27th Battalion grave photography project

The isolated grave of 511 Private (Pte) Archibald Reginald Boyce, 27th Battalion, in Heath Cemetery, one and a half miles north of Harbonnieres, France. Originally from London, England, he enlisted at Keswick, South Australia, on 22 February 1915 and embarked from Adelaide aboard HMAT Geelong on 31 May 1915 for Gallipoli. The Battalion relocated to the Western Front, France during March 1916. Pte Boyce was wounded in action in November 1916 and again in November 1917; on both occasions he was evacuated to England for treatment and convalescence. Pte Boyce was killed in action on 9 August 1918 near Framerville, France. He was aged 24 years. This image is one of a set of photographs of the original graves of some members of the 27th Battalion. The Battalion funded the purchase of the camera through its adjutant Captain (Capt) Southon for 5541 Pte G R Barrington to photograph the graves. The camera and negatives were then acquired by Major John L Treloar on behalf of the Australian War Museum, reimbursing costs for the camera to Capt Southon.
One of a set of 66 images requested by Lieutenant Colonel Frederick Royden Chalmers. The 27th Battalion history 'The Blue and Brown Diamond' relates that 4210 Henry Matthew Skinner MM and battalion photographer Barrington left Mont-sur-Marchienne on 2 February 1919 to photograph scattered graves of soldiers of the unit. Skinner features in a number of the images photographed by Barrington. Copies were supplied to next of kin and near relations.