Militaria

Lot 4435    Session 14 (4.30pm Thursday 20th November)    Militaria

Estimate $2,500
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $26,000

GALLIPOLI MAP ON POSTER WITH TITLE 'AUTOGRAPHS OF GALLIPOLI SOLDIERS', features the Gallipoli Peninsula drawn on a large parchment/cloth (see footnote) in coloured Indian inks, and included are a series of signature boxes, each with a signature, some with more than one but totalling about 125, many with name, rank and unit and some with serial number, also shown on the map are landmarks which came into use after the landing, namely Walker's Ridge, Shrapnel Valley, Quins (sic) Post and Anzac, the poster measuring about 55x86cm is professionally mapped and framed under museum quality anti ultraviolet light perspex, the timber frame measuring approx 71x103cm, the map is hand marked, 'Copied from H.E.Robinson's Map'. Some foxing, otherwise mostly very fine and historic.

The map poster is supposedly a piece of starched bedsheet. The consignor had the map framed and he stated that the framer showed him a section of the map that had been repaired with a small, sewn in patch, thus confirming that it is indeed made of a linen material. This of course makes perfect sense if we make the assumption that the map has been signed when the various signatories have been passing through a particular hospital or a hospital recovery area where the map has been permanently located.

H.E.Robinson did produce a map of the Dardanelles c1915 which showed the landing place of the Anzacs. The company became very busy during the war as there was a strong demand for maps that showed various battle locations in the Mediterranean and Europe and these were updated as more information was released that showed the progress of the allies.

One of their Gallipoli maps was published for Gerald R. Campbell, April 12, 1916, with proceeds from sales to go to the War Fund. This was probably Colonel Gerald Ross Campbell, Sea Transport Command, who was involved in the transportation of troops between Australia and various destinations.

Four of the names on the Gallipoli map poster that only came into use after the landing on 25 April are Walker's Ridge named after Brig-Gen Harold Walker who commanded NZ Infantry at the landing and established his headquarters at that time around what became known as Walkers Ridge. Another name is Shrapnel Valley so called because in the early days after the landing it was the main route up from the beach area to the frontline. A third distinctive name on the map is Quins (sic) post, named after Major Hugh Quinn of 15 Bn, who garrisoned this position on 29 April and held it for nearly one week despite fierce Turkish attacks. He was killed here on 29 May. The last name used is Anzac, a name that was recommended for use by General Birdwood. On the 29 April he recommended that the original landing site be called Anzac Cove and the surrounding area occupied by his troops be called Anzac. Interestingly, Anzac Cove is not marked on the map but Anzac is shown. It is also noted that Gaba Tepe is spelt Gaba Tepeh.

Approximately one quarter of the signatories' service records have been checked. One of the signatures belongs to Private George Pappas of 13 Bn who was awarded a DCM for gallantry at Gallipoli on 4th May near Gaba Tepe. He volunteered to bring in a wounded man under heavy machine gun fire and succeeded in carrying him to a safe place. Pte Pappas was wounded in the head on 29 May and subsequently retuned to Australia on 15 August and was discharged. His award was promulgated in the London Gazette on 15 July 1915, after he was wounded but before he returned to Australia. When he signed the map, he has written DCM after his name so presumably he has signed after 15 July.

Another signature belongs to Fred Glover, 6/1186, who was a New Zealand soldier wounded in action. He was sent to Cairo on 10 June 1915 and returned to New Zealand on 15 July and then discharged on 2 October.

A third signature of interest is that of George John Tracy, London Convalescent Department AAMC. For a time he was working as a masseur treating convalescing wounded. He also served on HMAT Runic. He thought he was entitled to the 1914-15 Star but his request was rejected because as a member of the Convalescent Depot he did not land in a theatre of war prior to midnight on 31 December 1915 and as the transport 'Runic' was not a hospital ship he did not qualify for the medal. Obviously he has been in the location of the map poster and more than likely this was in a convalescent area.

This check of signatures has also revealed that almost all those examined were sent to hospital as wounded, injured or ill. The chances of this many people signing before going into action at Gallipoli and then being hospitalised is virtually impossible odds so it appears the poster was signed after the men were injured.

Was it signed on the return trip to Australia? Not likely as the men were on different ships and the ships arrived at different cities.

Was it signed after the war? No, because at least one of the signatories returned to Australia then returned overseas and subsequently died of illness in France on 24 July 1917.

One name checked was posted as a deserter on 8 June 1915. There is no record of him ever going to Gallipoli and he was awarded no medals because of his desertion. He was in the UK on 15 February so between that date and the date of desertion he could have visited someone at a hospital or recuperation area and signed the poster under false pretences.

There are a few other signatures which are unexplained. Two appear to be of American servicemen, both from Texas and another two are signed without rank, one with Rabaul after name and the other with Madang, Friedrich-Wilhelmshafen (the old German name for Madang). Perhaps the Americans were also injured and in hospital or recuperating and the other two signatures were of staff or seamen involved in the treatment or repatriation of wounded.

Based on the above details it would appear therefore that the map poster was probably signed over a period of time by various soldiers as they passed through a hospital or convalescing area.