This film is part of Free
Australian Troops at the Pyramids
Shades of epic cinema as soldiers roam around the Sphinx and the Great Pyramid of Giza
Overview
This short film serves as a reminder that World War One was not just a matter of cold, muddy conflict on the Western Front. While some soldiers clamber among the ancient Egyptian monuments, others just stick to the shade. Simple sweeps of the camera are enough to emphasise the grandeur of the scenery; the Australian troops dwarfed by the scale of the 4500-year-old structures.
Much of Australia’s involvement in World War One centred on the Middle East. Initially there to help beef up Britain’s defence of the Suez Canal against the Turks, Australians were also involved in the abortive Gallipoli campaign of 1915 - after which forces were withdrawn to Egypt.
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