| Accession Number | P08331.001 |
|---|---|
| Collection type | Photograph |
| Object type | Black & white - Print silver gelatin |
| Maker |
Wise & Co Studio |
| Place made | United Kingdom: England, Hampshire, United Kingdom: England, Hampshire |
| Date made | March 1917 |
| Conflict |
First World War, 1914-1918 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain
|
Studio portrait of 2161 Corporal (Cpl) Ernest John Stay, 26th Battalion, of Allora, Qld. Cpl ...
Description
Studio portrait of 2161 Corporal (Cpl) Ernest John Stay, 26th Battalion, of Allora, Qld. Cpl Stay was a state school teacher prior to enlisting on 17 July 1915. He embarked from Brisbane as a Private (Pte) with the 4th Reinforcements on board HMAT Armadale (A26) on 20 September 1915. After further training in England the 4th Reinforcements arrived in Egypt in January 1916. The 26th Battalion went to France in March 1916 and in August Pte Stay was promoted to Corporal. Cpl Stay was wounded in action by a gun shot wound to the thigh on 8 November 1916 and invalided to England. After recovery and leave he served in England from July until October 1917 when he returned to his unit. Corporal Stay was killed in action near Villers-Bretonneux, France, on 8 August 1918. He was 33 years of age. On the back of the portrait Cpl Stay wrote: " Mar. 15th 1917. Dear Mother, Perhaps you'll recognise this even though the boots are not so prominently in evidence. Hope to be somewhere near your old home by tomorrow. At least it is a new camp in your county of Dorset. I will give you full information later. Accept fondest love from your loving son Ernest John".