Informal portrait of 47 Private (Pte) Thomas Anderson Whyte (sitting left) and 159 Sergeant John ...

Informal portrait of 47 Private (Pte) Thomas Anderson Whyte (sitting left) and 159 Sergeant John Rutherford Gordon sitting on one of the large stones of the Great Pyramid at Giza. Pte Whyte was a member of the 10th Battalion, a 28 year old agent from Hyde Park, South Australia when he enlisted on 19 August 1914. He embarked for service overseas from Adelaide on 20 October 1914 aboard HMAT Ascanius. He was wounded in action during the landing at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915 and died that same day aboard HMT Gascon. Because he was buried at sea, his name appears on the Lone Pine Memorial at Gallipoli. A member of the Adelaide Rowing Club, his portrait also appears on their honour board of those who enlisted for active service in the First World War (P07159.095). Gordon spent two and a half years in the 10th Battalion, and returned to Australia being discharged as temporarily medically unfit in April 1916. On 2 January 1917 he transferred to the AFC and was promoted to Lieutenant. During Lt Gordon's service with the AFC he was awarded the Military Cross for his actions on 22 June 1918, his citation reads: 'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty when, as observer on an offensive patrol, he shot down and destroyed two enemy triplanes, one of which crashed to the ground in flames. He has also effectively and repeatedly scattered massed bodies of enemy troops by accurate shooting from a height of 100 feet. His skill and daring have been of the highest order.' Gordon survived the war and returned to Australia on 14 June 1919.