Studio portrait of 98 Private Guy Godolphyn Bonython, 9th Light Horse Regiment who was a 21 year ...

Studio portrait of 98 Private Guy Godolphyn Bonython, 9th Light Horse Regiment who was a 21 year old bushman from Rose Park, South Australia, when he enlisted on 11 September 1914. He embarked for overseas with A Squadron from Melbourne on 12 January 1915 aboard HMAT Armadale. After serving at Gallipoli, he went on to serve on the Western Front where he was wounded in action twice. On 12 October 1917 at Passchendaele, Belgium, he took charge of his platoon as the sole remaining NCO and with cool bravery showed great ability and leadership which lead to the award of the Military Medal. He was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the 48th Battalion on 27 October 1917. On 3 May 1918 near Villers Bretonneux, France, when all the senior officers became casualties, he took charge of the Company and led it with great coolness and gallantry even while he himself was wounded. For this action, he was awarded the Military Cross. After the war, he was married in England in January 1919 and four months later returned to Australia as a Lieutenant, with his new wife. One of 131 photographs displayed on an honour board showing members of the Adelaide Rowing Club who enlisted for active service in the First World War. The original is held by the Adelaide Rowing Club who kindly loaned the board to the Australian War Memorial for copying.