Princess Royal Fortress Military Museum

Photo of soldiers and locals sightseeing at the Giza Plateau, with side of the Great Sphinx on left.
Photo of soldiers and locals sightseeing at the Giza Plateau, with side of the Great Sphinx on left.
Rear view showing inscription.
Rear view showing inscription.

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