Edna Barrie at the cairn, photo received from Graeme Minns in 1988. The cairn marks the site of Jimmy Melrose's plane crash in Melton South. The accident which happened on July 5th 1936. In 1934 Melrose made headlines with a series of spectacular flights. In July of that year, he set around Australia record and in that year established a new solo Australia England record when he flew to England to compete in the MacRoberston race with a De Havilland Puss Moth VH- YQO. The only Australian and the only solo pilot to complete the course within the time limit. He was seventh in finishing order and third in the handicap section making news again during the race with a dramatic landing in Darwin with empty fuel tanks. Late in 1935 Melrose imported the Phoenix for his “Adelaide to Anywhere” Charter Service. The previous year the Heston Aircraft Company had taken over the interests of the well known Comper Aircraft Company, and the first production of the new firm was the Phoenix, a single-engined all wooden five seater machine of sesquiplane configuration. The forward half of the fuselage was a streamlined rectangular section and the rear portion was a monocogue shell; the whole was of plywood fabric covered. The wing was built up of spruce box spars and lattice ribs, ply covered from the leading edge to the front spar and the fabric covered over the remainder. The tail surfaces were of similar construction. The most notable feature of the design was the lower stub wing which ran right across the fuselage embodying two box spars, plywood covered it housed the main undercarriage wheels when retracted and provided a substantial anchorage for the Nu form wing struts. The Dowty undercarriage retracted inwards, operated manually by hydraulic packs, Dual control fitted, with side by side seating for the pilots and three passenger seats behind. Power was a 200 h.p. De Havilland Gipsy VI 6 cylinder inverted in-line air-cooled engine. Six Phoenix were built; five of them registered in Great Britain and one of those was later sold abroad the remaining four were impressed into the R.A.F. in 1940. Specifications were: 40 feet 4 inches length 30 ft 2 ins height, 9ft 7ins, wing area 270 sq ft, Tare weight 2,600lbs loaded weight 3,300lbs; cruising speed 360 m.p.h. landing 50mph ceiling 14,000 ft range 700 miles. Melrose’s machine the first production aircraft was built early in 1936 and test flown of the 24th March. Painted green it carries the words “South Australian Centenary 1936” in silver of the fuselage and the name “Billing on the engine cowling in honor of Melrose’s uncle Noel Pemberton Billing, pioneer designer and founder of the Supermarine Aviation Company. The delivery flight was planned as a goodwill mission to publicise the forthcoming South Australian Centenary celebrations. Melrose left Dympne on the 9th April 1936, and flying via Marseilles, Naples, Athens, Baghdad, Basra, Karachi, Jodphur, Calcutta, Akyab, Penang, Singapore, Lombok, Darwin, Newcastle Waters and Alice Springs reached Adelaide on the 25th of April. Continuing the goodwill flight to other States, he visited Melbourne, Sydney, Newcastle, Grafton, Brisbane, Coff’s Harbour, Sydney again, Launceston, Hobart and Mount Gambier before returning to Adelaide on the 13th May. During June Jimmy made some charter flights and early in July was engaged by Mr. A.J. Campbell a director of several mining companies from Melbourne to Darwin to commence at Essendon on the4th July. However on that day low cloud and steady rain caused the postponement. There was little improvement and Melrose was advised to delay the departure again. However he wished to reach Oodnadatta that night, and when he observed the break in the clouds decided to leave. He planned to climb above the cloud and fly to Adelaide at 3,000 feet. The aircraft was airborne about 8.10 a.m. and was last seen from Essendon climbing above the clouds. At 8.45 people at Melton (30 miles West of Melbourne) heard an approaching aircraft. The engine noise increased abnormally and eye witnesses saw the machine fall out of control from the cloud base about 800 feet and then disintegrate, fragments were scattered for 1½ miles and both occupants were killed. Hand written carbon copy by Edna Barrie.Typed by Wendy Barrie March 2014 Last Flight of Jimmy Melrose by John Burke Parade Magazine July 1972 Page 2 –4 This article gives the take off time of 7.50 am from Essendon Airport Eyewitness account at the time Maisie Arthur’s description. Newspaper article. Edna Barrie at the site of the 'Cairn'local identities, local significant events

This is a set of four photographs of surveyors and support staff in the field undertaking duties in Dogera, Milne Bay Province and Kerema, Gulf Province of PNG in 1962. The surveyors were employed in the establishment of mapping and geodetic control. In this era surveyors used theodolites to observe horizontal and vertical angles and tellurometers to measure base line distances between survey stations. From 1957 helicopter transport of survey parties revolutionised transport in remote areas.This is a set of four photographs of surveyors and support staff in the field undertaking duties in PNG in 1962. The photographs were printed on photographic paper and are part of the Army Survey Regiment’s Collection. The photographs were scanned at 300 dpi. .1) - Photo, colour, 1962. Unloading survey operation stores from a Landing Ship Medium (LSM) at Dogera, Milne Bay Province, PNG. .2) & .3) - Photo, colour, 1962. Hired civilian helicopter Bell 47G-2 helicopters operating at at Dogera, Milne Bay Province, PNG. .4) - Photo, colour, 1962. Survey party at survey station located near Kerema, Gulf Province southern PNG. L to R: Dave Owens, Keith Broadbent, with local villagers in background..1P to .4P annotated on back – personnel names, the year and the location. royal australian survey corps, rasvy, army survey regiment, asr, army svy regt, fortuna, surveying

Denis Gibbons (1937 – 2011) Trained with the Australian Army, before travelling to Vietnam in January 1966, Denis stayed with the 1st Australian Task Force in Nui Dat working as a photographer. For almost five years Gibbons toured with nine Australian infantry battalions, posting compelling war images from within many combat zones before being flown out in late November 1970 after sustaining injuries. The images held within the National Vietnam Veterans Museum make up the Gibbons Collection.A black and white photograph of Huey Helicopters from the 135th Assault Helicopter Company landing at the edge of an airfield located in the Mekong Delta area of IV Corps, South Vietnam, to await their next task ferrying troops into and out of operational situations.photograph, mekong delta, huey helicopter, iv corps, 135th assault helicopter company, gibbons collection catalogue, denis gibbons, photographer, vietnam war

Denis Gibbons (1937 – 2011) Trained with the Australian Army, before travelling to Vietnam in January 1966, Denis stayed with the 1st Australian Task Force in Nui Dat working as a photographer. For almost five years Gibbons toured with nine Australian infantry battalions, posting compelling war images from within many combat zones before being flown out in late November 1970 after sustaining injuries. The images held within the National Vietnam Veterans Museum make up the Gibbons Collection.A black and white photograph of the Australian Army Landing Craft the Vernon Sturdie or 'The Ace of Spades' as it makes its way up the Mekong River towards Long Binh to deliver American tanks to the Vietnamese Army. The Ace of Spades worked extensively in the Mekong Delta area.photograph, landing craft vernon sturdie, the ace of spades, mekong delta, long binh, gibbons collection catalogue, denis gibbons, photographer, vietnam war, vietnamese army

Denis Gibbons (1937 – 2011) Trained with the Australian Army, before travelling to Vietnam in January 1966, Denis stayed with the 1st Australian Task Force in Nui Dat working as a photographer. For almost five years Gibbons toured with nine Australian infantry battalions, posting compelling war images from within many combat zones before being flown out in late November 1970 after sustaining injuries. The images held within the National Vietnam Veterans Museum make up the Gibbons Collection.A black and white photograph of the Australian Army Landing Craft 'Vernon Sturdie' moving into the congested Saigon-Long Binh dock to unload American tanks and other vital war equipment for the South Vietnamese Army. The docks area was constantly cluttered with shipping unloading war materials.photograph, australialanding craft vernon sturdie, saigon, long binh, south vietnam army, gibbons collection catalogue, denis gibbons, photographer, vietnam war

This item contributes to an understanding of the impact that involvement in the war had on Vietnam (1962 - 1972)A black framed sepia image of three helicopters landing with two trees either side. The terrain has puddles of water around the area.Helicopter Convoy landing at U.S Base Long Bihn\Vietnam 1968stanley william exon, 3791206, royal australian army service corps

This is a Central Command Operation for the Royal Australian Survey Corps to conduct a Survey Operation in Northern Territory in 1961. The task is to acquire Survey Control for the production of maps coving the following 1:250 000 map areas of Alligator River, Mt Evelyn, Coburg Peninsula, (including the offshore Islands, Melville Island and Bathurst Island. The Operation Order details the tasks for the 6 x Officers (or equivalent) and 34 x OR's (or equivalent) and the support that was allocated including Frigate HMAS Gasgoyne, LSM landing craft, Trucks amphibian (DUKW), Helicopter and Cessna aircraft.A 11 x page foolscap size paper report and 1 x foldout map Annex held together with a paper clip. Two hole punched.Hand written File Number in top RH Corner "101-310-4". Distribution stamp in top LH Corner. Hand written No7 in Top RH Corner.royal australian survey corps, rasvy, fortuna, army survey regiment, army svy regt

The Bendigo East Primary School was opened in 1915. In 1916 it was decided to plant an ANZAC Avenue of trees and this was completed on 16 June 1916. The plaques were placed after WW1. The school was closed in 1998 and the plaques were relocated to the nearby White Hills Secondary College in Napier Street on this board. In the early 2000's the Honour Board was donated to what is now called the Bendigo Military Museum. One hundred years after planting, later in 2016 the trees were removed in controversial circumstances. On the board 8 never returned, there is 1 x "DCM" winner, 1 x "MC" winner and 1 x "MM" winner. There are 3 x Wright Brothers of which 2 never returned. The plaque states that the soldiers attended the school which is obvious they could not have due to the opening date. The following Heritage report suggests that the names were of individual soldiers who lived in the area. EXTRACT FROM HERITAGE COUNCIL VICTORIA 2016 SUBMISSIONS HEARING “The Bendigo East School (‘the school’) was officially opened by Mr Frank Tate, Director of Education, on 7 April 1916. Approximately two months later, on 16 June 1916, Arbor Day was celebrated at the school with the planting of an ‘Anzac Avenue’ along a path from the front gate on Strickland Road (‘the pathway’) to commemorate the landing of soldiers at Gallipoli. The school’s ‘Anzac Avenue’ was one of an estimated 37 known to have been planted by school children throughout Victoria during mid-1916 as part of a program led by the Education Department, which included a recommendation to schools on 18 May 1916 that commemorative avenues be planted (‘the 1916 plantings recommendation’). At around this time, avenues of honour were also planted across Victoria to commemorate fallen WWI soldiers (‘the wider commemorative plantings phenomenon’). There were other commemorative plantings at the Place away from the pathway (‘the other commemorative plantings’). Anzac Day was celebrated at the Place in the years subsequent to 1916 and on 11 December 1920 the school’s ‘Anzac Avenue’ was officially opened. Embossed copper plates, mounted on wood, were fixed in front of the trees in memory of individual soldiers from the district who had seen active service in WWI. There is evidence that as many as 32 plaques may have been made and affixed (‘the name plaques’). Plaques were removed from their locations at some stage before 1964, mounted on a board and displayed in the school building. These are now located and displayed at Bendigo Sub - Branch of the Returned Services League.” EAST BENDIGO HONOUR BOARD – COPPER PLAQUES (27 PLAQUES in total). 1. 2441 CPL G.V. LE KIM 60th BATT. M.M. (George Vincent LEE-KIM, born in Bendigo, Awarded Military Medal. RTA. NOK Father’s Address: C/- Strickland Rd, Bendigo). 2. 3821 PTE. E.B. HEM 20TH BATT. (Edward Bert Hem born in Bendigo. RTA. NOK Mother’s address: White Hills Post Office). 3. 3513 PTE. C.A. FOLEY 57th BATT. (Charles Albert Foley born in Bendigo. RTA. NOK Father’s address: Wilkie Street, Bendigo). 4. 5241 PTE. G. E. WRIGHT 6th BATT. † (George Edwin Wright born in Bendigo. KIA 8/12/1916. NOK Father’s address: 55 Charleston Rd. Bendigo).   5. 2663 L.CPL. N. E. DAVIS 60th BATT. (Norman Edward Davis born in Footscray. RTA. NOK Mother’s address: 193 Strickland Rd. Bendigo). 6. PTE. A. MOOG 16-6th BATT. † (5143 Adolph Moog born in Bendigo. Died of wounds received in action 8/12/1916, NOK Father’s address: Municipal Yards, Bendigo.) 7. 6515 SGT. W.A. BIRCHMORE DCM 11TH BATT. FIELD ARTILLERY (William Albert Birchmore born in Bendigo. Awarded DCM. RTA. NOK Mother’s address: Butler Street, California Gully) 8. 3924 PTE. J.P. NEWMAN 5TH BATT. † (392 (NAA) James Pausey Newman. Born in Bendigo. KIA 25/7/1916. NOK Father’s address Strickland Road, Bendigo) 9. 4865 PTE. H. T. NUGENT 5TH PIONEER BATT. † (also 4765 Hector Thomas Nugent born in Bendigo. KIA 26/11/1916. NOK Mother’s address: 55 Charleston Rd Bendigo). 10. 835 PTE. C.J. WRIGHT 7TH BATT. † (825(NAA) Charles Julian Wright. Born in Bendigo. KIA at Gallipoli 25/4/1915 NOK Father’s address 55 Charleston Rd Bendigo) 11. 5242 PTE. T.S. WRIGHT M.M. 6TH BATT. (Thomas Stanley Wright born in Bendigo. RTA. NOK Father’s address: 55 Charleston Road, Bendigo). 12. 13111 PTE. R.I. LEE 5TH FIELD AMBCE (19111 Robert Irwin Lee. Born in Kilcunda, Vic. RTA. NOK Wife’s address C/- Barnard Street, Bendigo)   13. 3731 DRIVER T.S. BROWN 5TH BATT.† (Thomas Sheridan Brown born in Bendigo. Died in the Field in France of Heart Failure. NOK Father’s address: Mundy Street, Bendigo). 14. 60999 PTE. J. SPENCE 5th BATT. (John Spence born in Bendigo. RTA. NOK Father’s address: 99 Talbot St, Brunswick) 15. 5127 PTE. S.A. LOY 7TH BATT. (Samuel Arthur John Loy. Born in White Hills, Bendigo. RTA Medical discharge. NOK Wife’s address C/- Hargreaves St Bendigo.) 16. 1649 PTE. A.M. HUTCHINSON 60TH BATT. (Alexander Morton Hutchison. (Note different spelling) born in Bendigo. RTA. NOK Mother’s address Wilkie Street, Bendigo). 17. 3035 PTE. R.J. FLACK 10TH – 7TH BATTs. † (Robert John Flack born in Bendigo. KIA France 17/8/1916. NOK Father’s address: Strickland Road, Bendigo). 18. 4558 PTE. J.J. O’BRIEN 60TH BATT.† (John James O’Brien born in Glenalbyn, Vic. KIA 28/9/1917. NOK Father’s address 68 Strickland Rd. Bendigo). 19. 5233 CPL. G. WHITTING MOTOR TRANSPT. COY. (George Whitting born in White Hills, Bendigo. RTA. NOK Mother’s address: 46 Baxter Street, Bendigo). 20. 5203 PTE. A.J. TATTERSALL 6TH BATTALION (Arthur James Tattersall born in Mandurang, Vic. RTA. NOK Wife’s address “Thornwell”, Bendigo East PO.)   21. 2ND LIEUT. K.G. EMONSON M.C. 38th BATT. (Keith Glanfield Emonson born in Sydney NSW. RTA – Medical discharge/ GSW head. NOK Father’s address: Strickland Road, Bendigo). 22. LIEUT. A.J. HAMPSON RAILWAY UNIT (Alfred John Hampson R/N 2300. Born in Bendigo. RTA. NOK wife’s address: 76 Addison St. Elwood, Vic). 23. 216 SIGNLR R.P. BROWN 38TH BATT † (Raymond Patrick Brown, born in Bendigo. KIA 28 May 1917. NOK. Mother’s address: 138 Mundy Street, Bendigo). 24. 15118 STAFF SGT. A. EMONSON 3RD L. H. F. AMBULANCE (Harry Allen Phipps Emonson born in Sydney NSW. RTA. NOK Father’s address Strickland Road, Bendigo, Vic). 25. 1724 CPL. L.J. CHAPPLE 5TH BATT. (Leslie John Chapple born in Bendigo. RTA. NOK Father’s address: Nolan Street, Bendigo) 26. 4557 PTE. E. O’BRIEN 60TH BATT. (Edward Charles O’ Brien, RTA. (NOK Father’s address: Strickland Rd, Bendigo). 27. 3557 SIGNLER F. H. LYALL 5TH BATT. (Francis Hubert Lyall born in Bendigo. RTA. NOK Father’s address: Strickland Rd, Bendigo). Honour Board, Bendigo East Primary School, timber backing with a white timber edging. At the top is a silver Rising Sun Badge with the dates in white "1914 & 1919". There are 27 bronze plaques, each has the Soldiers Regt Number, Name, Rank and Unit, for those that did not return there is a Cross added, if the Soldier won an award it is also added. At the bottom left hand corner is a brass plaque with details. Refer Aquisition for details. On the brass plaque, “These plaques were placed on the Avenue of trees at the school entrance on 20 December 1920. They were a memorial to those who enlisted from the Bendigo East School in the 1914 - 18 War. Mr R. J. Lee a Returned Soldier was Principal at this time”memorials-honour boards, military history-service records, metalcraft-bronze, east bendigo

Denis Gibbons (1937 – 2011) Trained with the Australian Army, before travelling to Vietnam in January 1966, Denis stayed with the 1st Australian Task Force in Nui Dat working as a photographer. For almost five years Gibbons toured with nine Australian infantry battalions, posting compelling war images from within many combat zones before being flown out in late November 1970 after sustaining injuries. The images held within the National Vietnam Veterans Museum make up the Gibbons Collection.A black and white photograph of An RAAF 35 Squadron Caribou transport aircraft, after landing in a paddock outside of the Vietnamese village of Xuyen Moc, collects members of the 5th Battalon, Royal Australian Regiment, following their successful operations in the area.photograph, caribou, raaf, 35 squadron, 5 rar, xuyen moc, gibbons collection catalogue, royal australian air force, 5th battalion, the royal australian regiment, vietnamese villages, denis gibbons

Denis Gibbons (1937 – 2011) Trained with the Australian Army, before travelling to Vietnam in January 1966, Denis stayed with the 1st Australian Task Force in Nui Dat working as a photographer. For almost five years Gibbons toured with nine Australian infantry battalions, posting compelling war images from within many combat zones before being flown out in late November 1970 after sustaining injuries. The images held within the National Vietnam Veterans Museum make up the Gibbons Collection.A black and white photograph of Gunners of 101 Battery 1st Field Regt, RAA at Fire Support Base Baton, engage an area east of Nui Dat, Phuoc Tuy Province, Sth Vietnam, softening up the landing zone prior to 1 ATF units heliborn assault against NVA/VietCong D445 Battalion (circa July 1969)photograph, 1st australian field regiment, raa, 1st atf base, 101 battery, nui dat, phuoc tuy province, d445 battalion (nva/vietcong), gibbons collection catalogue, fire support base baton, gunners, denis gibbons

Denis Gibbons (1937 – 2011) Trained with the Australian Army, before travelling to Vietnam in January 1966, Denis stayed with the 1st Australian Task Force in Nui Dat working as a photographer. For almost five years Gibbons toured with nine Australian infantry battalions, posting compelling war images from within many combat zones before being flown out in late November 1970 after sustaining injuries. The images held within the National Vietnam Veterans Museum make up the Gibbons Collection.A black and white photograph of Gunners of 101 Battery 1st Field Regiment, RAA at Fire Support Base Baton engage an area east of Nui Dat, Phuoc Tuy Province, Sth Vietnam, softening the landing zone prior to 1 ATF Infantry Units heliborn assault against NVA/VietCong's D445 Battalion (circa July 1969)photograph, 1st australian field regiment, raa, 1st atf base, nui dat, phuoc tuy province, 101 battery, d445 battalion (nva/vietcong), fire support base baton, gibbons collection catalogue, gunners, 1st australian task force, infantry units, heliborn assault, denis gibbons

Denis Gibbons (1937 – 2011) Trained with the Australian Army, before travelling to Vietnam in January 1966, Denis stayed with the 1st Australian Task Force in Nui Dat working as a photographer. For almost five years Gibbons toured with nine Australian infantry battalions, posting compelling war images from within many combat zones before being flown out in late November 1970 after sustaining injuries. The images held within the National Vietnam Veterans Museum make up the Gibbons Collection.A black and white photograph of Gunners of 101 Battery, 1st Field Regt, RAA at Fire Support Base Baton engage an area east of Nui Dat, Phuoc Tuy Province, Sth Vietnam, softening up the landing zone prior to 1 ATF Infactry units heliborn assault against NVA/VietCong's D445 Battalion (circa July 1969)photograph, 1st australian field regiment, raa, 1st atf base, nui dat, phuoc tuy province, 101 battery, d445 battalion (nva/vietcong), fire support base baton, gibbons collection catalogue, gunners, 1st australian task force, denis gibbons

Denis Gibbons (1937 – 2011) Trained with the Australian Army, before travelling to Vietnam in January 1966, Denis stayed with the 1st Australian Task Force in Nui Dat working as a photographer. For almost five years Gibbons toured with nine Australian infantry battalions, posting compelling war images from within many combat zones before being flown out in late November 1970 after sustaining injuries. The images held within the National Vietnam Veterans Museum make up the Gibbons Collection.A black and white photograph of Gunners of 101 Battery 1st Australian Field Regt RAA at Fire Support Base Baton engage an area east of Nui Dat, Phuoc Tuy Province, Sth Vietnam softening up the landing zone prior to 1 ATF Infantry units heliborn assault against NVA/VietCong's D445 Battalion (circa July 1969)photograph, 101 battery, 1st australian field regiment, raa, 1st atf base, nui dat, phuoc tuy province, fire support base baton, nva/vc, d445 battalion (nva/vietcong), gibbons collection catalogue, gunners, infantry, nva/vietcong, denis gibbons

The last Australian soldier to be listed as missing in action was Lance Corporal John Francis Gillespie of 8 Field Ambulance. On 17 April 1971 Gillespie was serving as a helicopter medic during a 'dustoff' (helicopter medical evacuation) operation in the Long Hai hills in Phuoc Tuy province. Four South Vietnamese Regional Force soldiers had been injured by a mine explosion and the difficult terrain demanded a helicopter evacuation. But the Long Hai hills were an insecure landing zone. The caves and dense timber of the Long Hais had long harboured a major Viet Cong base area and the dustoff operation required the protection of helicopter gunships. As the first wounded soldier was being winched up, the hovering helicopter was hit by enemy machine-gun fire. It crashed to the ground and burst into flames. Although the crew escaped, Lance Corporal Gillespie and three other soldiers were engulfed in the fireball. A helicopter crewman, Corporal Robert Stephens, repeatedly entered the burning aircraft and tried in vain to rescue Gillespie, until being forced back by the flames. Stephens was later awarded the British Empire Medal for his courage. Gillespie's body could not be recovered from the burning wreckage which was reduced to slag by the fire. Private Gillespie was listed as missing in action, apparently on a technicality because his remains could not be found. The classification was subsequently altered to killed in action.Stainless steel open ended bracelet with missing serviceman's full name and date missing. In a buff square satin lined box.MIA John Francis Gillespie 17/04/71mia, john francis gillespie, l/cpl john francis gillespie, 3170244, royal australian army medical corps, 8th field ambulance, cpl robert stephens, killed in action