Soccer at Gallipoli

This one could be controversial. The British war memorial describes this photo in the following way: 

Men of the Australian Army Medical Corps playing football in the evening. A shell of the "evening hate" (shelling by the enemy in the evening) is seen bursting in the background. The highest ground to the right on the horizon (not shown in this print) is Achi Baba.

OK: are they playing soccer?

1. What sort of ball is it?
2. What are they doing with it?
3. Can it be said that they are 'playing soccer'?

Men of the Australian Army Medical Corps playing football in the evening.

© IWM (Q 13535)