Three-legged fun

The finish of the three-legged race at a sports meeting organised in New Guinea by an Australian Artillery Unit on 26 July 1943. Sgt Ernest Keene, of New South Wales, and Sister Barbarba Ingram, of Sassafras, Tasmania, on the race from Sgt Harry Trounson, of Sydney, and Sister Vi Guye, of Victoria.. (Negative by G Short). Australia War Memorial 015287

Sport and games plays an important role in keeping up morale, having fun and building team spirit.

Australian troops enjoyed competing in three-legged races on ships and on shore.

A sports meeting was organised in New Guinea by an Australian Artillery Unit on 26 July 1943.

Tasmanian nurse Sister Barbara Ingram, of Sassafras, and Sergeant Ernest Keene, of New South Wales, teamed for the three-legged race and won from Sergeant Harry Trounson, of Sydney, and Sister Vi Guye, from Victoria.

Sporting competition also provided an opportunity for the soldiers to dabble in creativity. Prizes in the form of topical sketches drawn by Sergeant Owen Bond, of New South Wales, were awarded during the competition.

Florence Barbara Ingram enlisted on 27 August 1940. Sister Ingram served as a nurse with the Australian Army in the Middle East from 14 December 1940 to 24 March 1942. During this period, Sister Ingram also had service in Greece, including Crete from 10 April 1941 to May 1941.

Sister Ingram served in New Guinea from 3 December 1942 to 29 November 1943. She was made a Lieutenant on 23 March 1943 and Captain on 16 August 1943.

After the end of World War Two, Captain Ingram volunteered for service in Japan on 24 April 1946. She arrived in Japan on 31 May 1947 and returned to Australia later that year.

Captain Ingram was discharged on 4 December 1947. She gave a total period of 2,572 days of service, including 1,069 days of active service outside Australia.