Josiah Barnes collection of First World War negatives and prints

Members of the Railway Unit band prior to boarding HMAT Ballarat (A70). Identified left to right: unidentified member with drum; 493 Private (Pte) William Joseph Donovan 44, of West Brunswick, Vic; 635 Corporal (Cpl) William George Purdy of Bairnsdale, Vic, holding a euphonium; unidentified 2nd Corporal (2Cpl) holding his instrument in its case; 547 2Cpl Edward Brophy Hogan, of North Carlton, Vic, holding a euphonium and a square parcel wrapped in brown paper and tied with string; the rest of the line are unidentified. In the second row standing between Pte Donovan and Cpl Purdy is 574 Blacksmith Spencer Nurribeal Lawes, of West Melbourne, Vic. Kneeling at the front of the image, with his cornet and baton, is probably bandmaster 535 Sapper (Spr) William John Headen. During the sinking of the HMAT Ballarat on 25 April 1917, Spr Headen stood in a lifeboat and played popular songs for the men to boost morale.