| Accession Number | P00889.012 |
|---|---|
| Collection type | Photograph |
| Object type | Black & white - Film copy negative |
| Maker |
Unknown |
| Date made | c 1916 |
| Conflict |
First World War, 1914-1918 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain
|
Portrait of an Aboriginal serviceman, 234 Private (Pte) Walter Christopher (Chris) George ...
Description
Portrait of an Aboriginal serviceman, 234 Private (Pte) Walter Christopher (Chris) George Saunders. A native of Warrnambool, Vic, Pte Saunders worked as a groom prior to enlisting on 29 August 1916 with 10th Machine Gun Company and later transferred to 3rd Machine Gun Battalion. Pte Saunders embarked for service overseas aboard HMAT Ascanius (A11) from Melbourne on 27 May 1916, and returned to Australia in June 1919.
Pte Saunders is the father of 337678 Lieutenant Reginald (Reg) Walter Saunders, 2/7th Battalion, and VX18629 Private Henry (Harry) Saunders, 2/14th Battalion. Reg Saunders was the first Aboriginal serviceman to be commissioned in the Australian Army in the Second World War. His younger brother Harry Saunders was killed in action on 29 November 1942 in Papua New Guinea.