Soldiers waiting to board the troopship BALLARAT, Melbourne

Images(2)

Soldiers waiting to board the troopship BALLARAT, Melbourne

Photographer Josiah Earl Barnes (Australian, 1858 - 1921)

Date19 February 1917

Object number00027623

NamePhotograph

MediumPhotographic print on paper

DimensionsOverall: 107 x 153 mm, 1 mm, 0.04 kg

ClassificationsPhotographs

Credit LineANMM Collection

Terms

DescriptionPhotograph by Melbourne photographer Josiah E. Barnes of soldiers waiting to board the troopship BALLARAT, Melbourne. There is a hazard sign behind them and the front row carries a banner reading `Australia will be there'. The reverse of the print has a lead pencil inscription reading: `Abel Ballarat 13'. The obverse has been double exposed with the ghost image consisting of a group portrait of soldiers. One of the seated soldiers (front left) has a kit bag reading `E.A. Uren Railway Unit A.I.F. Vic'. Edgar Albert Uren 672 embarked from Melbourne on HMAT BALLARAT on 19 February 1917 and returned to Australia in July 1919 after service in France with the Railway Unit.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. BALLARAT was built in 1911 and owned by the Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Company. The vessel was requisitioned by the Australian Government for use as a troopship during WW1. It was torpedoed by a submarine on 25 April 1917 in the English Channel and sunk the following day with no lives lost.