Informal portrait of 697 Private (Pte) Benjamin Stavely Tapner, 22nd Battalion, and Sergeant ...

Informal portrait of 697 Private (Pte) Benjamin Stavely Tapner, 22nd Battalion, and Sergeant (Sgt) Alexander Smeaton Robertson, 21st Battalion. Pte Tapner, an accountant from Clifton Hill, Victoria prior to enlistment, embarked with the rank of Corporal from Melbourne on HMAT Ulysses on 10 May 1915. Following his service at Gallipoli he was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant and then to Lieutenant. On 29 July 1916 he died of wounds received in action and was buried in the Puchevillers British Cemetery, France. Sgt Robertson, an architect from Melbourne and originally from Perth, Scotland, had previously served with the Black Watch Regiment and the London Scottish Regiment before emigrating to Australia. He embarked with the rank of Second Lieutenant from Melbourne on HMAT Ulysses on 10 May 1915. Subsequently wounded in action, he was promoted to Lieutenant. Later reported as wounded and missing in action, it was later determined that he had been captured at Mouquet Farm and was being held prisoner at Gutersloh, Germany. Following the cessation of hostilities he was repatriated to England, and returned to Australia on 25 March 1919.