Image Library

Das Kaiserliche und königliche Kriegspressequartier (KPQ) or The Imperial and Royal War Press Headquarters was a department of the Austro-Hungarian Army High Command. It was tasked with coordinating all press information and propaganda activities, including all mass media available at the time. Initially commanded by Major General Maximilian Ritter von Hoen, the KPQ would eventually have 550 artists, photographers, film makers and journalists as members, the KPQ engaged the services of many of Austra-Hungary’s most famous and established creative names. Women were accepted, contrary to the military norms of the time, among them the first officially licensed female war report writer/photojournalist in history, Alice Schalek (pictured). The oldest of them, Fritzi Ulreich (1865–1936), went to the south-eastern front in Belgrade in 1914 and painted the ruined fortifications there, as well as military cemeteries and individual graves. Helene Arnau (1870–1958) painted from February to May 1917 on the Carinthian front. The youngest, Stephanie Hollenstein (1886–1944) even disguised herself as a man in order to be able to go into battle with the Standschützen.

During the war, the KPQ commissioned over 9000 works of art and 33,000 photgraphs as well as numerous films. Shared here are photos pertaining to the Austro-Hungarian Empires WW1 aviation endeavours.

Collection courtesy of the Österreichische Nationalbibliothek

After answering an advertisment in the Glasgow Herald for boys 17 years and older to train as wireless operators for the RNAS, 17 year old Alan MacLachlan was one of five successful candidates out of over 30 applicants.

Sent to Cranwell for instruction in Morse code, semaphore signals and heliograph signals, as well as the Naval and International flag signals and of course drilling. Promoted to Petty Officer, further instruction in aerial gunnery and bomb-dropping was conducted on the Isle of Sheppey. After training he was posted to the RNAS Station at Houton Bay, which is on Scapa Flow in the Orkney Islands. His squadron was land-based and equipped with Felixstowe F3 Flying Boats, in which he flew long-range reconnaissance and antisubmarine patrols.

He would remain at Houton Bay for the duration of the war and witnessed German High Seas Fleet steaming into Scapa Flow to surrender to the British Navy.

• Alan MacLachlan Collection

When the 1914 war broke out Ken McLeod was around 25 years old and he began thinking of joining up but on his own terms i.e. using his talents as a photographer. At various times he made no less than ten attempts; persistent yes, but with no success. Then in November 1916, being on freelance work in Condobolin he made the eleventh try and was finally accepted.

Posted to 3 Squadron to work in the photographic section and was one of fourteen trained photographers, who at times during the night, would have to turn out up to 5,000 photographs. His first flight in an RE8 was with Nigel Love, noting that it was a slow machine taking 20 minutes to reach 6500 feet.

In October he was promoted to Sergeant and assigned to the War Records Section, photographing the battlefields of France. When the Armistice was declared he went into Germany and eventually Egypt.

• Kenneth McLeod Collection

Charles Kingsley Mills was a 25-year-old Accountant in Auckland when World War One broke out. Enlisting in the 3rd Auckland Mounted Rifles in August 1914, he took part in the initial assault in April 1915, he fought at Gallipoli until June 1915, when he became ill. Evacuated to Alexandria, with his health not improving he was evacuated to England. He spent the next 19 months in England and then France with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, during which time he was promoted to Corporal.

He successfully applied for a transfer to the RFC were he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in May 1917. After completing his flight training, he was posted to 88 Squadron to instruct advanced pupils, in flying techniques. After a short period of time he was posted to 65 Squadron to fly Camels

In early 1918 he would be hospitalised and struck off squadron strength due to illness. He would eventually be repatriated back to New Zealand.

• Charles Mills Collection

Enlisting in November 1915 and taken on strength as a Sapper with 11th Field Company Engineers, Moore disembarked in England in August 1916. Proceeding to France in February 1917, he was transferred to the 2nd F.C.E., it was during this time he successfuly applied for a transfer to the AFC.

Promoted to 2nd Lieutenant after completing observer training he was posted to 3 Squadron flying as observer in RE8's. On August 31st, 1918 Moore and his Pilot Lt. Kilburn were attacked by 13 Fokker scouts, Moore was wounded in the thigh and the RE8 was forced to land, Kilburn was uninjured. He would remain in hospital until October 1918 when he was taken on strength with 6 (Training) Squadron AFC.

• William Moore Collection