27th Battalion grave photography project

A fellow soldier of the battalion, 4210 Sergeant Henry Matthew Skinner MM, lays some flowers on the grave of 4208 Private Roland Allan Shawyer of the 27th Battalion, of Riverton, SA, who died of wounds 21 May 1918, in Franvillers Communal Cemetery Extension, Corbie. Behind is the grave of 568A Pte Benjamin John Tomkins, 5th Battalion, Australian Machine Gun Corps, of Pallallawa, NSW, killed in action (KIA) 20 June 1918. At right is the grave of 3866A Pte Leslie Vincent Leman (incorrectly inscribed as Lemon), 20th Battalion, of Marrickville, NSW, KIA 20 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.