This week’s Sepia Saturday evoked memories of war, rather than romance and frivolity – perhaps I just can’t imagine needing or wanting to be carried across a stream. I feel like telling her “just take off your boots and hitch up your skirts, for heaven’s sake, you wuss!”.
In a week in which we remember the effects of war, this image made me think of the care, commitment and courage soldiers give to each other. It is inter-personal rather than inter-national. So here is my photo-journalism response to the topic, derived from images found on Trove.
French soldier carrying a wounded man through the trenches, Gallipoli http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/165156560http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/16502266430 July 1943, Corporal Leslie (Bull) Allen MM, aged 26 of Ballarat, Victoria, carrying out an injured American soldier, one of 12 he retrieved. He was awarded the US Silver Star and had already received his Military Medal (MM) on 7 February 1943, at Crystal Creek, Wau. Negative by G Short, copyright expired. Mt Tambo, New Guinea. AWM image 015515Australian troops moved in behind Matilda tanks for a dawn attack on the Japanese held village of Sattelberg. A wounded soldier is carried back to a dressing station on the shoulders of a soldier. http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/165056323Bearers carrying a wounded soldier up a steep, muddy slope, Papua. http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/165191251. The local bearers earned the recognition of being called Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels because of their work evacuating wounded men through the most horrendous, mountainous terrain of Papua New Guinea.Two members of the 3rd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR), carry a wounded soldier from the Republic of Korea (ROK) Army along a snow-covered track towards a medical aid post. http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/165106038Phnom Penh, Cambodia, 1971. Australian cameraman Neil Davis carrying a wounded Cambodian soldier out of action. http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/165129872 Copyright unknown.
The courage and humanity of these men for their mates is sobering and deserves respect. Greater love has no man….
Here are some recent photos which commemorate similar acts of selflessness.
The Cobbers Memorial at Fromelles 2014.Part of the Tarihe Saygi (Respect for History) monument at Esceabat, (Gallipoli Peninsula) Turkey.
23 thoughts on “Sepia Saturday: Military Mateship”
I guess those photographs express the ultimate in helping someone out of danger. I saw the duplicate of the Fromelles sculpture outside the Melbourne Shrine on Thursday, and took a photo of it.
I’m ashamed that that you are the only one of we Australians who made that connection as we owe so much to those men. They are such heartwarming images and a reminder that there is such compassion in people in among all that evil.
No need to be ashamed…I had been in that kind of mindset all week so wasn’t a big leap, plus the Sepia Sat photo reminded me so much of the Cobbers Memorial which triggered the further train of thought. Like you I admire their mateship and care.
Excellent photos to pick out a sub-theme that is very suitable for November when Veterans Day, Remembrance Day, and Armistice Day commemorate our servicemen.
Such brave men the photographs are very moving. I often wonder if anyone tried to carry my granddad away from the front lines during WW1, he died so I don’t suppose I will ever know. He joined up with a bunch of pals from the same village, so I’m sure if anyone could have helped him they would have.
Barbara, how sad that your grandad was killed in action. I’m sure someone would have helped if they possibly could but sometimes it was just so crazy they couldn’t stop and didn’t even know someone had fallen. terrible times.
This week’s Sepia Saturday evoked memories of war, rather than romance and frivolity – perhaps I just can’t imagine needing or wanting to be carried across a stream. I feel like telling her “just take off your boots and hitch up your skirts, for heaven’s sake, you wuss!”.
Family history across the seas 
I guess those photographs express the ultimate in helping someone out of danger. I saw the duplicate of the Fromelles sculpture outside the Melbourne Shrine on Thursday, and took a photo of it.
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Exactly Jo…I didn’t know they had a duplicate of the Cobbers statue in Melbourne.
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Historic picture from modern conflicts. Brave men – all of them.
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Indeed, thanks Bob.
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Those are some very moving & thought-provoking photographs. On target with the prompt picture, yet so much more.
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Thanks La Nightingail.
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No comrade left behind. Yes, the ultimate act of humanity.
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Exactly Wendy – the selflessness of their care is inspiring.
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This was an inspired choice and a perfect match for the theme; very moving.
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Thanks Little Nell.
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Very moving photographs. Thanks for sharing them.
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Thanks Kristin.
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I’m ashamed that that you are the only one of we Australians who made that connection as we owe so much to those men. They are such heartwarming images and a reminder that there is such compassion in people in among all that evil.
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No need to be ashamed…I had been in that kind of mindset all week so wasn’t a big leap, plus the Sepia Sat photo reminded me so much of the Cobbers Memorial which triggered the further train of thought. Like you I admire their mateship and care.
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Excellent photos to pick out a sub-theme that is very suitable for November when Veterans Day, Remembrance Day, and Armistice Day commemorate our servicemen.
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Thanks Mike, I guess they were on my mind in the past week.
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You’ve curated a very interesting set of photos. Thank you.
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Thanks Lorraine.
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Brilliant take on the theme.
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Thank you 🙂
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Such brave men the photographs are very moving. I often wonder if anyone tried to carry my granddad away from the front lines during WW1, he died so I don’t suppose I will ever know. He joined up with a bunch of pals from the same village, so I’m sure if anyone could have helped him they would have.
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Barbara, how sad that your grandad was killed in action. I’m sure someone would have helped if they possibly could but sometimes it was just so crazy they couldn’t stop and didn’t even know someone had fallen. terrible times.
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