| Accession Number | P11627.004 |
|---|---|
| Collection type | Photograph |
| Object type | Digital file |
| Place made | Egypt |
| Date made | December 1914 - April 1915 |
| Conflict |
First World War, 1914-1918 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain
|
Outdoor portrait of Lieutenant William George James Catron, 8th Battalion from Coburg, Victoria. ...
Description
Outdoor portrait of Lieutenant William George James Catron, 8th Battalion from Coburg, Victoria. A 28 year old secondary school teacher prior to enlisting on 24 August 1914, he embarked for overseas as a Sergeant (service number 1068) with A Company from Melbourne on 19 October 1914 aboard HMAT Benalla (A24). Following further training in Egypt, the battalion took part in the Gallipoli landings on 25 April as part of the second wave. While at Gallipoli, he was promoted to Second Lieutenant on 26 April and was then evacuated to hospital in Malta in July due to illness. After being sent to England for further medical treatment, he arrived back in Egypt in January 1916. In the meantime, he had been promoted to Lieutenant (Lt) on 4 August 1915. Shortly after arriving back in Egypt, he was again taken ill and left Egypt in April to return to Australia. He re-embarked for overseas with the 21st Reinforcements from Melbourne on 2 October 1916 aboard HMAT Nestor (A71). After arriving in England, he proceeded to France in December 1916. Lt Catron and five men were killed in action by a German mine exploding in a dugout at Lusenhof Farm, France on 3 March 1917. He is buried in Bulls Road Cemetery, Flers, France. This image is from the collection of brothers Lt Alan Crawford Couve and 2nd Lt Henry Thomas Ladson Couve from Dandenong, Victoria. They photographed members of their unit in Egypt prior to serving at Gallipoli where they both died.