This photo taken in 1917 was 5 years before Edith Sarah Pickford (1909 - 1967) of ''Yeoville" Clunes married Henry Smerdon [Harry] Holmes of "Sauchieburn" Ascot in 1922. At the time it was fun, fashionable and symbolic to have photo portraits taken in a clown outfit: Pierrot (Boy) with black skull caps and Columbine (Girl) with pointed hats. Pierrot, the famous character from the Italian commedia dell'arte, was portrayed by the composer A. Schoenberg as the moonstruck and fantastical clown, who is a symbol for putting on a mask to hide one's true feelings or opinions. Edith was the second youngest child, and only daughter, of John and Bessie (Robbins) Pickford, Clunes farmers. Edith’s brother, Arthur Pickford rode in the Charge of the Battle of Beersheba, a precursor to capturing Gaza in WW1. The matter of who rode in the charge at Beersheba on 31 October 1917 continues to exercise the minds of many. The charge is embedded in the Australian ethos along with Gallipoli and the Kokoda Track. [ Source: Edith's granddaughter, Jane Dyer 2024]Black and white photograph in rectangular frame with stand. Back of frame padded velvet"Sincerely yours - Edith"edith pickford, edith holmes, chatham-holmes collection, pickford collection, pierrot and columbine, portrait photograph, ww1

Australian World War One Soldier memento. This postcard was possibly sent home from France during World War One, most probably from Harry Holmes of Ascot, Victoria. HENRY SMERDON (Harry) HOLMES was born in 1897 at the family property, ’Sauchieburn’, 17 km north of Ballarat, in the Ascot district. He was the youngest of four children. After finishing his education at St Patrick’s College, Ballarat, Henry joined the Holmes family farming interests. At the age of 18 he enlisted and served with AIF in Egypt, France and Belgium 1915-1918. Henry served at the famous battlegrounds of Ypes and Somme in the Australian Army 8th Battalion. He was a Driver with the 4th D.A.C. The postcard is of "The Ascot" boys. Includes [Samuel] Gordon Spittle, Henry [Harry] Holmes's first cousin, and other Ascot and Tourello lads and district connections: neighbours (including a Wrigley boy), Ascot State School classmates and football mates from Clunes / Creswick districts. (Research by Jane Dyer) Postcard with embroidered detail on white silk, with top flap. The central embroidery depicts two small soldiers dressed in brown outside a gate leading to house in a peaceful setting surrounded by trees. Below is a blue embroidered "Best Compliments" and red embroidered garland of red flowers.chatham family collection, chatham, world, war, world war one, world war 1, world war i, france, harry holmes, holmes, embroidery, postcard

William Smerdon Holmes married Violet Mary Macfie (1859 – 1942) on 9 April 1890 at Geelong. William and Violet lived at "Sauchieburn", Ascot on the 291 ha (720 acre) property that William inherited from his aunt Catherine Coghill (nee Holmes). William and Violet Holmes had four children: • Violet Catherine (1891- 1949) married Samuel Gordon Spittle 11 August 1920; Mary Coghill (1892 - 1979); • William Edward (1894 - 1964) married Charlotte Anne Alexander 20 June 1933; • Henry Smerdon (1897 - 1954) married Edith Sarah Pickford 28/2/1922. William Smerdon Holmes was the grandfather of Henry John (Jack) Holmes (1922-1972) William Smerdon Holmes (1927-1993), David Coghill Holmes (1929-1950) and Mary Elizabeth Chatham (Elizabeth) (nee Holmes) (1932 - 2006). William Smerdon Holmes died in June 1914 and is buried at the Ballarat New Cemetery. A black and white photograph glued into card. It shows a moustached man in coat, collar, tie and tie-pin. It is William Smerdon Holmeschatham family archive, chatham, holmes, william holmes, william smerdon holmes, ascot, sauchieburn

Chu Chin Chow is a musical comedy written, produced and directed by Oscar Asche, with music by Frederic Norton, based (with minor embellishments) on the story of Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves. Tickets to see Chu Chin Chow were particularly eagerly sought by troops on leave from the Western Front. One of the attractions for the on-leave soldiers was the chorus of pretty slave girls who, for the period, were very scantily dressed. The cast was large and included a camel, a donkey, poultry and snakes. A total of 2,800,000 people saw the show. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chu_Chin_Chow) It is thought that Harry Holmes attended 'Chu Chin Chow' while on leave in London during World War One. Around this time he had been serving in the Australian Imperial Forces in Egypt. Henry 'Harry' Holmes was the son of Violet Holmes. He enlisted under the name Harry Smerdon Holmes and was put into the 18th A.A.S.C., then later transferred into the 5th Division Train A.S.C. According to his Soldier's Pay Books (Cat. No. 20112) Holmes Registration number was 7983. He was Catholic and enlisted in the Third Military District on 17 September 1915, and embarked on 8 November 1915. Holmes was in the 18th AASC Unit with the rank of Driver at that time. On 15 November 1918 Holmes was promoted to Lance Corporal. He received leave on: * 3 August 1917 - London (10 days) * 19 February 1918 - Paris (10 days) * 27 August 1918 - London (14 days) White paper theatre programme with red and black writing. It is a publicity brochure from the play 'Chu Chin Chow' by Oscar Asche set to music by Frederic Norton. In black ink in front 'So far this is an easy first of the shows I've seen, The scenes are great and being Egyptian we understand them all the better'. chatham family collection, holmes, theatre, world war 1, world war, world war i, herbert tree, entertainment, music, musical, oscar asche, fred norton

Probably taken at a Holmes family property: "Launchley' or 'Sauchieburn" at Ascot, Ballarat District or "Launchley Park", Derrinallum in the Western District. The latter property was a property Harry and Edith Holmes purchased in 1938 on the return of their eldest son, John Henry [Jack], from WW2. David looks to be wearing his St Patrick's Christian Brother College, Ballarat school uniform. [Jane Dyer, May 2024]Photograph of three children. L- R Mary Elizabeth Holmes, ? [ nephew David Smerdon Holmes] and ? [ brother David Coghill Holmes]chatham-holmes collection, mary elizabeth holmes, ww2, derrinallum, ascot victoria