Photographs of the aftermath of the Battle of Beersheba, Sinai and Palestine Campaign, 1917 / photography by Michael Hammerson, with a letter by Laurence Moore, ca. 1988

99 photographic prints taken by British soldier Michael Hammerson in Egypt and Palestine during the aftermath of the Battle of Beersheba, 1917, including several of the Australian Light Horse troops, accompanied by an explanatory letter on the images written by Laurence Moore of the Imperial Camel Corps (ICC) ca. 1988.

Moore's typed letter, titled "Attempt at identification of Michael Hammerson's photos of Egypt etc", is on Imperial Camel Corps letterhead (Imperial Camel Corps, Old Comrades Association Talbot Avenue, Leeds). A handwritten note at the top reads, "Notes, c. 1988-89 by Laurence Moore, Veteran, Imperial Camel Corps".

Titled: Series 1. ‘In and around Beersheba, 1917’. Photographs numbered on reverse 1-17, includes:
British troops at graveside of unidentified person; camel resting on sand; Turkish troops; RASC with G.S. wagons; mosque at Beersheba; and elevated guard at POW Camp. Australian Light Horse photographs show mounted officers with their backs to the camera, guarding a large group of prisoners behind barbed wire.

Titled: Series 2. Photographs 1-7 includes: 
Local people harvesting a field, titled "Cutting corn in (T)eloah"; "Under the prickly pear tree" (3 British soldiers); a narrow gauge locomotive; a camel and calf; troops alongside bombed buildings; local farmer with yoked oxen; bedouins & camels.

Titled: Series 3. Photographs 1-4 includes:
Sports meeting at Rafa, with officers observing the games including polo.

Titled: Series 4. Photographs 1-7 includes: 
Troops in small village, including photograph of men in front of Kodak photo printing shop (the shop sign reads "French photographer. Special for postcard groups. Depot Films, Despatched Everywhere", with another sign "Best Watches Here"; barracks, supply depot, encampment, mosque, and military vehicles including truck alongside horse drawn carriage. Photographs have random numbers written in top left corner.

Titled: Series 5. Photographs 1-3 includes:
Broad palm tree lined boulevard with civilians on horseback; religious service held outdoors; dhows on wide river, possibly Port Said.

Titled: Series 6. Dated 6 June 1917. Photographs 1-2 includes:
Unidentified troop photographs, outside tents at desert encampment.

Titled: Series 7. Photographs 1-9 includes: 
"Cairo (caption reads: "most/all taken with same camera)",  British soldiers on camel back viewing Pyramid of Cheops, Giza; stepped pyramid at Sakkara; soldiers relaxing in horse drawn carriage (known as a "gharry" in Egypt); Kasr el Nil (city street photograph); and the exterior and interior of Sultan Hassan mosque.

Titled: Series 8. Photographs 1-2 Includes: 
Egyptian water wheel ("sakkieh"); street scene with bombed buildings.

Titled: Series 9. Photographs 1-3 includes:
Troops in civilian gear. 

Titled: Series 10. Photographs 1-2 includes: 
Jerusalem street scenes.

Titled: Series 11. Photographs 1-7 includes: 
Palestine; possibly Judean Hills, mostly landscape views of stony hills (one with round tents in foreground), one shot of troops on train at railway siding; walled city seen from the countryside. 

Titled: Series 12. Photographs 1-26 includes: 
Dhows on the river; railway siding; church facade; building marked "Roman Catholic Church"; 2 interior snaps of mess tent, with flags hung inside; soldiers playing cricket; munitions depots; city view with minarets; canteen; unloading supplies at railway siding; river scenes; ‘My new pet’.

Titled: Miscellaneous. Photographs 1-10 includes:
Possibly inside a mosque; British soldiers; shop; City of the Dead in Cairo? (no. 9); an Egyptian milkman (no.11); [no photo 7]. 




Photographs of the aftermath of the Battle of Beersheba, Sinai and Palestine Campaign, 1917 / photog...

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