Mixed Collection relating to Australian Light Horse and Charles Raymond Willoughby (NX18640), POW

Collection of 35 original prints and one negative (P11775.001) related to the service of NX18640 Private (Pte) Charles Raymond Willoughby. Pte Willoughby, from Brewarrina NSW, enlisted on 29 May 1940 and served with the 2/1 Battalion in Egypt, Libya and Palestine and was captured by the Germans on Crete in 1941. After release from captivity he returned to Australia in July 1945. Prior to the war Pte Willoughby was an active member of a Light Horse Regiment (possibly the 6th Light Horse Regiment) and took part in annual tracing camps and exercises. These are represented by panoramic group portraits and scenes of camp life. These major training exercises were important social highlights of rural communities and the collection includes parades and marches through Wee Waa, Gunnedah and Culgoora, all in NSW. There are several portraits from this period but, with the exception of one of NX7610 Sergeant (later Lieutenant) Bruce Othneil Brown, 2/1st Battalion, they are all unidentified. Pte Willoughby's Second World War service is represented by prints showing the 2/1st marching, viewing anti-tank artillery and scenes of camp life. One large formal group portrait of Light Horse officers was probably taken at Inverell c 1940. Lieutenants M E Todd, Lt Munro, Lt Denis (?) White are the only ones identified and many of the men are wearing First World War service ribbons.