The Man with the chocolate box violin
Australian War Memorial Photograph C02180 shows a group portrait of Australian soldiers and officers on the Gallipoli Peninsula.
At the back of the group stands Driver Ernest Sydney Pilcher, Service Number 55, of the 3rd Field Ambulance Brigade. He is holding a violin made from a chocolate box. Pilcher was formerly a resident of Pentland, Queensland.
Pilcher later served with the 1st Mechanical Transport Company and died of wounds on the 25th of June 1918.
On the 24th of April 1926 Ernest’s ageing mother officially opened the Soldiers’ Memorial Hall in Pentland.