soldiering in egypt cre 2015 presentation
TRANSCRIPT
‘A FRIENDLY INVASION ?’
Soldiering in Egypt c.1914 - 1918
Sarah ShepherdMA, Military History
AANS sisters possibly of No 3 Australian General Hospital on top of the Great Pyramid. The nurse seated at right has a camera case beside her, c.1915
The presentation will focus, in particular, on the visual and material record of this encounter through the analysis of the rich collection of soldiers’ sketches, engravings , art work and photographs, as well as the visual vocabulary through which the Commonwealth-Egyptian encounter was represented.
Presentation Scope
Conflict Archaeology is a developing area within the sphere of
‘Egyptology’ and my research is the first step of an endeavour to
embark on a comprehensive study surrounding the shared
experiences of soldiers serving in Egypt during the period 1914 –
1918 and their apparent interest in the heritage of Egypt. This
project will look at the following areas:
The concept of ‘a friendly invasion’ – the clash of cultures
Official Military policies on social and cultural interactions
Soldiers and their interactions with the surrounding heritage
- archaeology
- photography
- narrative
- graffiti
- Iconography
- Material culture - Antiquities, souvenirs and curiosities (inc.
trench art
Egyptology’s view on ‘colonialist ‘ related heritage material,
graffiti and damage to sites
Conclusions and opportunities for further study Bombardier Maxfield (left), Driver Rich (Sitting on the Sarcophagus), and Gunner Shields (right) A section, 7th F.A.B, Australian Field Artillery, c.1915
‘Alexandria is a very large but dirty and uninteresting town.
The people are mixed French, Arabs, Copts, Jews and all manner of divers races. The poor are a pest and the buildings unpretentious’
‘The people are disgusting in their mixture of East and West. Saw some fine Egyptians but the majority do not appear at all well to the Western eye. I have heard that Alex was this kind of town’
‘Alex improves greatly upon acquaintance though there is still a lot to be desired’
Second Lieutenant Leonard Leader Brereton3 / 5th Bedfordshire RegimentSaturday 27th January 1917
An early panorama of Mena Camp and the Pyramids taken byCaptain Alfred McKenna, 16TH Dec 1914 Museum of Victoria, MM050634 refers
‘A big water scheme was
under construction for reticulation to the camp and during excavations a old jar of gold coins was found –they were soon disposed off’
Captain Walter C Belford MA11TH Battalion AIF
Captain Charles Edwin Woodrow Bean A.I.F War Correspondent and Historian
Climbing the Great Pyramid on New Years Day, 1915The Australian War Memorial, G01658 refers
‘Will try and send a few things from Egypt, curio’s and the like that might be of interest to you. Haven't any as yet except a stone from the top of the biggest pyramid but ought to be able to get some’
1175 Corporal Herbert Andrew SmytheAustralian Infantry, AIFMena Camp, Giza, Jan 1915
'I am doing fine and having the time of my life. I go out for motor drives and sight-seeing every day and I can tell you. It is a real treat.‘
1285 Sergeant David Roberts
Sister Mary Theresa Martin 2nd Australian General Hospital Mena House Hotel / Ghezireh Palace, Cairo
Enlisted 18th August 1914
Embarked from Sydney on HMAT A19 Afric on 18 October 1914 with No 2 Company, 1 Divisional Train, Australian Army Service Corps
Served at Gallipoli
Promoted to Lieutenant and later Captain
Awarded the Military Cross "for gallantry and distinguished service in the field" on 9 November 1917 and the Bar to the Military Cross "for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty" on 22 March 1918.622 Cpl Norman Rutledge Plomley
(622 Captain Norman Rutledge Plomley MC & Bar)
‘During a fortnight’s leave – I went to Cairo. Whilst there I visited the Great Pyramid and went on top and also inside the Great Pyramid. The camel journey was from the town of Cairo itself to the pyramids and it was advisable to go by camel actually because of the road, or part, was mainly loose sand. I also went to the Sphinx and had a walk all over the Sphinx. Seeing them as I did, one could not but be impressed with the fact that they’re fantastic constructions’
Edgar Wooley, Wireless Operator The Royal Flying Corps, Egypt, c.1917
Church Parade at Giza in the shadow of the Sphinx
Giza, Egypt, 1916
66 Pte John BrownPanel 26, Lone Pine Memorial, Gallipoli
2019 Pte Neil WellsChatby War Memorial
Cemetery, Egypt
51 Pte Herbert Robertshaw
Panel 51, Lone Pine Memorial, Gallipoli
Lt T.H Boyd M.CPasschendale New British Cemetery
Members of the A.I.F visiting the Tomb of Ty atSaqqara c. 1915
The Australian War Memorial, J02174 refers
Members of the A.I.F Nursing Service visiting the Step Pyramid, c. 1915Museum of Victoria, MM107474 refers
Sightseeing in the Egyptian Museum, Cairo, c. 1915
Luxor and the Valley of the Kings remained a popular leave destination for many troops, c.1915
British and Australian Nurses visiting the Ramasseum in 1915
The ‘Bric-a-Brac’ of War Authentic and faux Archaeological Artefacts collected by Servicemen and Women
Scarabs
Statuettes
Statuary
Canopic Jar lids
Jewellery
Coinage
Amulets
Thank you for your kind attention