Showing 306 items
matching burma war
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Bendigo Military Museum
Administrative record - MEMO BOOK, Red Cross V.A.D, 1939-1945
The little boy's father worked for a gold mining company in Malaya. The boy and his mother made it out of Malaya to Bendigo safely. The father volunteered by joining the 4th Pahang Bn of the Federated States of Malaya, serial no 13428 and his rank was Sgt. He was a POW, worked on the Burma railway. The father, Desmond Vandergrift Giblin survived the War. Desmond Vandergrift Giblin has letters and his diary on the Aust War Memorial website.This is a pocket sized memo book. Mottled blue cover with white printing. The spine is dark blue. The cover is hard cardboard. Inside are numerous lined pages. The pages in the first section are used as a scrap book showing news clippings about fund raising for our POW's (Red Cross). 1st clipping shows a little boy, Ian Desmond Giblin, aged 2 yr 10 mth. His father was a POW in Malaya. Other pages in the book are either blank or have a few pencilled financial notations.“July 6th” is written on the little boy's clipping but no year.ww2, red cross, pow's, burma railway, v.a.d. -
Bendigo Military Museum
Book - BOOK - AUTOBIOGRAPHY, Sir Edward Dunlop, "THE WAR DIARIES OF WEARY DUNLOP", First published 1986. reprinted 1986, 1987
"THE/ WAR DIARIES/ OF/ WEARY DUNLOP/ JAVA AND THE BURMA - THAILAND RAILWAY 1942 - 1945" Book - item in the collection of Richard William McGILVERY, RAAF. Refer Cat. No. 7287P for his service details, photo, awards, HARD COVER BOOK WITH DUST COVER. Hard cover - cardboard with adhered red buckram, gold print on spine. Dust cover - paper, white print on front, spine and back on red background. Folded flaps with black print on beige background. Illustrated - front - colour seated portrait of Sir Edward Dunlop. Back - copy in colour of watercolour painting of "Weary Dunlop" operating in a jungle hospital by "Jack Chalker". 401 pages - cut, plain, off white paper. Illustrated black and white photographs and sketches.history, books, ww2, autobiography -
Bendigo Military Museum
Souvenir - SOUVENIR, FRAMED, WW2, Post WW2
The spoon was given to Maxwell Barry Cowden VX19297 2/2 Pioneer BN by an American POW. He carried the spoon tied to the side of his loin cloth. Max worked on the Burma Railway and in the Coal Mines in Japan, Senryu 24 and Fukuoka camps. After the war he could not sit on a chair for a long time and would just squat on the floor with his back to the wall as he had done as a POW. Refer Cat No 7076P for more service details.Framed brown timber with gold edge, inset background is green, within is a silver spoon and medal displayed. The medal is a Commemorative unofficial Prisoner of War. On the spoon stamped in "U.S"framed, pow, souvenir, u.s -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Document - Folder, Nankervis, Frank
Frank Nankervis was an Eltham Shire president and councillor, and involved in many community organisations. He had been a prisoner of war in Changi and on the Burma railway, later working in the Ex-PoW Association of Australia. Contents Newspaper article: "War and civic hero dies", Diamond Valley Leader, 23 April 2008. Obituary of Frank Nankervis. Newspaper article: "He inspired many in Arthurs Creek", Diamond Valley Leader, 7 May 2008. Obituary of Frank Nankervis.Newspaper clippings, A4 photocopies, etcfrank nankervis, heath brown, simpson barracks watsonia, arthurs creek rural fire brigade, hurstbridge high school, hurstbridge sewerage trust, hurstbridge waterworks trust, jack lawson, burma railway, 2/29 battalion association, john stamp, bill penrose, hurstbridge community centre, ex-pow association of australia, f force burma railway, rotary greensborough, pension advisory panel for ex-servicement with pension problems, kpucie nankervis, kate saunders -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Post Card, Post Card sent to Private K.J. Arrowsmith, VX54102, 6th Line Section, 8 Div, Malaya via Prisoner of War Post, 8 August 1944 (received 14 June 1945), 8 Aug 1944
"Dear Kevin, Everybody home here is well, hope you and Bobby are well. Sid, Laurie home, hear regular from Eddie. Lots love Polly DAD" Post Card sent to Private K.J. Arrowsmith, VX54102, 6th Line Section, 8 Div, Malaya via Prisoner of War Post, Australian Prisoners of War, C/o Prisoners of War Information Bureau Tokyo, Japan from his sister Polly (Mercia Castledine). “After the cholera had been evidence for a few days, the Nips decided that the works on the railway had to be carried on and so isolated all the cases (a number more had developed since we were first quarantined) and sent all other men back to work. By this time, the number of men unfit for work had increased tremendously and the medical officer and medical orderlies were hopelessly overworked. Volunteers were called for to assist in this cholera ward; a disease highly contagious and with a terrific death rate. This meant isolation, but did not deter many men from offering their services, Bob and Kevin Arrowsmith being selected.” - Through the Burma-Thailand Railway, pp234-5, author unknown This post card is significant for its rarity as very few ever made it through and were saved. In these instances the information provided by Polly was cryptic informing Kevin and Bob Arrowsmith that brother Eddie and brothers-in-law, Laurie Mears and Sid Castledine were all still alive.Digital image of original held in private collection of Joan Castledine, daughter of Sid and Polly (nee Arrowsmith) Castledine.bob arrowsmith, burma-thailand railway, eddie arrowsmith, joan castlemaine, kevin j. arrowsmith, laurie mears, lucy mears (nee arrowsmith), mercia (polly) castledine (nee arrowsmith), postcards, prisoner of war post, sid castledine -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Post Card, Post Card sent to Private K.J. Arrowsmith, VX54102, 6th Line Section, 8 Div, Malaya via Prisoner of War Post, 16 June 1944 (received 14 June 1945), 16 Jun 1944
"Dear Kevin, Hope you are both well, everybody well home here, constantly thinking of you, hear regular, Eddie, Laurie, Sid. Lots love Polly Dad" Post Card sent to Private K.J. Arrowsmith, VX54102, 6th Line Section, 8 Div, Malaya via Prisoner of War Post, Australian Prisoners of War, C/o Prisoners of War Information Bureau Tokyo, Japan from his sister Polly (Mercia Castledine). “After the cholera had been evidence for a few days, the Nips decided that the works on the railway had to be carried on and so isolated all the cases (a number more had developed since we were first quarantined) and sent all other men back to work. By this time, the number of men unfit for work had increased tremendously and the medical officer and medical orderlies were hopelessly overworked. Volunteers were called for to assist in this cholera ward; a disease highly contagious and with a terrific death rate. This meant isolation, but did not deter many men from offering their services, Bob and Kevin Arrowsmith being selected.” - Through the Burma-Thailand Railway, pp234-5, author unknown This post card is significant for its rarity as very few ever made it through and were saved. In these instances the information provided by Polly was cryptic informing Kevin and Bob Arrowsmith that brother Eddie and brothers-in-law, Laurie Mears and Sid Castledine were all still alive.Digital image of original held in private collection of Joan Castledine, daughter of Sid and Polly (nee Arrowsmith) Castledine.bob arrowsmith, burma-thailand railway, eddie arrowsmith, joan castlemaine, kevin j. arrowsmith, laurie mears, lucy mears (nee arrowsmith), mercia (polly) castledine (nee arrowsmith), postcards, prisoner of war post, sid castledine -
Waverley RSL Sub Branch
Key
During World War II, following the Fall of Singapore in February 1942, the Japanese military detained about 3,000 civilians in Changi Prison, which was built to house only 600 prisoners. The Japanese used the British Army's Selarang Barracks, near the prison, as a prisoner of war camp, holding some 50,000 Allied—predominantly British and Australian—soldiers.[1] Although POWs were rarely, if ever, held in the civilian prison, the name Changi became synonymous in the UK, Australia, and elsewhere with the POW camp. About 850 POWs died during their internment in Changi during the Japanese Occupation of Singapore,[2] a relatively low rate compared to the overall death rate of 27% for POWs in Japanese camps.[3] However, many more prisoners died after being transferred from Changi to various labour camps outside Singapore, including the Burma Railway and the Sandakan airfield.this item is of historical significance because it is supposedly one of the few surving keys to Changi Jail and donated by Mr.Robertson . Changi is significant as it was a major prison camp during WWII Changi Jail Key. Blackened metal key, Wooden tag attached with Japanese print on it. Kanji Characters read Middle Gatechangi, fall of singapore, key, p.o.w. -
Federation University Historical Collection
Newspaper, Jungle War and Bismark Sea Battle, 1945, 1945
world war 2, japanese, jungle war, bismark sea battle, us fleet, phillipines, burma, munition workers, land army, ration books -
Federation University Historical Collection
Newspaper, The Herald, 19 February 1942, 19/02/1942
... War 2 Darwin Bombing Burma munitions gardening The Herald, 19 ...world war 2, darwin bombing, burma, munitions, gardening -
Bendigo Military Museum
Book - BOOK - JAPANESE PRISON CAMPS WW2, Rohan D. RIVETT, "Behind Bamboo", 1947 (First published May 1946
... of War, on the Burma-Siam Railway"... of War, on the Burma-Siam Railway" Books Military History WW2 ..."BEHIND BAMBOO" "An Inside Story of the Japanese Prison Camps" Author - ROHAN D. RIVETT "War Correspondent Prisoner of War, on the Burma-Siam Railway"Hard cover book. Cover - cardboard, light orange buckram with red and white print on front and spine. 400 pages - cut, plain, off white paper, illustrated - black and white and colour illustrations. Front end papers - owner's name, owner's stamp, book seller's label. Price notation.Front end papers - Owner's name - handwritten, black pen, "O.PELL / 7 VIOLET ST/ BGO" "M. PELL/ ORBOST" Owner's stamp - black ink "BENDIGO DISTRICT RSL SUB BRANCH INC/ PO BOX 42/ LONG GULLY 3550. Book seller's label - silver on black background A.J. DIGBY/ BOOKSELLER AND STAT (?)/ BAIRNSDALE" price notation - grey lead pencil "$10/ DMTY"books, military history, ww2, japanese prison camps -
Lara RSL Sub Branch
Book, Australia in the War of 1939-1945 - MEDICAL Middle East and Far East. Author Allan.S.Walker MD, Ch.M. F.R.A.C.P, First Published 1953
The complete record of the Medical conditions setting up camp hospitals, medical transport, medical records,Photographs, Maps,IllustrationsAustralian War Memorialtobruk, crete, general health in the desert, surgical conditions in the desert, syria, nurses, tropical medicine, malaria, medical conditions, burma thai railway, labour forces, prison camps -
Lara RSL Sub Branch
Book, Australia in the War of 1939 - 1945 Series One ARMY Volumn IV THE JAPANESE THRUST, First published 1957
... 1939-1942 Malaya Singapore Prisoners of War Java Timor Burma ...WWII List of events. Part 1 - The Road to War Part 11 - South East Asia Conquered Part III - Prisoners of the Japanese Australia in the War of 1939-1945 - The Japanese Thrust ARMY Author Lionel Wilmore List of events from 1931 - 20th May 1942 Maps, Photographs and IllustrationsAustralian War Memorialww11, japanese, new guinea, 1939-1942, malaya, singapore, prisoners of war, java, timor, burma thai railway -
Lara RSL Sub Branch
Book, Australia in the War of 1939-1945 - Air War Against Japan 1943-1945 AIR Author George Odgers, First Published in 1957
... japan pacific war phillipines burma minelaying mindoro catalinas ...The history of the Royal Australian Air Force in WWII beginning with the first offensive against Japan and ends with the return of the RAAF to Australia after the surrender of the Japanese Forces.Australia in the War of 1939-1945 - Air War Against Japan 1943-1945 AIR Maps, Illustrations, Photographs, Australian War Memorialraaf, 1943-1945, japan, pacific war, phillipines, burma, minelaying, mindoro, catalinas, anti-submarine, tarakan, labuan, rabaul, new guinea -
Lara RSL Sub Branch
Book, Victory Roll - The RAAF at War, 1952
The stories in 'Victory Roll' tell of some of the deeds performed in the final and victorious year of WWII. They add to a long tradition of gallant service and sacrifice and will serve as an eternal inspiration in the task of building a new world in which the spirit of the Four Freedoms must predominate. In making final victory possible, we lost many comrades, to w home this book, together with those which preceded it, becomes a permanent memorial.Green hardcover and spine with black text - 'Victory Roll The RAAF at war' on front cover and spine. The inside front and back covers have silhouette, green sepia pictures of a variety of aeroplane. Illustrations, photographs and cartoonsMessage from the Chief of Air Staff.... Air Vice Marshal, Chief of Ai Staff C.Joneswwii, raaf, end of conflict, test pilot, wewak, the sisters fly on, battle of borneo, the biscuit bombers, anzacs on bougainville, raaf pacific, return to timor, pacific landing, long range from darwin, air victory over burma, lifeline to china, photo recce, first over malaya, jungle dawn, the victory in europe, story of a prison camp, night flight over hamburg, youth's prayer at a war memorial, victory at the alps, waaf's good service -
Bendigo Military Museum
Film - PHOTOGRAPHS
The photos belonged to Alf MASHELL VX25221 POW. They were given to Alf by a mate in Alf's unit, Sergeant D T MOORE who was also a POW & worked on the railway. Refer Reg No 2485 for Alf MASKELL's service history.Photos, black / white, copies of originals. The photos are a mixture taken during the building of the Burma Railway, DR's at work on the railway, the surrender in Singapore & the search after the War.pow’s, military, burma railway -
Bendigo Military Museum
Book - BOOK, POW, Angus and Robertson LTD, Behind Bamboo, First edition 1946
The story of Japanese Prisoners of War by Rohan Rivett “War Correspondent, POW on the Burma Siam Railway”Hard cover, buckram, dark fawn colour, blue print on spine, red print symbol on front cover, 400 pages, plain off white, illustrated B & W, colour and maps.Front fly leaf, hand written in grey lead pencil, “8a A.E. Lockwood 12/6”. Front end paper bottom right, book shop label in blue print intelligible.books, military history, pow’s -
Bendigo Military Museum
Administrative record - RECORD - POW, c.1941 - 1943
Japanese Prisoner of War record for Sgt Ignacio EISMA, 1st Howitzer Battalion, Dutch East Indies Army. Sgt EISMA died 3.1943 at the Rin Tin POW Camp on the Thai Burma Railway. refer Cat No’s 3669P and 3670.Photo copy of a Japanese Prisoner of War record.record, administration, pow, japanese -
Bendigo Military Museum
Artwork, other - CARD AND PAMPHLET, 2) Sirichai Press, 1) est 1945, .2) post 1945
.1) Possibly a ships boarding pass on return from Japan at wars end..2) 3 Pagodas was a place on the Burma Railway. Items belonged to Alfred Robert Maskell VX25221, 4th Anti Tank Regt 2nd AIF. Refer 2485 for medals and service history also 1076, 1100.2, 2489P. .1) Card, printed in black with hand written details on one side, rear is lined. The card details name, rank, sex, civilian, physical condition, name of ship embarked on, billet No. .2) Pamphlet, "The Bridge on the River Kwai, history of the Death Railway". Front has a drawing of the bridge, rear has depiction of the "3 Pagodas", 12 pages."Maskell Alfred R, Gunner AIF VX25221 British-M-Australia"identification, burma railway, ww2 -
Bendigo Military Museum
Award - MEDAL SET, Post WW11
Alfred Maskell No VX25221 enlisted in the 2nd AIF on 25.6.40 aged 19 years. Posted to 4th Anti Tank Regt with the rank of Gunner he was taken POW at the fall of Singapore. He was held in Changi Gaol then went to work on the Thai-Burma Railway 1942-43 followed by Prison ship to Japan where he worked on the Docks until Wars end. He was discharged from the AIF on 12.12.45.Medals, court mounted, set of (6) re A Maskell. 1. 1939-45 Star. 2. Pacific Star. 3. Defence Medal. 4. War Medal 1939-45. 5. Australian Service Medal. 6. Australian Service Medal 1945-75 with clasp "SW PACIFIC"."VX25221 A.R Maskell"military, history, medals -
Bendigo Military Museum
Book - BOOKS, Trevor Nevitt Dupuy, Col US Army Retired, The Military History of World War II (17 Volumes), c.WWII
Red buckram hard covers, black & white photos & illustrations, black & white text on cover. .1) European Land Battles 1939-43, 91 pages .2) European Land Battles 1944-45, 83 pages .3) The Nard Wat in the West .4) The Nard War in the West - The Raiders, 67 pages .5) The Nard War in the West - The Wolf Packs, 60 pages .6) Air War in the West Sept 1939 - May 1941, 76 pages .7) Air War in the West June 1941 - April 1945, 66 pages .8) Expansion of Japan in Asia, 68 pages .9) Japanese Ambitions in the Pacific, 119 pages .10) Allied Victories in China / Burma, 66 pages .11) The Nard War in the Pacific - Rising Sun of Nippon, 90 pages .12) The Naval War n the Pacific, 89 pages .13) The Air War in the Pacific, 88 pages .14) The Air War in the Pacific - Victory in the Air, 89 pages .15) European Resistance Movements, 88 pages .16) Asian and Axis Resistamce Movements, 88 pages .17) Combat Headers of World War II, 126 pages .18) Strategic Directions of World War II, 65 pagesbooks, history, military -
Bendigo Military Museum
Memorabilia - RAIL SECTION AND CERTIFICATE, 1) est 1941-43, .2) 1984
The items were presented to Alfred Robert Maskell VX25221, 4th Anti Tank Regt in May 1984. Alf worked on the Railway during 1942-43 as a Prisoner of war in horrendous conditions. Refer 2485 for medals and service history also 1076, 2484P..1) A section of the "Thai-Burma Railway Line". A small brass plaque is attached to one edge. .2) Certificate of "Authenticity Thai- Burma Railway memento". Yellow parchment paper with gold surround with blue print. A space for "Presented to and date, signed by". A brief story on the Railway Line. On the rear in one corner in ink "Slice No 131"..1) "Rail slice Thai-Burma Railway 1942-43 Australian Thai Chamber of Commerce"memorabilia, history, railways -
Bendigo Military Museum
Book, Angus & Robertson Ltd, Behind Bamboo, 1954
... Rohan D Rivett, War Correspondent, Prisoner of War... goldfields Rohan D Rivett, War Correspondent, Prisoner of War ...Rohan D Rivett, War Correspondent, Prisoner of War on the Burma - Siam Railway. Hard, dark fawn coloured buckram cover, green print on spine, 335 cut plain pages, illustrated, colour & black & white illustrations, & maps.Bookshop label, front end paper: Austral Book Shop 263 Collins Street Melbvourne - FJ 3739books, military, history -
Frankston RSL Sub Branch
Collection, Burma Railway
... with the 8th Division and was a prisoner of war. Collection, Burma ...Framed collection of railway spikes and clips from the Thai-Burma Railway recovered from Hell Fire Pass in 1987. These items were recovered during a visit to the site by Australian Army World War 2 ex-serviceman John William Toon, service number VX30397. J W Toon (also known as Bill Toon) served with the 8th Division and was a prisoner of war. -
Montmorency/Eltham RSL Sub Branch
Medal - Framed medals and letter
Edgar Rowllings was born in Rangoon, Burma in 1878.This is a letter addressed to Edgar Rowllings. It is his authority to wear war medals awarded for the mercantile marine. The medals are complete with miniatures and riband bar. Envelopes that contained the medals also have wearing instructions The letter has the stamp of the Board of Trade, Marine Department authorised 6-SEP 1922. The medals authorised are the British War Medal and the Mercantile Marine Medal.Insignia of the Board of Trade which says Com-of Council for Trade Stamp of the Board of Trade Marine Department authorised 6-SEP 1922 Signature of superintendent of issuing M.M.O.merchant navy, british merchant navy, british war medal, mercantile marine war medal -
Greensborough Historical Society
Book, Edward Ernest Dunlop (Weary), The War diaries of Weary Dunlop: Java and the Burma-Thailand Railway 1942-1945, 1942-1945
War diaries of Weary Dunlop.401 p. illus.To Faye from Dale 1989world war 2, prisoners of war -
Bairnsdale RSL Sub-Branch Inc.
Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Her Majestry,s Stationary Office by the Campfield Press, Their Name Liveth Vol VI Part II, 1968
Some Pictures of War Cemeteries of South -East Asia,The Pacific Islands and Japan 1914-1918 and 1939-1945Red covered book Their name Liveth on top of cover Seal of Commonwealth War Graves Commission under TitleTheir Name Liveth Commonwealth War Graves Commissionjapan, war, east, port, islands, new, guinea, south, cemeteries, asia, pacific, fiji, caledonia, adelaide, rabaul, lea, morsby, labuan, yokohama, kranji, singaporechangi, kanchanaburi, thailand, thanbyuzayat, burma -
Ringwood and District Historical Society
Envelope, Packet: War Workers (WW2) - Fall of Singapore, Burma Railway Map, Special Editions of Newspapers 1992-993
... Destiny Struck", Australia at War, Map of Burma Railway... of Singapore", "The Day Destiny Struck", Australia at War, Map of Burma ...World War II - Newspapers - 50th anniversary editions; The Australian - Special edition "The Fall of Singapore", "The Day Destiny Struck", Australia at War, Map of Burma Railway -
Australian Commando Association - Victoria
Book, The Surprising Battalion – Australian Commandos in China
The detailed account of Australian Commandos in China during World War Two. This, the story of Australia’s first Commandos, is an epic of the war. Here is hardship and adventure, pathos and humour, suffering and excitement. It tells of the men who went to Malaya with the 22nd Brigade, then sailed to Burma to train under Britain’s finest Commando leaders. Escaping from the Japanese, they journeyed the length of the tortuous Burma Road, crossing China almost to the coast. Here they trained the Surprising Battalions, some of China’s crack guerrillas, and operated with them in war torn provinces. The became famous as the “Lost Legion of the AIF” – the boys of Mission 204. After almost a year of guerrilla existence, the survivors were withdrawn to Kunming and flew to India. They were allocated to Brigadier Orde Wingate’s force but were recalled whilst on leave and returned to Australia after two years in the tropics.Hard cover first edition world war ii, ww2, australian commando, australian special forces, australian special operations, world war ii australian operations in china -
Federation University Historical Collection
Book - Scrap Book, Ballarat School of Mines Scrap Book, 1924 - 1929, c1931
The Ballarat School of Mines was a predecessor institution of Federatin University Australia. The scrap books were kept by the librarians and related to topics of interest to the Ballarat School of Mines, its students and its staff. 17 December 1954 - Ballarat Junior Technical School Headmaster's Report 05 February 1925 - Ballarat School of Mines Museum closure 25 February 1925 - War Trophies Museum 06 May 1925 - Ballarat's Museum. Where is it? Some Interesting Facts 14 May 1925 - White Flat Reserve 21 June 1928 - Ballarat School of Mines Procession 14 March 1929 - Mr A.D.R. Galloway - An Australian Abroad - Tragic end. 1929 - Technical Education 17 October 1929 - Agricultural Engineering 15 February 1930 - Ballarat School of Mines Student Association 20 February 1930 - 61s Annual Meeting of the Ballarat School of Mines 02 June 1930 - R. Young in Belgium and visits battlefields including Hill 60. 19 February 1931 - School Hostel Suggested 14 April 1931 - Frank Pinkerton Obituary 15 October 1921 - Life at Mt Isa (E. Loveland) 18 February 1932 - Discussion on Teachers College (Ballarat Teachers' College) 11 July 1931 - Phoenix Model Locomotive donation to the Ballarat School of Mines 06 May 1932 - The Mt Isa Country 11 Oct 1932 - Death of F.W. Alsopp (former SMB student) 21 January 1933 - Education In Victoria: Will a New Era Open 28 September 1933 - New Teaching System Explained by the Minister 17 February 1934 - Trip to New Guinea (A.F. Heseltine) 19 April 1934 - Early Ballarat - Address by Nathan Spielvogel 30 August 1934 - Ballarat Junior Technical School Tennis Court 23 August 1934 - Welding plant and Battery 17 June 1935 - Men about Town - A.F. Heseltine 21 June 1935 - Vocational Guidance 16 July 1935 - Ballarat School of Mines (history) 03 August 1935 - Men About Town - William H. Middleton 10 August 1935 - A.E.C. Kerrballarat school of mines, martha pinkerton, scrap book, a.w. nicholson, john lynch (junior), mount lyell, leslie evans, leslie blake evans, herald shield for athletics, ballarat school of mines museum, motor mechanics' classes for ladies, farm engineering, villers bretonneux carvings, trengrove, museum, port pirrie, j.i. simpson, reuben s. russelll, ballarat technical art school, charles harvey, elliott gower, la gerche, c. curnow, applied art, macroberston scholarship, ballarat school of mines procession, rag, vale park tree planting, smb ball, pottery classes, delineascope, mica smith scholarship, james peart, burma mnies, smb excursion to western australia, kalgoorlie, elsie mckissock, war trophies, warwick smith, spencer street bridge, war museum, richard j. young, alfred mica smith obituary, reginald callister, john rowell, sewerage installation, h.h. smith, w.h. middleton, olive scott, dolly whitehead, vale park, ballarat war museum opening, repatriation classes, sewerage at the ballarat school of mines, australian coals, j.p. ellsworth, yallourn, w.g. walker, reunion, norfolk island pine, mica smith memorial, jessice smith, harry fern, t. henderson, bhp, john adam, ols students' association, l.b. curnow, laura crouch, signwriting, excursion, port pirrie excursion, albert potter, pearl fricke, technica school sports, percy trompf, ballarat school of mines battery, albert mclean, a.d.r. galloway, alan douglas richard galloway, r.j. young, alan ludbrook, r. timpe, ballarat ironworkers and polytechnic association, h. jolly, carpentry, harold jolly, millinery classes, phoenix model locomotive, s.j. morgan, r.d. bannister, juvenile industrial exhibition, w.h. shaw, j.c. winds, f.h. davis, h.r. worland, w.t. magee, l. george, l. balhausen, white flat oval, resue from yarrowee creek, e. berriman, ballarat teachers' college, reg mcconnell, mount lyell co, munro reaper, munro reaper model, weaving classes, mervyn trimmings, briquette dust, edna findlay, jean rogers, n. mccallum, jessie glass, classroom ventilation, art metal, charles fenner, levi molyneux, olice scott, poster competition, kerr grant, w.h. steane, h. caddy, colvin smith, claude creelman, robert colins, stan hillman, n.c. heathcote, egg collection, john alexander, nornie gude, charles deane, graham hopwood, roswald john dart, max wilson, new battery, jess hopwood, william middleton, a.e.c. kerr, hand weaving classes, m. martin, a.h. leeson, mona rogerson, lorna bailey, prospectors classes, edwin robinson, kalgoorlie vist, railway locomotive -
Federation University Historical Collection
Photograph (black & White), Major General, Sir William Penn Symons - South Africa
William Penn Symons' first combat experience was in South Africa during the Ninth Xhosa War, 1877-78. In 1879 he took part in the Zulu war. He then served during the Burma Expedition (1885-89). In 1889 he received the Companion of the Order of the Bath. In 1898, following other campaigns, he was awarded the Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath. In 1899, Symons was given the staff rank of brigadier general and was to be General Officer Commanding of Natal. He was asked by the War Office to advise on the number of troops required to safely garrison the Natal from the threat of invasion from the Boer Republics of the Transvaal and Orange Free states. Cabinet decided to send ten thousand extra troop abut they also appointed Lieutenant General Sir George White to supersede Symons as Generat Officer Commanding in Natal. Penn Symons, on his own authority deployed one of his brigades to Dundee, a town north of Ladysmith. The position of Ladysmith anad Dundee was precarious as they stand in a triangle of Natal, Orange Free State and Transvaal. White wanted to recall the Dundee garrison to Ladysmith but because of political pressure from Sit Walter Hely-Harrison, the Governor of Natal, he agreed to leave them there. The Boers declared war on 11 October and began crossing the Natal borders the following day. On 20 October 1899 Boer troops on the nearby Talana Hill proceeded to open fire on the town. The British guns moved to return fire as the general surveyed the Boer positions and gave orders to his commanding officers. Symons believed in old fashioned military tactics of close order but these formations were not designed to be used against lonf range bolt action rifles and Symons' brigades would be the first of manyin this war to pay the heavy cost ofthe mistake, as many generals would repeat it. The infantry battalions set off from the east of the town. The first part of the advance went well and they reached a small wood at the foot of the hill where they found shelter. Beyond the wood was a wall and then open ground. Symons rode up to the wood to find out why the attack had halted. He ordered the men to proceed, rode through the wood then walked through the gap in the wall. After a few moments he returned and was helped to remount his horse. He rode back from the front lines until he was out of sight of his troops before he asked for assistance from the Indian stretcher bearers. He had been shot in the stomach. Symons was taken to the field hospital at Dundee. After a few wasted days Symons' replacement, Brigadier General Yule, decided to abandon the town and the worst-wounded to the Boers and steal away at night to Ladysmith. Symons became a prisoner of war along with many others. He felt betrayed by Yule and just before he died he implored the medical officer, Major Donegal, to "tell everyone I died facing the enemy". Individual image from photographed poster of tobacco and cigarette cards.william penn symons, south africa, ninth xhosa war, companion of the order of the bath, knigt commander of the order of the bath, general officer commanding in natal, dundee, ladysmith, orange free state, transvaal, sir walter hely-harrison, governor of natal, boers, brigadier general yule