Vest Pocket, Kodak Autographic Camera : Sapper E S Northey, 4th Divisional Signal Company

Rectangular shaped, Kodak, Vest Pocket model, Autographic camera. It has rounded ends, a white metal alloy body and has been finished in black. The lens housing is mounted to a blackened white metal plate which is connected by a chromed brass lattice to a collapsible, black paper bellows. The brass and glass lens has become separated from the camera body but is retained. There is a swivelling glass prismatic view finder that allows photographs to be taken in landscape or portrait format. At the rear of the camera is an attached, pressed steel disk with an oval shaped, amber viewing window fitted to the centre. Fitted next to the disk is a raised, rectangular hinging panel covering a window that has been impressed with the text 'VEST POCKET AUTOGRAPHIC KODAK'. This window can be scribed onto using a short steel scribe (missing) and is exposed as text on the negative. Fitted to the bottom of the camera is a spool winder and clasp to open and lock the camera body.

This camera is associated with the service of 6294 Sapper Ernest Samuel Northey of Number 3 Section, 4 Divisional Signal Company, AIF. Northey served with 39 Fortress Engineers near Newcastle in New South Wales from 7 August 1914 until his enlistment with the AIF on 14 July 1915. He departed Australia on 14 October 1915 and served in the Middle East and the Western Front where he took photographs using this camera. On the night of the 31 August 1916, while subjected to repeated gas attacks and shelling, he repaired telephone lines for thirteen hours. Due to his continuous efforts, good communication was maintained between Brigade Headquarters and battalions while in action at Pozieres. Northey was awarded the Military Medal for these actions. Sapper Northey returned to Australia at the end of the First World War. He lived for another twelve months before dying of pulmonary tuberculosis aged 25, on 10 November 1919.