The Memorial's Mystery Wedding

Title number : F11530
Title : 2/4 Battalion AIF filmed by John Bryden Wells

Identity of mystery newly weds solved!
This film shows the Service wedding between Captain Ethne Doris Swanson, 2/1 Australian General Hospital (2/1 AGH) and Lieutenant Henry Gustaf Sundstrom. The wedding reception takes place at the 2/1 AGH Sisters Mess.



This 8mm film was shot by the late John Bryden Wells, a 2nd Lieutenant of the 2/4 AIF at the time of filming. Stationed in Egypt during WW2, Wells documented the time he spent there, including Alexandrian street and market scenes, the El Montaza Royal Gardens in Alexandria, the Gezira Sporting Club at Cairo and life in the Australian camp in the Western Desert.

In the clip shown here we see scenes from a Service wedding between a nursing sister of the of the 2/1 Australian General Hospital (2/1 AGH) and an Australian lieutenant. Shown entering the camp mess, then emerging as newlyweds in their confetti-covered uniforms, the pair shortly reappear wearing their going away clothes. They step into a motorcar smile into the camera and leave the camp for destinations unknown.

While its known that Wells himself never married, the names of the happy couple are not known to the Memorial. If you recognise them or anyone in the wedding party, please let us know!

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• Australian
• War
• Memorial
• Wedding
• Nurses
• Soldiers
• Egypt
• WW2
• WWII
• World
• II