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George Samuel Percival (Aust.,1889–1962).

Sportsman’s Recruiting Day, Queanbeyan [NSW]

1917. Pair of vintage silver gelatin photographs, postcard format, one captioned and dated “15.8.17” in negative lower centre and photographer’s stamp verso, 8.7 x 13.7cm (approx. each). Slight scuff upper left, pinhole lower right.

Stamp reads “Photo by [obscured] Percival, Queanbeyan.” Text on the float at the left edge of one of the photographs reads “Help our wounded soldiers.” The images show a parade of soldiers and floats on Monaro Street, Queanbeyan, NSW. The Moore Bros building and Byrnes Royal Hotel, visible in the image, still stand.

Australian war recruitment during WWI campaigned for the enlistment of sportsmen, based on a “strong belief that by playing sport young men developed specific skills and qualities that could be used on the battlefield. Rowers were urged to ‘pull together to victory,’ sailors to ‘weather the storm,’ and golfers to ‘take their caddy and enlist.’ In fact, from the early months of WWI, thousands of Australians who had excelled across many sports, were potential champions or played club sport joined up.”

A resident of Queanbeyan, photographer George Samuel Percival worked in a number of occupations, which included tailoring and sanitary work. During WWI, he applied for exemption as a conscientious objector and for health issues. Ref: M. Grealy, “Sportsmen take up the fight”, SMH, 1.12.2017; The Queanbeyan Age, 3.11.1916.

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Item #CL203-28

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