27th Battalion grave photography project

The graves of 1109 Private (Pte) James Whelan, 28th Battalion, of Gawler, SA, killed in action 8 August 1916, and 1861 Pte John Patrick Augustine Bennett, 48th Battalion, of Adelaide, SA, died of wounds 7 August 1916, in Puchevillers British Cemetery. Pte Whelan also had two brothers in the AIF. The cross over the grave of Pte Bennett was erected by F Bennett. 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.