27th Battalion grave photography project

The grave of Lieutenant Llewellyn Weston Claude Leak, 27th Battalion, of Unley, SA, died of wounds (DOW) 4 September 1918, in Proyart Communal Cemetery Extension (Roll of Honour shows Heath Cemetery, Harbonnieres). From left to right is the grave of 317033 Pioneer S R Keen, 'L' Signal Battalion, Royal Engineers, who died on 9 September 1918, age 20; 5533 Driver Humphrey Fackerell, 103 Howitzer Battery, 3rd Australian Field Artillery Brigade, of Murwillumbah, NSW, DOW 4 September 1918; 3035 Corporal Edwin Rawlings Fittock, 42nd Battalion, of Ipswich, Qld, killed in action 12 August 1918. Heath Cemetery was made after the Armistice. 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.