Out of the Attic at Redland Performing Art Centre

Remember Me: The Lost Diggers of Vignacourt

The Lost Diggers of Vignacourt is an exhibition

running at The Queensland Museum (South Bank)

5th April - 20th July 2014.

The exhibition consists of 74 photographs taken from glass plates, reportedly found on a rubbish dump and placed in a trunk in a French attic and subsequently forgotten about until they were discovered 95 years later.

The original photographs, of soldiers on leave from combat on the front lines of the Somme, were taken by Vignacourt photographers Louis and Antoinette Thuillier throughout the First World War.  Most of the soldiers are unknown, however, there is a large online community, aided by the Australian War Memorial, trying to once again give identities to these lost diggers.

THE OCKENDEN BROTHERS - BURRA SA

Six of the seven Ockenden brothers served for Australia in WWI.

Read about them here.

JANUARY 1918

Sir,

I respectfully beg to apply for my return to Australia for various reasons. Both of our parents are dead. Five of my brothers have enlisted in the AIF. My youngest brother is 17 ½  years and my sister aged 18 ½ years are now living at home alone, and in a letter just recently received, she states that she is in a delicate state of health, having suffered from heart trouble since birth, and melancholy owing to the strain of our continued absence.

The following is a list of my brothers serving in the AIF –

Pte RA Ockenden, 3rd Lt Horse had his right hand blown off at Gallipoli.

Pte H Ockenden, 27th Bn, killed in action.

Pte CL Ockenden, AFC.

Pte AG Ockenden, 7th Field Ambulance, now in Convalescent Camp in Boulogne.

Pte SL Ockenden, Tunnelling Corps, wounded, now in England.

Trusting this will meet with your favourable consideration.

Yours obediently,

OH Ockenden.