Australian Chivalry Reproductions in Colour and Duo-tone of Official War Paintings
Melbourne: War Memorial, 1933. Large oblong folio, comprising 52 tipped colour plates, with facing letterpress descriptions. A most attractive copy. A beautifully presented album of works by Australian artists of the First World War. It includes all theatres of the conflict, including the Light Horse in Palestine and Damascus, through to the European battlefields of Fromelles, Bullecourt, Messines, Ypres, and so forth. Naval scenes of interest include a depiction of the Australian submarine AE2 crossing the Dardanelles into the Sea of Marmora; and another presents the surrender of the High German Fleet.
Of special aviation importance is plate number nineteen by Harold Power, depicting the spectacular rescue Captain D.W. Rutherford in the days before the Battle for Gaza (March 1917). He crashed into the desert, and faced a dire fate at the hands of advancing Turkish cavalry, before a sudden and daring rescue by Lieutenant F.H. McNamara. Both officers were members of First Squadron, Australian Flying Corps, and Lieutenant McNamara was later awarded the Victoria Cross for his efforts.
Artists represented in the album include Arthur Streeton, George Lambert, Charles Wheeler, Louis McCubbin, and Fred Leist (amongst several others). Item #5175
Price (AUD): $350.00