Informal portrait of Major (Maj) Francis Plumley Derham and Lieutenant William Andrew Reginald ...

Informal portrait of Major (Maj) Francis Plumley Derham and Lieutenant William Andrew Reginald Peart, 4th Field Artillery Brigade (FAB), probably taken at Tura Camp. Maj Derham, a solicitor from Upper Hawthorn, Victoria prior to enlistment and Lt Peart, a professional soldier from Lubeck, Victoria, both embarked with the 11th Battery from Melbourne on HMAT Wiltshire on 18 November 1915. Lt Peart was later promoted to Major and transferred to 2nd FAB. Whilst serving in Belgium, he was gassed and, due to its severity, died on 3 November 1917 and was buried in the Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, Belgium. Maj Derham later transferred to the 8th FAB and then to the 3rd Divisional Ammunition Column where he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order. Later promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, he was three times Mentioned in Despatches and was awarded the French Croix de Guerre. Following his appointment as Acting Colonel, he returned to Australia on 4 July 1919. Continuing to serve as a citizen soldier during peace time, he was appointed as Commanding Officer of 3rd Division Artillery and later as Aide-de-Camp to the Governor-General. At the outbreak of the Second World War he was promoted to Major General and appointed as General Officer Commanding 4th Australian Division, and was made a Companion of the Order of the Bath. His appointment was terminated on 2 February 1950. His brother Captain (later Colonel) Alfred Plumley Derham served with great distinction in both World Wars.