| Accession Number | P03236.119 |
|---|---|
| Collection type | Photograph |
| Object type | Black & white - Print silver gelatin |
| Maker |
Massie & Shappley |
| Date made | April - August 1918 |
| Conflict |
First World War, 1914-1918 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain
|
Studio portrait of Australian Prisoner of War (POW) 4578 Private (Pte) Walter Arthur Potter, 5th ...
Description
Studio portrait of Australian Prisoner of War (POW) 4578 Private (Pte) Walter Arthur Potter, 5th Battalion, from Granville NSW. Pte Potter is wearing a Masonic fob on his right tunic pocket. Pte Potter enlisted at the age of 30 on 16 August 1915 and embarked for overseas on 16 February 1916 aboard HMAT Ballarat. He was initially reported killed in action on 21 July 1916 but in October 1916 it was confirmed that he had been captured at Levantie, France on 20 July 1916. He was held as a POW in Germany before being repatriated to Holland. Pte Potter arrived in England on 14 April 1918 and arrived back in Australia on 20 September 1918. Handwritten note on back of photograph reads: "To Miss Chomley, Thanking you for all your great kindness to me. While a Prisoner of War & My stay in England. Wishing you all sorts of Happiness Good Luck & Prosperous. yours sincerely Pte Walter A. Potter 4578 54th Battalion." One of a series of over 400 photographs sent by Australian POWs in German camps to Miss M. E. Chomley, Secretary, Prisoners Department, Australian-British Red Cross Society, London. Original album housed in AWM Research Centre at RC00864, Album image number 147.