The Memorial’s photograph collection contains almost 1 million images. Not all of these are publically available but every day new images and descriptions are added. Flickr commons is a way of highlighting sets of images and we hope people can tell us something about them, or simply enjoy the selection.
The series of portraits, particularly those selected from the Korean War series, are a wonderful study of faces and we would love to know who they are. Perhaps because of censorship or maybe less than diligent record keeping, the information for these images never made it back to Australia, or perhaps they were meant to be representative and used for the media. This striking portrait of a young First World War soldier is featured in the Memorial’s travelling exhibition Icon and Archive.
![Portrait of an unidentified First World War soldier by Asti Studio. This photograph features in the Memorial's travelling exhibition "Icon and Archive"](http://blog.awm.gov.au/awm/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/p06003001.jpeg "Portrait of an unidentified First World War soldier by Asti Studio. This photograph features in the Memorial's travelling exhibition "Icon and Archive"")
Portrait of an unidentified First World War soldier by Asti Studio. This photograph features in the Memorial's travelling exhibition "Icon and Archive" P06003.001Many of the images selected have just enough caption information to tell us when or where they were taken. In the case of the photographs taken at the Broadmeadows Camp, often only one person (the client who ordered the photograph) has their name recorded. When we started scanning these glass plate negatives many lovely images started to emerge that intrigued us, especially when the information in the Photographer’s register is so basic. We were delighted when the photograph of the lady holding the koala was discovered as there was no indication of this from the register, and of course only one soldier’s surname for this image is known.
This image was made by Darge Photographic Company at Broadmeadows Army Camp in April 1915. The photographer's register only lists Private Pinkerton so we do not know who either of the others are. The koala may be a mascot taken overseas when the soldiers embarked. If you have any further information or a story belonging to this image you can contribute at Flickr Commons DA08446
Photographer's register from Darge Photographic Studios at Broadmeadows Army Camp. Private MJ Pinkerton is highlighted.You can help the Memorial enhance the collection by tagging and adding comments to the photographs. You might notice a friend or member of your family in an image, or have a story to share.
November 11th, 2008 at 7:04 pm
Thanks for this information. This is a wonderful resource and what a great idea to use flickr in increase the number of people aware of the AWM as well as the potential to gather extra information.
January 7th, 2009 at 11:20 pm
Dear Joanne
Some time ago I loaned the Memorial film footage taken by my uncle, John Bryden Wells who served in Greece, Crete, Egypt and Palestine in WW2.Some of the footage filmed 2 weddings. How exciting it would be for the descendants of these brides and grooms, or even the original wedding parties to see such footage. It is quite possible that these would be the only existing wedding photos of these couples.
Is it posible to put short movie clips on this blog?
Thanks for your wonderful research and preservation.
Pauline Mitchell
September 28th, 2009 at 8:37 pm
Hi Joanne,
As you know, I’ve been pleased to be able to add value to the information associated with a number of images. As my book moves into the revision stage, many more opportunities are becoming apparent, eg. the date for F04732 re the visit of Minister Lynch to 1ATF, should, I believe, be April not June 1969.
Unfortunately, other areas within the AWM have deemed my suggestions to be “solecisms”. (I had to look it up.) As a result, the Director has barred me from email contact.
I’m running out of time to keep writing to the AWM. If you, within the scope for initiative the Director allows his staff, can suggest another means by which I can help to enhance your collection, please let me know.
Regards,
Bruce Cameron MC
cameronshone@bigpond.com; tel: 02 6248 9562
September 29th, 2009 at 11:32 am
Hi Joanne,
Photo…BEL/69/0537/VN: the text should refer to Murray Madden (not Madder) and B Squadron 1st Armoured Regiment (not 3rd Cavalry Regiment).
I’d previously advised these changes in relation to EKN/69/0060/VN and you’ve incorporated them for that photo.
Regards, Bruce
October 3rd, 2009 at 2:54 pm
Hi Joanne,
I’ve recently received copies of a number of photos of the Centurion tank which is now outside the Admin Building, soon after it was hit by an enemy RPG, wounding the driver.
The originals are 35mm slides. Would you like me to ask the owner (who was the gunner on the tank at the time) to send them to you for evaluation in terms of taking them into the AWM collection?
Regards, Bruce
October 19th, 2009 at 10:47 am
Hi Joanne,
P02636.002. The “unidentified officer” is the late Major Peter Bourke, OC C Squadron, 1st Armoured Regiment.
P02636.004. The officer is Major Bourke again, the “unidentified warrant officer” is WO2 Brian Agnew, C Squadron’s SSM. I have contact info for Brian.
Regards, Bruce
October 20th, 2009 at 11:42 am
Sorry Joanne, can’t help re P02636.003.
Will let you know if I find out.
Regards, Bruce
November 11th, 2009 at 11:53 am
[...] We joined the Commons of Flickr on 11 November 2008 and posted about it in this blog. [...]
November 25th, 2009 at 11:57 am
Hi Joanne,
P01769.001 is one of the photos of artillery guns in Mike Cecil’s new book. Mike’s caption is right, but I think that that accompanying the photo on the website is wrong where it states that: “The Howitzer is probably firing the shell into the area where FSB Coral would soon be established, in an effort to clear the locale of Viet Cong (VC) and North Vietnamese Army (NVA) troops”.
In the photo the gun is firing a splintex round which has a very short range.
While the full caption does not seem relevant to P01769.001, is is used again with P01769.002. It could well be correct for that photo….the gun is firing an HE round. I suggest just delete the sentence from 001.
Kind Regards, Bruce
November 26th, 2009 at 10:43 am
Just a minor one….P05923.012 refers to a Centurion Mk V/I. This should be Mk V/1…to be 100% correct, Mk V/1 (Aust).
Regards, Bruce
November 30th, 2009 at 6:50 pm
Hi Joanne,
P07256.027 is a great photo. The caption refers to: “An unidentified vehicle commander of A Squadron, 3rd Cavalry Regiment, Royal Australian Armoured Corps, (RAAC), prepares his M113A1 Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) for a possible night ambush”.
The person photographed is Sergeant Eric ‘Blue’ Collins (mid).
Regards, Bruce
December 9th, 2009 at 4:42 pm
Hi Joanne,
The summary for F04428 refers to “Major Kevin Rankin”. I believe that this should be ‘Major David Rankine’ (OC C Company 8RAR during Operation HAMMERSLEY). The Mil Hist Section will be able to confirm.
Regards, Bruce
January 5th, 2010 at 8:41 pm
Hi Joanne,
I’ve just been revising my draft for the Jan/Feb 1970 period. The suggestions below relate to the images that that I printed some years ago during my research. Some may therefore have already been implemented.
(i) P01381.039. Should be M113A1 (rather than M113) and LAAGER (rather than LAGER).
(ii) WAR/70/0063/VN. Should be A Squadron (rather than B Squadron) and ‘specially designed Centurion vehicle’ (rather than modified tank).
(iii) P01381.041. Should be callsign 8D (rather than number 28D).
(iv) WAR/70/0056/VN. Should be A Squadron (rather than B Squadron).