Item #117194 'Autographs of My Comrades On Active Service' [cover title of a small album containing the particulars and signatures of 20 Australian servicemen, at least 16 of them Gallipoli veterans]. Gallipoli.

[Gallipoli]

'Autographs of My Comrades On Active Service' [cover title of a small album containing the particulars and signatures of 20 Australian servicemen, at least 16 of them Gallipoli veterans]

Oblong duodecimo [92 × 135 mm], [40] pages including the pastedowns; the left-hand page of each opening has printed headings (Name of Comrade; Reg. No.; Rank; Battery or Company; Regiment; Battalion; Brigade; Other Particulars); the right-hand page has a short poetical sentiment printed at the head.

Textured cloth (lettered in gilt) a little marked; textblock loose, with the staples lacking, and some associated minor rust stains and tears to the gutter; a few other trifling signs of use and age; overall, in very good condition.

Most of the men who have entered their details here enlisted in Victoria; many appear to have gone ashore at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915. Many were wounded at the Dardanelles and invalided home. A slightly more detailed (but still typical) entry is that provided by 33 Sapper David Mackay, 2nd Field Company Engineers: 'Enlisted 18th August 1914. Sailed 21 Oct 1914. Landed on Peninsula 5 am 25th April 1915. Wounded 26th April 1915. Wounded 20th May 1915. Discharged from AIF July 26th 1916'. Particularly touching is the entry by 876 Gunner John Thomas Barker, 4th Field Artillery Battery: 'Was at Gaba Tepe on Sunday April 25th 1915. Our Battery landed the first 18 pounder QF Field Gun on Gallipoli from the Transport Karoo. Lost my son at Lone Pine Aug 7th 1915'. Barker was 39 when he enlisted in August 1914. His son, 2209 Private William Thomas Barker, 7th Battalion, enlisted in April 1915, barely 18 years of age; he was killed at Lone Pine less than four months later.

The book was given to 548 Corporal George Forster in Melbourne by his aunt for Christmas 1916. These details, and his particulars, are recorded on the last opening. He was a member of the 4th Battalion who 'Landed at Dardenalles [sic] on the 25th April 1915 was wounded on 26th April at Gaba Tepe and invalided home later on enlisted in Base Postal Unit Melb. G.S. 25/5/17'. Many of the entries are dated the same day; another one refers to the Base Postal Unit, which may prove to be where many of these invalided veterans worked at the time. A singularly evocative item.