Tenth Battalion Officers

Group of officers photographed at Morphettville.

According to a researcher, this is a picture of the 78th Militia which was known as the 10th Australian Infantry pre 1912 (Adelaide Rifles). Many of the officers went into the new 10th A.I.F. in 1914.

Information from the Australian War Memorial Canberra about the 10th Battalion: Group portrait of the original officers of the 10th Battalion prior to leaving Adelaide for Egypt.

Left to right, back row: Lieutenant (Lt) Julius August William Kayser from Alberton, South Australia (later Major, killed in action in France on 16 February 1917); Lieutenant (Lt) Clarence Rumball from Thebarton, South Australia; Lt Louis Gordon Holmes from Norwood, South Australia; Lt Trevor Owen-Smyth from Adelaide, South Australia (later killed in action at Gallipoli on 6 May 1915); Captain (Capt) Sydney Raymond Hall from Unley, South Australia (later killed in action at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915); Lt John Hamilton from Broken Hill, NSW (later Capt); Lt Alfred Cyril Sommerville from Croydon, South Australia; Second Lieutenant (2nd Lt) David Leslie Todd from Adelaide (later Capt); and Lt Albert John Bryne from Broken Hill (later killed in action at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915).

Middle row: Lt Mervyn James Herbert from Brighton, South Australia (later Major); Lt Keith Eddowes Green from Prospect, South Australia (later killed in action at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915); Lt Robert James Mansfield Hooper from Alberton (later killed in action at Gallipoli on 27 May 1915); Lt Eric John Carl Stopp from Kent Town, South Australia; Lt Hector Roy Heming from North Adelaide; Lt Eric Wilkes Talbot Smith, (later died of wounds in Egypt on 30 April 1915); Lt Herbert Champion Hosking from St Peters, South Australia; and Capt Harold William Hastings Seager from Adelaide (later Major and awarded MC).

Front row: Lt Eric James Sexton from Alberton (later Major); Capt George Dorricutt Shaw from Hindmarsh, South Australia (later Major); Major Miles Fitzroy Beevor from Unley, South Australia (later Lieutenant Colonel (Lt Col)); Capt Harry Carew Nott (Medical Officer) from Lower Mitcham, South Australia (later Lt Col); Major Frederick William Hurcombe, Second in Charge (2IC) from Mile End, South Australia (later Lt Col and MID); Colonel Stanley Price Weir (Commanding Officer) from St Peters (later awarded DSO); Capt Francis Maxwell de Flayer Lorenzo (Adjutant) from Westbourne Park, South Australia (later Lt Col and awarded DSO); Capt Charles Francis Minagall (Quartermaster) from Goodwood, South Australia (Later Major); Capt Edward Castle Oldham from Hackney, South Australia (later Major and killed in action at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915); Capt Ross Blyth Jacob from Kadina, South Australia (later Lt Col); and Lt Vernon Hermann Robley from Gilberton, South Australia.

Absent: Lt William Stanley Frayne from Mile End, South Australia, (later killed in action at Gallipoli on 6 August 1915); Lt Charles Percy Farrier from Broken Hill (later killed in action at Gallipoli on 9 May 1915); Lt Felix Giles from Maylands, South Australia (later Lt Col); 2nd Lt Noel Medway Loutit from St Peters (later Lt Col); Lt William Howard Perry from Broken Hill (later Capt and awarded MC); and Captain George Ernest Redburg from Norwood, South Australia (later Major).

The Battalion was raised in South Australia within weeks of the declaration of war and left for Egypt in October 1914. Part of the Third Brigade, the Tenth Battalion landed at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915. After Gallipoli the Battalion served in France until the end of hostilities on 11 November 1918.

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