Historical information

The photograph is associated with Harry Holmes and Gordon Spittle who were members of the Australian Imperial Force based in Egypt at the time. Egypt was a major base for the AIF from December 1914. A number of campaigns were fought in this theatre. There were two campaigns involving the AIF. Note that not all the fighting was actually geographically in Egypt. (http://www.aif.adfa.edu.au:8888/about3.html)

Gordon Spittle was the youngest of Three brothers. He grew up in Creswick and attended Creswick Grammar School. Gordon purchased 'Mt Cavern' in 1912. It had 4 years of a 10 year lease to run. His mother and father took delivery of it on 1 April 1916. They lived there and farmed it until Gordon returned from active service in May 1919. He married Violet Holmes and both lived at "Mt Cavern" until their deaths.
Gordon died in 1942 aged 51. Violet Holmes-Spittle dies in 1949 aged 56.

Physical description

Black and white postcard showing a statue in the middle of a townscape in Alexandria, Egypt. The monument is Mohamed Aly.

Inscriptions & markings

Verso "Monument to Mohamed Aly which is erected in the square Alexandria. Gordon. 30/3/16