Informal outdoor portrait of Lieutenant (Lt) John Alexander (Alec) Raws, Lt Bartels and Lt ...

Informal outdoor portrait of Lieutenant (Lt) John Alexander (Alec) Raws, Lt Bartels and Lt Duncan. Photograph from an album compiled by Second Lieutenant (2nd Lt) Leslie Byrt Pritchard, 23rd Battalion. Original caption reads: Three Conquering Heroes at Home Tel-El-Kebir Lts Raws Bartels Duncan Egypt May '16. 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 in March 1916. 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.