Lot 272: WWI Australia Contemporary War Photograph of 'Western Front (France), Aisne, Hindenburg Line Area, Bellicourt … 1 October 1918'

Unknown Official Australian War Photographer

20.2x14.1cm

Military & Wartime

Photos

628

Collectibles

"German prisoners resting with a wounded comrade at one of the access entrances to the Mont St Quentin Canal Tunnel, in the captured Hindenburg Defence System. Identified, left to right: American Stretcher Bearer; German prisoner: 3417 Private (Pte) G. Jones; 4966 Pte J Gilbert (partially obscured by Jones): American Stretcher Bearer (behind Gilbert); 2646 Pte C.W. Cheverly, (partially obscured American); Despatch Rider, 13th Australian Light Horse; wounded German (on stretcher); 1222 Sergeant J.J. Blair, (giving the wounded German a drink); German prisoner; German prisoner; 250 Pte A.H. Chenhall (partially obscured by German prisoner). Group of four men on the right are unidentified American Stretcher Bearers. This entrance was captured from the Germans by the Americans and Australians on 29 September 1918, when they broke through the Hindenburg Line. The Australians in this photograph are members of the 60th Battalion whose duty it was to guard the entrance to prevent any Germans who may be concealed in the tunnel from coming out and firing on our troops from the rear." (AWM)

An original photograph with evidence on back that it was removed from a contemporary album collection.