| Accession Number | P03236.237 |
|---|---|
| Collection type | Photograph |
| Object type | Black & white - Print silver gelatin |
| Maker |
Photogr. Alcher |
| Place made | Germany |
| Date made | 1918 |
| Conflict |
First World War, 1914-1918 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain
|
Outdoor portrait of Australian Prisoner of War (POW) Keith Harris, a Deck Hand from SS Matunga, ...
Description
Outdoor portrait of Australian Prisoner of War (POW) Keith Harris, a Deck Hand from SS Matunga, shown wearing a POW uniform and a peaked cap with a metal star. The SS Matunga was sailing from Sydney to Rabaul, New Britain, when the vessel was captured by the German Navy raider SMS Wolf on 6 August 1917. SMS Wolf escorted SS Matunga north west to Offak Bay on Waigeu Island (now West Papua, Indonesia) and a fortnight after arriving there, unloaded personnel and cargo and sank the ship. The crew and passengers from SS Matunga were taken onboard the SMS Wolf, eventually landed at Kiel, Germany, some six months later, and interned at a POW camp at Gustrow, Germany. Keith Harris remained there until he was repatriated to England in December 1918. He sent a cable stating "London Well - Love Xmas Greetings" to Mrs Harris, Northcliffe Street, Milsons Point, Sydney. 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 285.