| Accession Number | P07038.002 |
|---|---|
| Collection type | Photograph |
| Object type | Black & white - Print silver gelatin |
| Maker |
McGeehan, R W |
| Place made | Australia: Victoria, Melbourne, Ripponlea |
| Date made | 1915 |
| Conflict |
First World War, 1914-1918 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain
|
Studio portrait of 3069 Private (Pte) George Henry Dark, 24th Battalion (later 53rd Battalion), ...
Description
Studio portrait of 3069 Private (Pte) George Henry Dark, 24th Battalion (later 53rd Battalion), of Mirranatwa, Vic. A labourer before enlisting on 3 August 1915, Pte Dark embarked from Melbourne on 26 November 1915 on HMAT Commonwealth with the 7th Reinforcements. On 24 February 1916 he was taken on strength of the 8th Battalion. On 28 March 1916, he was transferred to the 13th Light Horse, the unit his older brother 1157 Pte Albert William (Bert) Dark was serving in. After service in Egypt and Palestine, the brothers were sent for training in England, and then taken on strength of the 53rd Battalion in France on 16 October 1916. On 4 December 1916, while on picket duty together on the Anzac Light Railway at the edge of Delville Wood, the shelter they were was hit by a German shell. George Dark was killed instantly, and Albert Dark died of his wounds the next day. The death of the two brothers caused great shock to the town of Mirranatwa.