| Accession Number | P09496.002 |
|---|---|
| Collection type | Photograph |
| Object type | Colour - Toned black & white print |
| Maker |
Unknown |
| Date made | c 1941 |
| Conflict |
Second World War, 1939-1945 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain
|
Portrait of NX40359 Private (Pte) Douglas Marks Fraser, 2/18th Battalion, standing at attention ...
Description
Portrait of NX40359 Private (Pte) Douglas Marks Fraser, 2/18th Battalion, standing at attention and holding a bandmaster's mace. Pte Fraser, the Battalion's Bandmaster, survived more than three years as a prisoner of war (POW) of the Japanese in Changi Gaol, Singapore. During his incarceration his skills as a potter were put to good use and he was charged with the production of many small pots and jars required by the Australian Army Medical Services (AAMC) within the camp. War Artist Murray Griffin, also a POW, produced a highly detailed pen and ink drawing of Pte Fraser at work at his potters wheel and this image is held in the Memorial's collection as ART25074. Pte Fraser's uncle, Sergeant Robert Donald Fraser, a volunteer in the New South Wales Mounted Rifles was painted by Tom Roberts in 1896 and the original is held as ART19505.