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Writing the war: George Auchterlonie

  • Date recorded: 30 Jun 2014

  • Duration: 05:06

'A great lot of firing going on at Gaza & some very big shells coming from Beersheba way...'

- George Auchterlonie

About this video

Watch our series of short films accompanying our Writing the war: personal stories from WWI exhibition, highlighting the individual experiences of Australians who participated in the war. The films also feature in our permanent exhibition, The changing face of Victoria, as part of the State Library's World War I centenary commemoration. The Writing the war touring exhibition will travel to Victorian public libraries from August 2015 to June 2017.

This film is based on the WWI diaries of George Auchterlonie, who was born in Gippsland in 1887. He enlisted in August 1915 and served in the 8th Light Horse Regiment in Egypt.

A keen photographer, George carried a small box brownie camera with him when he was sent overseas. His photos and diary entries provide illuminating insights into his military life in Egypt, Sinai and Palestine. The 8th Light Horse was made up solely of Victorian soldiers and was commandeered by Colonel Lionel Maygar, whose death is described in George's diaries.

Sergeant Auchterlonie fought in the battles of Gaza in March 1917 and the Battle of Beersheba in October 1917. He served until 1919 and returned to Australia in 1920.

Watch the other videos in this series