9637007
- TitlePhotographs of the aftermath of the Battle of Beersheba, Sinai and Palestine Campaign, 1917 / photography by Michael Hammerson, with a letter by Laurence Moore, ca. 1988
- Creator
- Call numberPXE 1770
- Level of descriptionfonds
- Date
1917; ca. 1986-1990 - Type of material
- Reference code9637007
- Physical Description99 photographs and 1 letter (1 folder) - gelatin silver; typed
- ADMINISTRATIVE/ BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
While most of the Australian Imperial Force went to France in 1916, the bulk of Australia’s mounted forces remained in Egypt to fight the Turks threatening the Suez Canal. In 1917 they entered Palestine and in 1918 advanced into Jordan and Syria. The campaign ended on 31 October 1918, a few weeks after the capture of Damascus. The charge of the 4th Australian Light Horse Brigade at the Battle of Beersheba late in the afternoon of 31 October 1917, is remembered as the last great cavalry charge.
The Battle was part of the wider offensive collectively known as the third Battle of Gaza. The final phase of this all day battle was the famous mounted charge of the 4th Light Horse Brigade. The Brigade broke through the Turkish defenses and seized Beersheba. This enabled the British Empire's Egyptian Expeditionary Force (EEF) to break the Ottoman line near Gaza on 7 November and advance into Palestine.
The Imperial Camel Corps was a camel mounted infantry brigade which became part of the EEF and fought in several battles. Its first units were 4 company sized formations which performed long distance patrols at the Suez Canal and the Sinai Desert. The companies were raised in Egypt in January 1916 from Australians returning from the Gallipoli Campaign. It was disbanded in 1919.
Michael Hammerson was a British soldier who served in the Middle East during World War I. Laurence (Rory) Moore (1898-1989) was born and educated in Leeds and served as a Trooper, East Riding Imperial Yeomanry, and as Signal Corporal, Imperial Camel Corps. He served in Egypt and Palestine from 1916-1919.
Source:
Library correspondence file. - Scope and Content99 photographic prints taken by British soldier Michael Hammerson in Egypt and Palestine during the aftermath of the Battle of Beersheba, 1917, including several of the Australian Light Horse troops, accompanied by an explanatory letter on the images written by Laurence Moore of the Imperial Camel Corps (ICC) ca. 1988.
Moore's typed letter, titled "Attempt at identification of Michael Hammerson's photos of Egypt etc", is on Imperial Camel Corps letterhead (Imperial Camel Corps, Old Comrades Association Talbot Avenue, Leeds). A handwritten note at the top reads, "Notes, c. 1988-89 by Laurence Moore, Veteran, Imperial Camel Corps".
Titled: Series 1. ‘In and around Beersheba, 1917’. Photographs numbered on reverse 1-17, includes:
British troops at graveside of unidentified person; camel resting on sand; Turkish troops; RASC with G.S. wagons; mosque at Beersheba; and elevated guard at POW Camp. Australian Light Horse photographs show mounted officers with their backs to the camera, guarding a large group of prisoners behind barbed wire.
Titled: Series 2. Photographs 1-7 includes:
Local people harvesting a field, titled "Cutting corn in (T)eloah"; "Under the prickly pear tree" (3 British soldiers); a narrow gauge locomotive; a camel and calf; troops alongside bombed buildings; local farmer with yoked oxen; bedouins & camels.
Titled: Series 3. Photographs 1-4 includes:
Sports meeting at Rafa, with officers observing the games including polo.
Titled: Series 4. Photographs 1-7 includes:
Troops in small village, including photograph of men in front of Kodak photo printing shop (the shop sign reads "French photographer. Special for postcard groups. Depot Films, Despatched Everywhere", with another sign "Best Watches Here"; barracks, supply depot, encampment, mosque, and military vehicles including truck alongside horse drawn carriage. Photographs have random numbers written in top left corner.
Titled: Series 5. Photographs 1-3 includes:
Broad palm tree lined boulevard with civilians on horseback; religious service held outdoors; dhows on wide river, possibly Port Said.
Titled: Series 6. Dated 6 June 1917. Photographs 1-2 includes:
Unidentified troop photographs, outside tents at desert encampment.
Titled: Series 7. Photographs 1-9 includes:
"Cairo (caption reads: "most/all taken with same camera)", British soldiers on camel back viewing Pyramid of Cheops, Giza; stepped pyramid at Sakkara; soldiers relaxing in horse drawn carriage (known as a "gharry" in Egypt); Kasr el Nil (city street photograph); and the exterior and interior of Sultan Hassan mosque.
Titled: Series 8. Photographs 1-2 Includes:
Egyptian water wheel ("sakkieh"); street scene with bombed buildings.
Titled: Series 9. Photographs 1-3 includes:
Troops in civilian gear.
Titled: Series 10. Photographs 1-2 includes:
Jerusalem street scenes.
Titled: Series 11. Photographs 1-7 includes:
Palestine; possibly Judean Hills, mostly landscape views of stony hills (one with round tents in foreground), one shot of troops on train at railway siding; walled city seen from the countryside.
Titled: Series 12. Photographs 1-26 includes:
Dhows on the river; railway siding; church facade; building marked "Roman Catholic Church"; 2 interior snaps of mess tent, with flags hung inside; soldiers playing cricket; munitions depots; city view with minarets; canteen; unloading supplies at railway siding; river scenes; ‘My new pet’.
Titled: Miscellaneous. Photographs 1-10 includes:
Possibly inside a mosque; British soldiers; shop; City of the Dead in Cairo? (no. 9); an Egyptian milkman (no.11); [no photo 7].
- Copying ConditionsOut of copyright: Photographs - created before 1955
Copyright status:: Manuscript - In copyright, life of author plus 70 years
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales - General note
Photographs were attached to paper sheets that are inscribed with the title of "Series" and photographic number. These sheets have been included with the photographs in the collection's housing. - Creator/Author/Artist
- Subject
- Place
- Open Rosetta viewer
View Media Files
2. 
3. 
4. 
5. 
6. 
7. 
8. 
9. 
10. 
11. 
12. 
13. 
14. 
15. 
16. 
17. 
18. 
19. 
20. 
21. 
22. 
23. 
24. 
25. 
26. 
27. 
28. 
29. 
30. 
31. 
32. 
33. 
34. 
35. 
36. 
37. 
38. 
39. 
40. 
41. 
42. 
43. 
44. 
45. 
46. 
47. 
48. 
49. 
50. 
51. 
52. 
53. 
54. 
55. 
56. 
57. 
58. 
59. 
60. 
61. 
62. 
63. 
64. 
65. 
66. 
67. 
68. 
69. 
70. 
71. 
72. 
73. 
74. 
75. 
76. 
77. 
78. 
79. 
80. 
81. 
82. 
83. 
84. 
85. 
86. 
87. 
88. 
89. 
90. 
91. 
92. 
93. 
94. 
95. 
96. 
97. 
98. 
99. 
- Browse collection hierarchy
- Manuscript Index
- A
- B
- C
- D
- E
- F
- G
- H
- I
- J
- K
- L
- M
- N
- O
- P
- Q
- R
- S
- T
- U
- V
- W
- X
- Y
- Z