Historical information
Portrait of William Edward Peach in First World War military uniform, holding a crop in front of his thighs with military kit on the ground behind him. A Beechworth postal employee who enlisted in 1915, this photograph is probably taken in 1917, as he is a corporal in the photo and was promoted to this rank in May 1917.
Significance
This photograph is of historic significance as it depicts William Edward Peach, a Beechworth postal assistant who enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) on his nineteenth birthday, 5 August 1915, which required his parents' permission. He was decorated with the military medal for his courage in battle 4/5 October 1917 at the Battle of Broodseinde Ridge near Ypres, the most successful allied attack of the Third Battle of Ypres (31 July to 10 November 1917), also known as the Battle of Paschendale, which saw the greatest loss of human life during World War One, with almost half a million lives were lost on all sides.
According to the recommendation for his military medal, Peach 'displayed conspicuous courage and initiative', taking charge after his platoon commander became a casualty, handling the men 'under heavy fire with great skill'. He also assisted the Company Commander in reorganising their military objectives. The photograph is of social as well as historic significance for the Beechworth community, because it provides a direct link between local, national and international histories in relation to Australia' s participation in one of WWI's best-known battles.
The record has strong research potential given the ongoing public and scholarly interest in war, history, and especially the ANZAC legend, which is commemorated annually on 25 April, known as ANZAC Day. Peach is also one of the diarists of WWI, including of this significant period of Australian military history, from 1916 to 18, which can be accessed via the Australian War Memorial.
Physical description
Sepia rectangular photograph printed on gloss Kodak photographic paper mounted on board.
Inscriptions & markings
Reverse: BMM 8779 item catalogue number pencilled in right-hand bottom corner.
Subjects
- military medal,
- defending australia and victoria,
- military service,
- hmat a64 demosthenes,
- wipers,
- anzac,
- burke museum,
- beechworth,
- ypres,
- australian military services,
- beechworth post office,
- first world war,
- wartime,
- our boys,
- belgium,
- flanders fields,
- ww1,
- british war medal,
- victory medal,
- broodseinde,
- third battle of ypres
References
- Diary of William Edward Peach, 1916--18. Diary of William Edward Peach's military service during 1916--18. A digitised copy of the original can be viewed online, and a pdf document can be downloaded.
- Sergeant William Edward Peach Record of Peach's military service, including links to Collection documents -- diaries, letters, maps and diary transcript.
