| Accession Number | P07159.004 |
|---|---|
| Collection type | Photograph |
| Object type | Black & white - Print silver gelatin |
| Maker |
Unknown |
| Place made | Australia: South Australia, Adelaide |
| Date made | c 1914 |
| Conflict |
First World War, 1914-1918 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain
|
Studio portrait of 135 Corporal (Cpl) Ashley Kent Ekins, 3rd Light Horse Regiment who was a 24 ...
Description
Studio portrait of 135 Corporal (Cpl) Ashley Kent Ekins, 3rd Light Horse Regiment who was a 24 year old orchardist from Kent Town, South Australia when he enlisted on 4 September 1914. He embarked for overseas as a Private from Adelaide on 23 October 1914 aboard HMAT Port Lincoln. After landing at Gallipoli in May 1915, he was wounded in action in Monash Valley but recovered and saw further action in France with the 13th Light Horse Regiment. He was promoted to Corporal and was awarded the Military Medal (MM): "In connection with operations south west of Vermand on 7 September 1918, this NCO led a patrol across open country under heavy flanking machine gun fire. He successfully reached his objective, and reconnoitred the position, being all the time under heavy fire, and returned with valuable information. Not being satisfied with this, he moved out along to obtain further information, his horse being wounded, he pushed forward on foot, and accomplished his mission". Cpl Ekins arrived back in Australia on 2 December 1918 and was discharged from the AIF in January 1919. One of 131 photographs displayed on an honour board showing members of the Adelaide Rowing Club who enlisted for active service in the First World War. The original is held by the Adelaide Rowing Club who kindly loaned the board to the Australian War Memorial for copying.