27th Battalion grave photography project

The graves of 3199 Private (Pte) Leslie Victor Henry Lehmann of Adelaide, SA, killed in action 2 March 1917, and 5308 Pte William Clarence Bennie of Hawker, SA, killed in action 3 March 1917, and 3159 Pte John Gordon Hawkes, enlisted Wallaroo, SA, killed in action 2 March 1917, all of the 27th Battalion. They are buried in Warlencourt New British Cemetery, at the foot of a hill in a fenced enclosure. 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.