| Accession Number | P00867.002 |
|---|---|
| Collection type | Photograph |
| Object type | Black & white, Portrait |
| Physical description | Black & white, Portrait |
| Maker |
Tovell, Timothy William |
| Place made | Australia: Queensland, Brisbane |
| Date made | 1928 |
| Conflict |
First World War, 1914-1918 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain
|
Informal outdoors portrait of the children of former 1st AIF serviceman, 2198 Private (Pte) ...
Description
Informal outdoors portrait of the children of former 1st AIF serviceman, 2198 Private (Pte) Timothy William Tovell, who had served as a mechanic in the Australian Flying Corps (AFC). The young man at rear (left) is Henri Heremene Tovell, 'Digger', a French orphan who, as a boy, had been the mascot of No. 4 Squadron AFC after the war. Timothy Tovell had smuggled the boy home to Australia on a troopship. He had then adopted Henri and raised him as his own son in Brisbane. After leaving school, Henri (Digger) Tovell worked for the RAAF, as a civilian, and was killed in a motorcycle accident in Melbourne on 24 May 1928. This family portrait was taken on his last visit home before his death. There is evidence of Henri signing his name as Honore, indicating it is his real name. (Donor R. Elliot) (Original print housed in AWM Archive Store)