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The Great War (1914-1918) Forum

Remembered Today:

11th Battalion famous photo


Anne Mackean

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Hi Everyone,

My first post on here.

I have searched and read all the posts regarding the 11th Battalion AIF famous photo on the pyramid in Eygpt.

My husbands Grandfather was Frederick William Mackean . I have his Military service records. He was in 11th Battalion c Company. He left Australia on the Ascanius" 2.11.1914 and was I believe in Egypt when the photo was taken in Jan 1915.

Could he have been in that famous photo? In a previous post someone had said that over 200 men have been identified in the photo.. Is there a list on the net of those men?

Any help or direction would be much appreciated.

Regards

Anne :D

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Hi Anne

Mr Allan Ellam in Western Australia has for several years been trying to identify the men in that photo. I don't think the list is on the net so It may be worth contacting him direct. Are you in Australia?

Regards

Andrew

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Hi Anne

Mr Allan Ellam in Western Australia has for several years been trying to identify the men in that photo. I don't think the list is on the net so It may be worth contacting him direct. Are you in Australia?

Regards

Andrew

Hi Andrew,

Thankyou for replying to my post. I am in Western Australia

I have seen Mr Allan Ellams name when looking for 11th Battalion information. However I have not come across an address for him - snail mail or email.

I did send an email to the War Museum in Fremantle but so far no reply.

Thanks again

Anne

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Anne

A long shot - it possibly might be worth having a look at www.anzac.dpc.wa.gov.au and contacting them?

Mabel

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Anne

A long shot - it possibly might be worth having a look at www.anzac.dpc.wa.gov.au and contacting them?

Mabel

Will have a look Mabel . Thanks for your help

Anne

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Apart from Alan Ellem the Australian War Memorial is working on naming the men as well. Can't remember who it was I spoke with there ... but ... Craig Tibbetts is an historian there and is a member of this forum.

Bright Blessings

Sandra

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Apart from Alan Ellem the Australian War Memorial is working on naming the men as well. Can't remember who it was I spoke with there ... but ... Craig Tibbetts is an historian there and is a member of this forum.

Bright Blessings

Sandra

Hi Sandra,

Thanks for helping me in my quest. I have sent an email to the research Centre attached to the Australian War Memorial.

Will let you all know what transpires.

Anne

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Just had another look at Frederick's service records and not good news.

Seems he was court martialled and reduced in rank on the 14/01/1915.

Does this mean he was held in custody ( in jail) the days before the court martial.

The photo was taken 10/01/1915 .

Blast Blast Blast.

Anne :mellow:

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  • 3 years later...

Hi,

This is a bit of an old thread, but does anyone have an uptodate information about Alan Ellam's work on identification ?

I have a large print of the picture, and most of the faces are amazingly clear - I should have tried to scan the picture before having it framed, perhaps facial recognition software in Picassa would help (once given some picture of individuals from other photos as a reference).

Many thanks,

Paul

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Mate,

I didn't know if Allen is still doing this work as he also was collecting photo's of WA men that served, I left a number of photo's with him before I moved to Brisbane but his wife died and Allan stopped doing this work because she was the one who did most of the filling.

Thats was in 2000 so what happened since I can't find out?

S.B

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  • 2 months later...

Hi,

> I recall seeing a newspaper article last year that part of the Ellam collection had been donated to Albany Forts

Yes, looking on the web http://www.albany.wa.gov.au/download/1447/0903_PRF_BUSINESS_PLAN_2.pdf

The Ellam-Innes collection was donated to the Princess Royal Fortress in March 2008.

Unfortunately http://www.forts.albany.wa.gov.au/ is fairly light on information, and it appears that in this digital age there is no way to see the pictures unless one visits Albany, and I assume attempts at identification will have stopped.

I've ordered a digital version of the photo (from http://cas.awm.gov.au/item/P05717.001) and will see if I can perform a little facial recognition (and find my wife's great uncle)

- Paul

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  • 2 years later...

I can identify every officer sitting/kneeling down in front and a few others on the pyramid, especially two chaps from Collie in SW Western Australia, by names Stephen McDermott and Walter Webb. McDermott was WIA on 25 April 1915. Webb went on in 1918 to win the MM and bar. PM me and I will see what I can do to help. My book 'Fremantle to France - 11Bn AIF 1914-19' would be of considerable assistance with bios on all award winners, embarkation roll and an absolute bucket load of photos. I look at the book now and think, not such a great effort, but it will certainly assist this excellent project.

Good luck

Ian

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  • 3 weeks later...

Hi Ian and others. I have just joined the GWF, & am Webmaster at 11Btn.wags.org.au - We hope to do justice to the task.

If you see any glaring errors or omissions we would appreciate a heads up. Ian, have your book in hand & it is, and will continue to be, a great help to us in Identifying the men, many thanks for your efforts and your great work on the 11th Battalion.

Anyone who can help identify men in the photo are most welcome to email us via the contact page on the website, PM me direct, or message via the 11Btn Cheops Facebook page here: http://bit.ly/1nips0Z - Thanks,

Cheers

Chris L.

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  • 6 months later...

Just wondering if anyone can help? I have a list off officer on the 11th Battalion Cheops photo and have James Peat named in it but the people researching the photo now, do not name him. Cheers Brett ex Boulder WA.

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Hi Brett,

Where did you get the original list, and what was the source of the identification for Lt Peat?

To the best of our knowledge, Lt. Peat was incorrectly identified in the front rows, and he was not in the Cheops photo.

Peat was previously identified as ID# 689 (in the WAGS 11Bn grid), and have been published as such for many years.

Go here & click the grid photo to zoom: http://11btn.wags.org.au/photo-id-grid/

Photographic evidence shows ID# 689 is Lt. La Nauze - He was also incorrectly identified as ID# 687.

This made ID# 687 a possible ID for Peat, but he is not Peat; #687 is 2nd Lt. MacFarlane.

Cheers

Chris L

WAGS 11Bn Project

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Hi Chris and Brett

Chris, I am sure I sent you my pre embarkation 11Bn officer group photo, which I am happy to share with Brett and anyone else. Peat is in this photo. Thought I had it on my dropbox archive but it's not there. Same one that's in Hurst's book Game to the Last. If you don't have it let me know and I will find it and send on. Cracking photo and handy to confirm your officers down front of that great pyramid photo.

Cheers

Ian

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