| Accession Number | P06837.001 |
|---|---|
| Collection type | Photograph |
| Object type | Black & white - Digital print |
| Maker |
Unknown |
| Date made | c 1916 |
| Conflict |
First World War, 1914-1918 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain
|
Studio portrait of 388 Private (Pte) Charles Percy Coulton, 34th Battalion. A wheeler from West ...
Description
Studio portrait of 388 Private (Pte) Charles Percy Coulton, 34th Battalion. A wheeler from West Maitland, New South Wales, Pte Coulton enlisted on 7 February 1916 aged 19. The 34th Battalion was formed in January 1916 at a camp established at the Maitland showgrounds, thus it was dubbed "Maitland's Own". Pte Coulton embarked for the United Kingdom with the Battalion from Sydney on 2 May aboard HMT Horarta, and after training at Larkhill Camp, proceeded to France on 22 November. He was killed whilst serving as a Lewis gunner during the Battle of Messines on 7 June 1917. According to his Australian Red Cross Society Wounded and Missing Enquiry file, Pte Coulton was "killed in advance on right of Messines named Pleog Street Wood, advanced only about 30 yards when hit". This eyewitness account was written by 396 Pte David C.E Cunningham MM, also of "Maitland's Own", who, with Pte Coulton "were like brothers together". Pte Cunningham survivied the war.