State Library of South Australia

Mount Barker Boys at the Front [B 72452] • Photograph

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Summary

Photographs of faces of Mount Barker men who enlisted for service in World War One, with a photo of a Lieutenant Laurie at the top, printed on a postcard. Their names are: B. Westley, A. Evans, S. Westley, T. Murphy, T. Stokes, H.D. Neate, L.E. Cook, J. Johnson, A.L. Cook, L. White, N. Cameron and L. Scott. (see 'History' note for further details.).

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Physical description

Photograph (B&W); 13.3 cm x 8.7 cm

Dates / Publication details

Approximately 1916

Collection

Part of Mount Barker Collection

Subject

Murphy, Thomas Edward
Soldiers -- South Australia -- Mount Barker Region
World War, 1914-1918 -- South Australia -- Mount Barker
Mount Barker (S.A.)

Catalogue record

Return to catalogue

Historical information

Four of the soldiers may be: Benjamin Westley, born Wistow 6 June 1894; Lancelot Edwin Percy Cook, born Mount Barker 28 July 1896; Arthur Lionel Cook, born Mount Barker 1 June 1886; and Thomas Frederick Stokes, born Wistow 15 December 1889. According to a researcher, Thomas Edward Murphy born 13 May 1893 Little Hampton, S.A. was the son of John Murphy and Bridget Jane Nestor who lived at Mount Barker. Thomas Edward enlisted in the AIF at Morphettville on 9 Sep 1914 aged 21 years 4 months and was assigned to the 10th Infantry. He was a bricklayer by trade and had previously spent 6 months in the volunteer cadets. He was 5' 71/2" tall, weighed 150lbs, had a dark complexion, grey eyes, and dark hair. He was Roman Catholic, had 4 vaccination marks on his left arm, 2 scars on his left leg and one on his right leg. Thomas named his mother, residing at Mount Barker, as his next of kin. He was discharged, medically unfit, due to an infectious eye disease. Two years later on 3 October 1916, Thomas again enlisted. He became No. 3473 in the 9th Reinforcements, 48 Battalion. His trade was given as a mason, and his mother's name given as Mrs JANE Murphy, Mount Barker. He also attested that he had not previously been rejected as unfit or had any previous service. However, the description matched that previously given, and on 10 February 1917, Thomas embarked for service overseas. (The Mount Barker Courier and Onkaparinga and Gumeracha Advertiser, 13 Jul 1917). PTE. TOM MURPHY WRITES. Mrs. John Murphy, of Mount Barker, has received a letter from her son, Pte. Tom Murphy, written partly at sea and after arriving at Codford, England, which is close to Salisbury Downs. Pte. Murphy has written a very interesting letter wherein he describes their long and wearisome journey of just about three months. He says that they went to Colombo from Australia, and after having three or four enjoyable days there instead of going on by the Red and Mediterranean Seas towards England they steamed southwards and called at Durban and then at Capetown before heading northwards again. He tells of the fun they had when crossing the line; all of the old customs were honored and Father Neptune was satisfied. They were fortunate in having fine weather all through the long voyage, consequently the time did not hang as it would have done had they encountered rough weather. Pte. Murphy is a member of the band and was having a very comfortable time in camp. The bandsmen were permitted to wear brass buttons and white belts, and he says "we will look flash when we have all our fixings on." At wars end, he departed England 18 December 1918 on the "Aeneas", arriving Australia 12 January 1919.

Digitisation information

Date

01/03/2012

Format

image/tiff

Resolution

3,607 x 5,365 pixels (19.4 MP)

Size

58.08 MB

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