27th Battalion grave photography project

The grave of 258 Private (Pte) Benjamin Blinkhorn, 27th Battalion, of Sydney, NSW, killed in action (KIA) 9 June 1918, in Franvillers Communal Cemetery Extension. Left to right, is the grave of 75901 Pte Hickson, 4th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, KIA 9 June 1918; 323 Pte George Albert Kent, 28th Battalion, of Glenferrie, Melbourne, Vic, date of death 1 June 1918 and 6056 Pte Victor Albert Clark, 28th Battalion, of Bordertown, SA, KIA 1 June 1918; 4979 Pte Edwin Middleton Gilbert, 28th Battalion, enlisted Broomehill, WA, KIA 1 June 1918 and 6543 Pte Albert Henry Boxall, 28th Battalion, of Port Elliot, SA, KIA 1 June 1918; 4287 Pte William Routledge, 28th Battalion, of Kanowna, SA, KIA 1 June 1918 and 5372 Pte Askel Hasvold, 28th Battalion, of Fremantle, WA (originally of Oslo, Norway), KIA 1 June 1918; 3119 Pte William George Howell, 28th Battalion, of Wickepin, WA, KIA 1 June 1918 and 4737 Pte James Gibson, 28th Battalion, of Balmain, NSW, KIA 1 June 1918; 250406 Gunner A Stewart, 407th Battery, 96th Brigade Royal Field Artillery, KIA 29 May 1918. This image is one of a set of photographs of the original graves of some members of the 27th Battalion. The Battalion funded the purchase of the camera through its adjutant Captain (Capt) Southon for 5541 Pte G R Barrington to photograph the graves. The camera and negatives were then acquired by Major John L Treloar on behalf of the Australian War Museum, reimbursing costs for the camera to Capt Southon.
One of a set of 66 images requested by Lieutenant Colonel Frederick Royden Chalmers. The 27th Battalion history 'The Blue and Brown Diamond' relates that 4210 Henry Matthew Skinner MM and battalion photographer Barrington left Mont-sur-Marchienne on 2 February 1919 to photograph scattered graves of soldiers of the unit. Skinner features in a number of the images photographed by Barrington. Copies were supplied to next of kin and near relations.