First World War Photograph of a 'Felucca' Sailing Boat on the Nile River

c. 1915
Overview

Small black and white photograph of a 'Felucca' sailing boat on the Nile River. The boat is on shore and has been loaded with a large quantity of earthen water jars, known as 'chatties'. A number of 'Felucca's can be seen sailing on the river in the background.

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-12-2018.3.95
Item type
Photographs
Material
Photo Paper
Width
108 mm
Height or length
65 mm
Weight
1 g
Inscriptions and markings

Handwritten in black ink on back "On the Nile / a common / sight - there / is quite a lot of / sailing done here -".

Contextual information

This photograph shows a traditional wooden cargo boat, known as a 'felucca', on the shore of the Nile River; the vessel has been loaded with a large quantity of pottery water jars, known as 'chatties'. These vessels were traditionally used to transport goods such as grain and pottery, and were then utilised during the First World War to transport Allied troops and horses across the Nile River.

Place made


Nile River
Year
Primary significance criteria
Scientific or research significance
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 a Felucca sailing vessel loaded with pottery water jars, known as 'chatties'.
Photo of a Felucca sailing vessel loaded with pottery water jars, known as 'chatties'.
Rear view showing inscription.
Rear view showing inscription.

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