27th Battalion grave photography project

The grave of 4791 Private (Pte) Harold Charles Phillips, 27th Battalion, of Adelaide, SA, killed in action (KIA) 9 July 1918, in Adelaide Military Cemetery, Villers-Bretonneux. Left to right is the grave of 2362 Sergeant (Sgt) Frederick Blanchree Cramb, 28th Battalion, enlisted Coolgardie, WA, who died of wounds 10 July 1918; 6089 Sgt Stanley James St Clair, 37th Battalion, enlisted Corack, Vic, KIA 12 June 1918; 4529 Pte Lyell Leonard Duncan, 39th Battalion, of Gilbertown, SA, KIA 15 June 1918; 740 Pte Raymond Elson (served as James Turner), 39th Battalion, enlisted Melbourne, Vic, KIA 14 June 1918; 1728 Pte Ambrose Radburn, 26th Battalion, enlisted Carcoar, NSW, KIA 5 July 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.