| Place | Oceania: New Guinea1, Papua New Guinea, Papua, Milne Bay |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | ART22737 |
| Collection type | Art |
| Measurement | Overall: 52.8 x 68.3cm |
| Object type | Work on paper |
| Physical description | carbon pencil and crayons with watercolour |
| Maker |
Hodgkinson, Roy |
| Place made | New Guinea1 |
| Date made | 1942 |
| Conflict |
Second World War, 1939-1945 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain
|
Milne Bay concert party, New Guinea
Description
Official war artist Roy Hodgkinson has captured a moment of revelry amongst Australian Military Forces at a New Guinea Concert Party. Aimed at boosting morale for service personnel, this concert party proved a distraction from the grim reality of the war that was being waged nearby. Theatre, movies and music parties were similarly and regularly utilised in this way.
The members of the New Guinea Concert Party are (l-r): Sergeant Will Handley (comedian, with top hat, seated), Corporal Terry Hughes (female impersonator), brothers Private R Holden and Private L Holden hold up Private T McElvogue (clown), and; finally, Staff Sergeant F Tupper (compere, looking in mirror).
The Holden brothers were multi-talented entertainers who also formed part of the International Holden Circus "Flying Gordon Troupe", renowned for their gymnastic accomplishments on the triple horizontal bars.