Taree RSL Sub-branch discover owner of photo that has hung in the Taree office for more than a decade

While sorting through assets and memorabilia, Sub-branch members uncovered a framed photo of an unidentified army recruit.

The photo has hung in the Sub-branch office for at least 11 years, with no one on the current committee able to identify the owner or its connection to Taree.

The Sub-branch's own Sherlock Holmes and Inspector Clouseau, John Connell and Darcy Elbourne, took it upon themselves to locate the owner and put their minds to rest.

The only prompt they had were the words '36 Platoon 4 Sec April 2008 1 RTB' underneath the photo.

John posted the photo on local Facebook groups such as You're From Taree If... and Taree and surrounds discussion board. He initially received positive comments but was felled by every good investigator's kryptonite- no leads.

A conversation was soon sparked on John's personal page about the owner's identity.

A person with links to the armed forces mentioned the name Anthony Whittaker.

"They tagged him and said is this you?" John explained.

"Anthony replied and said 'that's me and I don't know how it ended up in Taree'."

Several people, unknown to each other, agreed the person in the photo was Anthony.

A delighted John raced to Darcy's house early on a Sunday morning to pass on the good news.

The Sub-branch has since contacted Anthony, who is now out of the army and living in Rouse Hill, about the best way to send the photo down.

It is expected Anthony will visit Taree with his wife to collect the photo.

What still remains a mystery is how the photo ended up in the office and what link, if any, it has to the area.

John and Darcy hope Anthony will be able to provide the vital information to finally crack the case.

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