| Places | |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | PR85/136 |
| Collection type | Private Record |
| Record type | Collection |
| Measurement | Extent: 1 cm; Wallet/s: 1 |
| Object type | Postcard, Photograph, Souvenir, Document |
| Place made | Australia, France, South Africa, United Kingdom |
| Date made | 1904-1958 |
| Access | Open |
| Related File This file can be copied or viewed via the Memorial’s Reading Room. | AWM315 419/009/029 |
| Conflict |
First World War, 1914-1918 |
| Copying Provisions | Copyright restrictions apply. Only personal, non-commercial, research and study use permitted. Permission of copyright holder required for any commercial use and/or reproduction. |
Longstaff, William Frederick (Captain, b.1879 - d.1953)
Description
Collection relating to the First World War service of Captain William Frederick Longstaff, Official War Artist, France, United Kingdom, Australia, and South Africa, 1904-1958.
Collection consists of:
- 6 x photographs including: 1 photograph of Longstaff with a notation on the verso describing the other man as John Longstaff, possibly Lieutenant Sir John Campbell Longstaff (1861-1941) also an official war artist, at De Waal Park in Cape Town, dated 1904; a photograph of Longstaff's studio in London; a photograph of his famous 'Menin Gate at Midnight' (ART09807), and an image of a young boy dressed in an Australia Light Horse officer's uniform
- 1 x black and white postcard depicting Maidenhead, United Kingdom, addressed to a Harry Longstaff, dated 5 September 1907.
- 1 x Christmas card, dated 'XMAS 1918', from Longstaff to 'you all', with the Headquarters 2nd Australian Division France insignia on the cover and a copy of a watercolour sketch entitled 'Villers-Bretonneux "Church"', with a note stating 'this is a sketch I did during the bombardment'.
- 1 x booklet titled 'The Gate of Eternal Memories.' The booklet was compiled from records held by the Australian War Memorial in response to requests from those who viewed Longstaff's painting, dated 1929.
- 6 x letters spanning the period 20 October 1918 to 21 November 1919, written by Longstaff to his brother Harry. The letters discuss Longstaff's official artist duties as the war is beginning to come to a end. The letters discuss various works that Longstaff is completing, along with proposed commissions, and tours of battlefields, however most of the letters discuss how well his works have been received in London and his subsequent desire to have one of his paintings exhibited at a salon. The remainder of the letters' content discusses general family affairs.
- 6 x newspaper clippings discussing Longstaff's paintings and death, including brief mentions of his connection to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and his interest in the supernatural.