Members of the 21st Reinforcements, 4th Light Horse Brigade about to depart on the troopship NESTOR

Images(2)

Members of the 21st Reinforcements, 4th Light Horse Brigade about to depart on the troopship NESTOR

Photographer Josiah Earl Barnes (Australian, 1858 - 1921)

Date2 October 1916

Object number00027614

NamePhotograph

MediumPhotographic print on paper

DimensionsOverall: 108 x 153 mm, 1 mm, 0.04 kg

ClassificationsPhotographs

Credit LineANMM Collection

Terms

DescriptionA few of the soldiers in this image carry daisies or flannel flowers. The men carry light horse pattern water bottles and nine pouch bandoliers. Behind the soldiers are vehicles underneath the Melbourne terminal and two officers can be seen talking behind the group. A funnel of the berthed WW1 troopship NESTOR is visible in the background. The reverse has a handwritten inscription in pencil reading: `NESTOR 7'. From the Australian War Memorial website (of the same photograph PB0646) left to right, front row: unidentified; 2955 Private (Pte) George Edwin Rogers, 35, farrier of Bairnsdale, Vic (believed to be - the horseshoe patch on his uniform indicates a farrier, and the second patch a trumpeter); 2953 Acting Sergeant (A/Sgt) Charles Francis Maule Payne, grazier of Seymour, Vic; unidentified; unidentified. HistoryMelbourne based photographer Josiah Barnes had two sons, Norm and Victor, who left for war in 1916 (both returned to Australia after their service). Barnes appears to have taken an interest around this time in photographing the troopships as they departed for war from Melbourne. The twin screw steamer NESTOR was built in Belfast in 1912 and was part of the Blue Funnel Line's fleet working the England to Australia passenger service. NESTOR was requisitioned by the Australian Government in 1915 as a troopship and returned to passenger services in 1920. In June 1936 NESTOR was involved in the salvage rescue of MUNGANA which had drifted close to rocks at Cape Jaffa. Both vessels sustained damage during the rescue operation, however NESTOR was able to attach a line and tow the disabled MUNGANA to Port Adelaide. NESTOR was sold for breaking at Faslane in 1950.