The Lost Diggers | Never before seen photos of Australia's World War I soldiers | Sunday Night

Experts have called it one of the most important discoveries in Australia's military history - thousands of photographs, each one a priceless record of the heroes who helped forge the nation.
Lost for nearly 100 years, Sunday Night found a collection in 2011 that was rumoured to be the greatest photographic record of World War I Diggers.
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[@fairlyvague82]

Those boys came straight from Gallipoli. They already knew Hell On Earth before they got anywhere near the front line in France. RIP lads. We know you now xxx 🇦🇺 🇳🇿 🇬🇧

[@neddyladdy]

Are the soldiers' names known? Incredible!

[@leannemo7382]

Since this was filmed in 2011, the plates (photos) are now nearly 103 years old. So cool!!

[@14rnr]

I'm so glad that dear lady and the family at the farm kept these treasures. Thank you ever so much for sharing this video, I probably wouldn't get to see it here in England otherwise.

[@Waitingforthemetro]

The one photo we have of our great-great uncle, from THIS documentary, we know that he also had his photo taken, HERE! This is amazing! Yet another piece of the family puzzle. Thank you for this! I now would LOVE to find the glass plate of the photo! WOW

[@richardkeilig4062]

These pictures honor those who fought, got wounded, and died in a far-off land. The people of France whose relations took these pictures are to be appreciated for what they did. They recorded history. They provided relief from the hell of war. This discovery of these pictures is amazing. I hope all are recognized by family in Australia. I am proud to be the son of an Australian War Bride from WWII, an Australian citizen. US citizen, and a US Army veteran. Sincerely, Rick

[@indigocheetah4172]

That means that you are an Aussie, Rick. All the best from Brisbane, Australia.

[@willowtreegaming]

My great great grandfather was here

[@Tobi-ln9xr]

The British soldiers were severely helping (you could almost say rescuing) France. Of course were the French locals welcoming to them and happy about their presence…

[@DrAkinlabi]

All gave some, but some gave all. Some stood through it, but some took a fall. Even though I am not originally from Australia, I am particularly proud of these men (Australian Sons) who shaped our world, gave their lives and risked everything to rescue our world from the hands of tyrants and homicidal maniacs.... We will remember them!

[@leannemo7382]

Hear, hear! Well stated.

[@bobbrown5529]

Amazing story . I truly hope all these photo's and related materials are now in Australia . All these have to be protected and shown to THE TRUE AUSTRALIAN PUBLIC , especially the relatives of these troops . As you said , this was the start of the Aussie / ANZAC Legends through to today . Like I said , this was a great story and the discovery of true treasures , the Photo's , so I hope we got the photo's and the purse strings were opened for what ever the cost . We owe these diggers in most cases , it COST them their lives .

[@Tobi-ln9xr]

What "legend“ ? They were just British soldiers at best.

[@michaeljohnryan7801]

Amazing this, fantastic after all these year's people are keeping people's stories alive, I had two relations who served (not Australian, east midlanders) one was injured twice and his younger brother injured and later killed and only have one grainy photo of Thomas who was killed from newspaper archive, such photos of heroes are priceless

[@wendymudkins6870]

Fascinating I'm a history buff and particularly interested in the first and second world wars what a great find a window into the Anzac's life's not only did they survive Gallipoli but then sent to France to the horrors there rip brave lads one and all

[@winkwink6478]

FAVOURITE STORY THUS FAR. ❤

[@deannorman9585]

I remember this so well. It aired on 27 Feb 2011 but there was also a follow up to this segment that aired on 20 Mar 2011. But I also recall there was something else where it was announced that someone had bought the negatives and was giving them to the Australian War Memorial. That someone had turned out to be the owner of the Channel 7 group, and Director of the AWM, Mr Kerry Stokes. I also remember it being a social media sensation as well. I was even able to meet up with Ross Coulthart who graciously sign two copies of his book for me.

[@s0ikk3li37]

I as a Finn always have upt most Respect for the Diggers. "Fucking Oi mate and stab with bayonets, otherwise fucking Warriors. And chill people." - My Grand-Dad. Love you. Take back what is Yours.

[@rollajay5301]

Love from Australia it means alot

[@keithad6485]

Just the whim of fortune which saw these photographs survive and discovered. What items from this era have been lost forever? Whilst a soldier in the Aussie Army, I was at the War Memorial taking part in an Army museum staff course in the 1990s. One of the staff showed us a 3 volume diary kept by an Aussie soldier on Gallipoli. In the diary was a priceless reference to 'Simmo the donkey man'! I had never heard John Kirkpatrick Simpson referred to with this nickname. We were also told, the diary had been discovered on a town rubbish tip. Only good fortune lead to someone discovering it and donating the diary to the War Memorial.

[@Crintingnut]

Marvellous!!

[@stevegreen8260]

I had 2 great uncles in the !st world war..One went to Gallipoli and survived and the oter died at the Somme and is buried near the town of Albert in France.

[@deanehill9730]

Outstanding find.

[@MaxwellEdison14]

Beautiful, thank you.

[@Raylee-H]

Wow amazing! It took a journalist to retrieve these what’s the go there ?

[@denisegore1884]

I've seen this before. There's a book of the pics called The Lost Diggers and a Facebook page.

[@nickmolloy9563]

Does anyone know if these images are now on-line to view? The staff at the Paris embassy should be sacked for incompetence. Talk about a failure in their duty of care.

[@tomnies723]

There is a book printed with these photos. I bought a second hand copy from Vinnies which I treasure.

[@nickmolloy9563]

@ thanks. Could you provide the title of the book please?

[@tomnies723]

@@nickmolloy9563 'The Lost Diggers' - Ross Coulthart

[@nickmolloy9563]

@@tomnies723 thank you.

[@LostInIce4]

When men were men. Respect!

[@juneallan4903]

What about women at war,behind the scenes.

[@alancotterell9207]

Some of their faces might be smiling, however none of their eyes look happy. Viviene Tayllor - one of my mother's uncles disappeared in WW1. I have a photo of him with his brother - looks like outside hospital in Egypt. His brother has a hand and an eye missing - he is officially MIA on Gallipoli - died of Spanish Flu.

[@indigocheetah4172]

My great uncles served in France. After reading their records, two of the men were wounded, requiring hospitalisation. One tragically died from his wounds, he was gassed. They were invalided back to England due to the severity of their trauma. Of the brave Anzac soldiers who served in France, many men suffered from injuries I wonder if their photos were taken at the Thuillier farm Vignacourt France. Lest we forget.

[@14rnr]

I wish I could say to them, be at peace brave men, Thank you for my freedom.

[@thegreatjay1245]

Awesome story guys

[@coolbreeze2.0-mortemadfasc13]

I have NEVER seen a farm in the middle of a city.

[@fairlyvague82]

Just out of curiosity I wanted to see if those plates were sold or donated by the owners of the farmhouse where the chest was located. According to what I could find relating to their acquisition by the Australian War Memorial, 800 of the plates were donated by a Mr Kerry Stokes AC, a very wealthy Australian business man (according to his Wiki page). So it looks like they were in fact sold by the family from the farmhouse. Just sayin 😏

[@alinas1063]

Fairly Vague the photos belong to someone in Australia but donated to Australian War Memorial. The farmhouse now offers a gallery/museum where you can experience and see the photos, was there last month.

[@deannorman9585]

Initially when it was announced someone had bought them and was donating them to the AWM it wasn't mentioned who but it was later revealed to be Mr Kerry Stokes who owned the Channel 7 group but was also a Director of the AWM as well and he had donated many things to the AWM before this.

[@coolbreeze2.0-mortemadfasc13]

Really handsome group of young men.

[@petercastles5978]

Australia has never recovered from losing the cream of her manhood in the two major conflicts. All volunteers in the first, and nearly all volunteers in the second. Some of the toughest and wildest men to go to war. A lot were wasted due to inept leadership.

[@Tobi-ln9xr]

All for that so 🇬🇧 doesn’t lose her colonies. Australia might be the proudest continuing colony.

[@j.ksingh6896]

Those men were perfect for the title But the title needs something more "Pro diggers"

[@Jaykllw]

GOOD ONE 👍

[@andrewwebb-trezzi2422]

I wonder how many Canadians are in there.

[@Tobi-ln9xr]

Doesn’t matter. They were all British soldiers.

[@andrewwebb-trezzi2422]

@ what?

[@importantname]

is this a story of the reporter telling a story about the people finding of old photos? The war, death and tragedy, the loss of a generation, should be the story. Please stop presenting war as a great adventure for historians and story tellers. Reminds me of grave robbing for our entertainment.

[@deannorman9585]

There are many sides to war but this was about finding an important piece of history and some of the family members whose fathers/grandfathers are in these photos may be seeing a new photo of their relative for the very first time. It's also about putting a human face to the tragedy of WW1.

[@Curious-i5m]

♻️🌏🌀🌌👣

[@thegreatjay1245]

First