Chatelet, Belgium. An outdoors informal group portrait of unidentified members of the 1st ...

Chatelet, Belgium. An outdoors informal group portrait of unidentified members of the 1st Australian Mechanical Transport Company gathered in front of a row of cars and Peerless trucks before embarking for Australia. Most of the vehicles have had a map of Australia, on a circular globe of world symbol, painted on the side. Two soldiers standing in the centre are holding an Australian flag open. 'Dvr Billy Hughes and Nobby' is chalked on the side of the motor lorry marked number 78, fourth from the left, and is a reference to the Australian Prime Minister William Hughes. '1st Stop Aussie' is chalked on the side of the truck marked number 88 (fifth from the left). A group of Belgian women and girls are standing in front of the car on the far right and two Belgian boys are standing with soldiers in front of the truck, fourth from the left. L'Eglise de L'Imaculee Conception (Church of the Immaculate Conception) is at far right. Identified in the central position with his head immediately to the left of number 20 is 9635 Driver, Rowland Thomas Hough. This panorama is one of a series taken by the Australian War Records Section. The original is a 10 inch x 52 inch long 'Cirkut' camera nitrate negative.