Historical information

This three-photograph group is the fifth in a series of records of items in the collection of Edgar Dawson DCM. Dawson was the Regimental Sergeant Major of 57th Battalion, AIF.
C Company of the 57th was composed of men drawn from Echuca, Eaglehawk and Bendigo.
The postcards are from his personal album, and many are annotated in Dawson's hand with explanatory notes on the subject.
Refer to Cat No 893 for his service details. Items originally in album cat. no. 207P
These three photographs above portray various members of the AIF on leave in Killarney, Ireland.


Physical description

Three photographs taken by a commercial photographer in Killarney Ireland. These photographs illustrate how men from different units relaxed together on leave.
1. A group of AIF soldiers enjoying leave outside the Graham Hotel, Killarney. The soldier on left is a corporal in 2nd Division Pioneers, next to him is a private in the 1st Division, then a signaller from 5th Division with two years' overseas service chevrons and two wound stripes, RSM Hector Dawson, 57th Btn, then a Gallipoli veteran with what seems to be a Fifth Division patch, unknown, and lastly a 1st Division sergeant.
2. A relaxed group outside the Graham Hotel. RSM Dawson is third from the right. Second from the left is an officer of the Canterbury Infantry Regiment, New Zealand Expeditionary Force.
3. RSM Dawson (hatless) and comrades setting off to likely see the famous local lakes.



Inscriptions & markings

Each photograph is inscribed on verso "To dear Mother and Father, with love from Heck, Killarney" with the date.