| Accession Number | P03236.100 |
|---|---|
| Collection type | Photograph |
| Object type | Black & white - Print silver gelatin |
| Maker |
Unknown |
| Place made | Germany, Germany: Schneidemuhl |
| Date made | February 1918 |
| Conflict |
First World War, 1914-1918 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain
|
Prisoner of War (POW) cast members of play titled "Splash" at German POW Camp Schneidemuhl, ...
Description
Prisoner of War (POW) cast members of play titled "Splash" at German POW Camp Schneidemuhl, Germany. Identified sitting in front row from left to right commencing with third from left is Alf E. Shaw; 3235 Corporal (Cpl) James Skelly, 55th Battalion, from Rockdale NSW; J. Short; 3953 Sergeant (Sgt) Joesph Chandlot Clarence Whitbread, 13th Battalion from Annandale NSW; David Ferguson;and Charles Cooper. Cpl Skelly enlisted at the age of 21 on 9 August 1915 and embarked for overseas on 30 December 1915 aboard HMAT Suevic. He was captured at Laventie, France on 20 July 1916 and held in POW camps in Germany until he was repatriated to Holland on 13 June 1918. He arrived in England on 22 November 1918. Cpl Skelly embarked to return to Australia on 5 March 1919 and was discharged on 20 June 1919. Sgt Whitbread enlisted on 30 August 1915 and embarked for overseas on 20 December 1915 aboard HMAT Suevic. He was captured at Riencourt, France on 11 April 1917 and held as a POW in Germany. He wrote from POW Camp Schneidemuhl on 13 February 1918 "We had a great concert last week, it was quite original - I wrote the piece myself and made all the costumes." Sgt Whitbread was repatriated to England on 1 December 1918 and arrived back in Australia on 23 April 1919. One of a series of over 400 photographs sent by Australian POWs in German camps to Miss M. E. Chomley, Secretary, Prisoners Department, Australian-British Red Cross Society, London. Original album housed in AWM Research Centre at RC00864, Album image number 128.