| Accession Number | H13754 |
|---|---|
| Collection type | Photograph |
| Object type | Colour - Print hand-coloured black & white |
| Conflict |
First World War, 1914-1918 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain
|
Studio portrait of 3157 Private (Pte) Allan Ernest Rostron, 1st Battalion. A messenger from ...
Description
Studio portrait of 3157 Private (Pte) Allan Ernest Rostron, 1st Battalion. A messenger from Sydney, NSW prior to enlistment, Pte Rostron embarked with the 10th Reinforcements from Sydney on HMAT Warilda on 8 October 1915. Whilst serving in France he was evacuated to England suffering from gas poisoning. Following his recovery he rejoined his unit and was awarded the Military Medal. The citation reads in part "South of Strazeele, on the morning of 11th July 1918, a party was sent out to capture enemy posts in front of our line.....Approaching a point offering resistance, he was attacked by two of the enemy...He immediately fired on one and killed him...then he fired on and wounded the other, taking him prisoner together with two other enemy concealed in a dugout. By his daring...he greatly assisted the capture of the remaining posts and their garrisons." On 18 September 1918 he was killed in action near Hargincourt, France, aged 20, and is commemorated on the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial. Pte Rostron was the grandson of 3003 Pte Duncan Allen, reputed to have been the oldest member of the First AIF. Note that his ribbon bar appears to have been added at a later date, probably when the photograph was colourised. See also H15960.