Wartime Kangaroos

A special edition of the wartime pets series! As we've seen in past posts, soldiers are very, very fond of keeping pets and mascots of all kinds, from the expected dogs and cats to pigs, goats, and foxes. Out of all the unusual pets, perhaps the most surprisingly popular was the kangaroo (or wallaby). Australian soldiers played with them at home, then took them along on journeys to far-off fronts. Foreign troops stationed in Australia were also keen to seize their chance of kangaroo adoption. I don't know if they do make good pets, but these fellows certainly seem thought so!

An Australian soldier with a pet kangaroo near the Pyramids, Egypt, about 1915. Source

Soldiers with a kangaroo in Malaysa, 1941. Source

A soldier with "Joey" the kangaroo in Malaya, 1941. According to the caption, he was smuggled in a box labelled "Medical Supplies." Source

A Proper Send-off

When a ship sets sail, it's important to say goodbye properly. And how do you do that? With streamers, of course!

George Jackman, State Library of Queensland

The Stratheden, Hamilton, Australia, 1930s-50s. Source

Sam Hood, Australian National Maritime Museum

The S. S. Ceramic, Sydney, c. 1925. Source

Sam Hood, Australian National Maritime Museum

The S. S. Ceramic, Sydney, c. 1925. Source

World War One in (Australian) Colour

We've had colour photographs of World War One in the blog before (here and here)-- French autochromes from the Western Front. But, the French weren't the only ones documenting the war in colour. Australian photographer Frank Hurley (whose colour photographs of Shackleton's Antarctic expedition have also been featured in this blog) took photographs of the Australian forces in the Middle East and at the  Western Front with the Paget Process of colour photography. Fascinating stuff.  

From the collections of the Australian War Memorial. 

Frank Hurley, Australian War Memorial

An Australian Light Horseman collecting anemone flowers in Palestine, c. 1918. Source

Frank Hurley, Australian War Memorial

A derelict British tank at the Somme, 1917 (for the full story of the tank, follow the link). Source

Frank Hurley, Australian War Memorial

Four Australian soldiers with a machine gun, Palestine, 1917. Source

Gallipoli

Today, in 1915, ANZAC (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) embarked on the Gallipoli campaign-- a long, bloody, and ultimately unsuccessful attack against the Turkish Empire. Like the Canadian experiences at Ypres and Dieppe, the shared sadness and pride triggered deep national sentiment that carries through to this day. On Anzac Day, we remember those who fell and those who fought. 

Photographs from Gallipoli, 1915, thanks to the National Library of New Zealand, the Australian War Memorial Collection, and the State Libraries of New South Wales and Queensland. 

6th Battalion soldiers leaving their transport ship, April 25, 1915. Source

Auckland Battalion landing. Source

Boats carrying troops to shore. Source

The Streets of Sydney, 1888

Another series of candid snapshots of people out and about... this time in the 19th century [c. 1885-1890, actually; I averaged], and Sydney, Australia! The State Library of New South Wales, from which these are drawn, states these are probably taken with a hidden camera-- even better, eh?

Source

Source

Source

Source

Source

Source

Source

Source

Source

Source

Source

Source

Source

Out walking the pet duck. Source

Taking a ride on the sheep. Source

Source

Source

Source

Source

Source

Happy Australia Day

Australia is apparently the number 4 country for views of this blog, so how could I not celebrate their national holiday? Plus, of course, Aussies are awesome! :)

Australia Day float, Brisbane, 1947. Source

Tea float, Sydney, 1938. Source

Australia Day picnic, Brisbane, 1908. Source

Aerial view of Sydney at the opening of the Harbour Bridge, 1932. Source

The Sydney Harbour Bridge mid-construction, 1930. Source

Construction of St. Mary's Cathedral in Sydney, 1920s. Source

Angel Place in the rain, Sydney, 1930s. Source

Car being driven down the steps of Sydney Town Hall, 1920s... just because? Source

Collins Street, Melbourne. Source

Blue Mountains scenery, c. 1900. Source

A lookout in the Blue Mountains, c. 1900. Source

The Three Sisters in the Blue Mountains, New South Wales, c. 1900. Source

A lookout near Wentworth Falls, c. 1900. Source

The beautifully named Bridal Falls, c. 1900. Source

Refugee Bay, Hawksbury River, New South Wales. Source

Rising mists, Govett's Leap, New South Wales, c. 1900. Source

Forest in Victoria. Source

Source [this and the next few (with one exception) are LIFE 'mystery photographs' without dates or specific locations; just Central Australia]

Source

Source

Fresh milk for a wallaby, Queensland. Source

Source

Source

Source

Source

Source

A group of Aboriginals on the Murray River, South Australia, 1886. Source

A line of kookaburras, c.1900. Source

Woman in an Australian flag, c. 1920. Source