| Accession Number | P12410.011.001 |
|---|---|
| Collection type | Photograph |
| Object type | |
| Place made | Egypt, Egypt: North Egypt, Tel el Kebir |
| Date made | May 1916 |
| Conflict |
First World War, 1914-1918 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain
|
Informal portrait of Lieutenant (Lt) John Alexander (Alec) Raws, 23rd Battalion. Photograph from ...
Description
Informal portrait of Lieutenant (Lt) John Alexander (Alec) Raws, 23rd Battalion. Photograph from an album compiled by Second Lieutenant (2nd Lt) Leslie Byrt Pritchard, 23rd Battalion. Original caption reads: Lieut Alec Raws (late of Argus staff) surveys the panorama at the Pyramids Egypt May 1916. For other selected photographs from this album, search P12410.
Lt Raws enlisted in July 1915 and embarked with the 22nd Battalion, 11th Reinforcements, as a 2nd Lt. He was promoted to Lieutenant shortly after his arrival in Egypt in 1916 and transferred to his brother's, Lt Robert Goldthorpe "Goldy" Raws, unit the 23rd Battalion. He transferred to France late May 1916 and joined his unit in Armentieres. Lt Raws was killed in action at Pozieres on 23 August 1916. It is estimated that the 23rd Battalion lost almost 90 per cent of its original members during this battle.
Throughout his service Lt Raws wrote letters to his family at home. Although not in the fighting for long, Lt Raws' letters provide some of the most graphic descriptions of the battle at Pozieres. His letters are held by the Memorial at 2DRL/0481.