Black Wool Felt Beret with gilt badge of RAAMC (Royal Australian Army Medical Corps). Black polyester/cotton cloth edging and lining with manufacturer's label. Inside: "Beret Mnfrs. Pty., Ltd. Victoria Australia Size 6 3/4"headgear, beret

Items issued to Dr Warwick Rosenthal, refer Cat No 622.3 for his service details..1) Shoulder flash, cloth , curved shape with white lettering sewn in. " Royal Australian Army Medical Corps." Background is purple .2) Same as .1 with background colour reduniforms, army, badges

From information book - "Reader's Gigest/ Gallipoli/ 25th Aril 1915 - 9th January 1916/ Centenary Commemorative Prints". Collection of 20 prints Refer Cat No. 7300.Framed print. Print - colour print on paper. Copy of an oil on canvas painting. Depicts a "Hospital ward where several nurses attend a patient in bed", against a background of "beds being made ready in the ward" and "Stretcher bearers carrying in more wounded". Frame - black plastic framing with glass front and MDF board backing with adhered black paper.Details below print - in black ink. "GEORGE COATES (1869 - 1930). First Australian wounded at Gallipoli arriving at Wandsworth Hospital, London". 1921. "Served with the Royal Army Medical Corps at 3rd London General Hospital at Wandsworth". 1919 Commissioned to do portrait work for the Australian War Records section. framed accessories, pprints, ww1, gallipoli, centenary

This item was donated by Peter S Sims, who served as a Corporal in the Royal Australian Army Medical Corps in Vietnam 1969-70.Sticker with black box inside gold border and gold writing.In memory of 501 Australian brothers who never returned. Vietnam 62-73.sticker, peter sims, nvvm, souvenir, commemoration

This item was donated by Peter S Sims, who served as a Corporal in the Royal Australian Army Medical Corps in Vietnam 1969-70.Material embroidered patch with black background and gold writing.In memory of 501 Australian brothers who never returned. Vietnam (1962-1973)cloth patch, peter sims, nvvm, memorial, remembrance

00511 .1 Royal Australian Army Medical Corps x 2 .2. Royal Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers x1 .3. Australia Shoulder Titles x 2 .4. British Title, QUEENS " Royal West Surrey Regiment".

Item is a clearance certificate for personnel returning to Australia from Saigon during the Vietnam conflict. Document was donated by PS Sims, who served in the Royal Australian Army Medical Corps, 1969-70.Yellowed foolscap papers with eight sections divided into columns. Black ink typing. Signatures written in blue and black ink.Signatures of authorizing personnel/ Australian F.P.O. stamp dated 21 Sept 70 in middle of paperwork.peter sims oam jp, clearance certificate, vietnam, sims

The item commemorates the war in Vietnam (1962 - 1972). This medal was issued to Staff Sergeant D W Blackford who served in the Royal Australian Army Medical Corps in 4RAR from May 1968 until January 1969.Miniature Australian Active Service Medal presented in a black presentation box with both ribbons and bars.Australian/Active/Service/Media/1945-1975medals, active service, blackford 33034, vietnam, medical corps, 4rar, campaign medal

Standard item issued to all Australian servicemen during the conflict in Vietnam(1962-1972).This item was donated by Peter S Sims, who served as a Corporal in the Royal Australian Army Medical Corps in Vietnam 1969-70.Blue card "Nine Rules" for Australian Army forces in Vietnam. Black ink with Army insignia at top with introduction on front and nine rules on the back.Australian Army insignia Top Nine rules in bold lettering.nine rules, peter sims, nvvm, conduct requirements

Belonged to Capt Warick Rosenthal TX6321 2nd AIF. Refer 622.3, 775.Badge, pressed metal, gold colour. Crown sits over a 6 pointed star shape with centre circle with a snake coiled around an upright rod. Around the centre circle lettering "Royal Australian Army Medical Corps." A small scroll at the bottom has "Daulatum" 2 x lugs & pins on rear. numismatics, badges, military, medical corp

Greatcoat, Khaki colour, Wooleen fabric with attached half belt. Inside pockets and lining to shoulders and sleeves - khaki colour cotton fabric light. Buttons - metal with gold colour finish. Double breasted. Both sleeves - Unit Shoulder flash- dark red with gold embroidery, warrant officer crown on lower sleeve. Makers label on inside front left On maker's label, black print on cotton fabric "REGIMENTAL No .../ NAME.../Also red print on cotton fabric - very faded. Unit Shoulder Flash, gold embroidery - "ROYAL AUSTRALIAN ARMY/MEDICAL CORPS.'uniform, australian army

This flag represented the North Vietnamese people. After the war it was adopted as the national flag and is referred to as the Flag Of the Socialist flag of Vietnam now. This item was donated by Peter S Sims, who served as a Corporal in the Royal Australian Army Medical Corps in Vietnam 1969-70.Red colored small flag with bright yellow star in the center. It is bordered in white with Vietnam printed in red."Vietnam" flag, vietnam, nvvm, north vietnamese, peter sims, medical corps

Standard issue item as used by Australian servicemen during the conflict in Vietnam. This card was used by Corporal Peter Sims who served in the Royal Australian Army Medical Corps: Headquarters, Australian Force Vietnam (Army Component) 24 Sep 1969 - 24 Sep 1970. Helpful word translation card. Mauve colored card with purple print. 49 words in English and translation in Vietnamese language with "Sounds like" for Vietnamese pronunciation. Three columns headed Word/ Vietnamese/ Sounds like.english to vietnamese pamphlet, english, vietnamese, phonetics, translation, sims, peter sims

Belonged to Warick Rosenthal No TX6321 AAMC. Refer 622.3, 775.,1) Battledress uniform Pants, winter khaki. .2) Battledress uniform Jacket, winter khaki. Has shoulder Pips and crown sewn for the rank of Lieut Colonel Shoulder flashes sewn "Royal Australian Army Medical Corps" .3) Officers Sam Brown Belt in Leather. Brown in color complete. .4) Officers peak cap with gold Badge RAAMC.medical corp, uniform army, raamc

This airline ticket is typical of those issued to Australian Defence Force personnel traveling to Vietnam. This particular item was issued to Corporal Peter Stanley Sims, Service no: 44304, who served in the Royal Australian Army Medical Corps, Headquarters, Australian Force Vietnam (Army Component) from24 September 1969 until 24 September 1970. Printed Qantas ticket and foolscap information sheet. Yellowed paper with red printing on the front of the ticket and black printing on the bottom half of the reverse. The information paper is yellowed with age and printed in black. There are 6 paragraphs detailing instructions for the armed forces when arriving in Vietnam.Qantas/charter passenger ticket and baggage check. In blue pen on the back "Tong Doe Phuory Cholou" handwritten.airline ticket, qantas, information page, traveling to vietnam, peter sims oam jp, nvvm

Typical example of Qantas Airline ticket issued to armed forces personnel leaving Vietnam for Australia for R&R, with. Australian Customs form and declaration to be filled in by traveller. Briefing sheet listing arrangement for departure and arrival in Australia. This item was issued to Corporal Peter Stanley Sims who served in Royal Australian Army Medical Corps, Headquarters, Australian Force Vietnam (Army Component) 1969-70. Qantas airline ticket. Australian customs paperwork, double sided information and declaration sheet. The ticket is printed in red ink. Australian Force Vietnam briefing letter for travelling to Australia from Vietnam typed in black ink.Qantas 000067 charter passenger ticket and baggage check. Customs paperwork and briefing notes for travelling to Australia.qantas, airline ticket, nvvm, customs declaration, leaving vietnam, p.sims oam jp, r&r, recreation vietnam

This item contributes to an understanding of those involved in war in Vietnam. Bill McMahon (Left) served with 1st Communications Zone Postal Unit 1969-70.National Serviceman Graeme Owens (Centre) served in Royal Australian Army Ordnance Corps 1968-69. Ray Harvey (Right) served with the Royal Australian Army Medical Corps 1968-69. This game of Australian rules was played in Saigon in July 1969.Sepia photo of three Australian soldiers in football shorts and singlets and two Vietnamese soldiers in uniform with an aussie rules football. On the back of the photo it is stamped: Australian Army/Public Relations/Picture/Com.69.443 VN with details of who/where of the game -see image 2corp graeme owens, capt bill mcmahon, vietnamese soliders, afl football, vietnam, ray harvey

"Death Card" designed to be left on the body of dead enemy soldiers. US soldiers believed that the ace of spades held a superstitious meaning for the Viet Cong, stemming from French colonial rule and fortune-telling practices where the spade suit was associated with death and misfortune. This item was donated by Peter S Sims, who served as a Corporal in the Royal Australian Army Medical Corps in Vietnam 1969-70.Card with black background and white writing. A skull with a Spade symbol on it's forehead.Trong Mien Cua Meo Cua Tham Phandeath card, peter sims, nvvm, enemy, death, ace of spades

Colonel Sir Ernest Edward "Weary" Dunlop, AC, CMG, OBE (12 July 1907 – 2 July 1993) was an Australian surgeon who was renowned for his leadership while being held prisoner by the Japanese during World War II. Born 12 July 1907 Major Plains, Victoria Died 2 July 1993 (aged 85) Service/branch Australian Army Years of service 1935–1946 Rank Colonel Unit Royal Australian Army Medical Corps 2/2nd Casualty Clearing Station Commands held No.1 Allied General Hospital Battles/wars World War II Battle of Greece North African Campaign Syria-Lebanon campaign South West Pacific New Guinea Campaign South East Asia Campaign Awards Companion of the Order of Australia Knight Bachelor Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George Officer of the Order of the British Empire Knight of the Venerable Order of Saint John Mentioned in Despatches Black timber frame containing coloured caricature of saluting Army Officer with flag in background.Sir Edward "Weary" Dunlop - Anzac Day 1993 Print No 455 of 500colonel sir ernest edward dunlop, "weary" dunlop, surgeon

Born in Castlemaine 1886. Maldwyn L. Williams (Leslie) was a prominent doctor in Bendigo, both at Bendigo Base Hospital and in private practice. He played several games in the Victorian Football League (VFL) whilst at university. Enlisted in Citizens Military Force in 1909 as Captain in Royal Australian Army Medical Corps. Promoted to Major in 1913. Sept 1915 - appointed Major in regular army, 8th Field Ambulance Unit. Nov 1915 - sailed for Egypt; June 1916 - sailed for Marseilles. Jan 1917 - promoted to Lt. Colonel and command of 1st Field Ambulance Unit. Wounded near Bapaume 2nd March 1917; died from wounds 3rd March 1917. Buried at Dernancourt Cemetery, France. The engraver of the plaque was C.G. Roeszler & Son of Melbourne. This business was founded in 1869 and is still family-owned and trading today. This company is responsible for many examples of engraving around Melbourne, including work on the 1928 Ringwood Memorial Clock and in St Paul's Cathedral in Flinders St, Melbourne. Rectangular metal plaque, possibly brass. 4cm border featuring botanical motif. A flower with eight round petals at each corner - each flower has a 0.7cm hole at its centre. Decoration and inscription engraved and filled with black material, possibly shellac or enamel paint which is degraded, cracking, and loose.Main inscription: "TO THE MEMORY OF/OUR FRIEND/MALDWYN LESLIE WILLIAMS. LT. COL, M.B,B.S./WHO DIED OF WOUNDS RECEIVED IN FRANCE/MARCH 3RD ['RD" is in smaller font and higher that other letters with a dot beneath] 1917.' Bottom right: "C.G. ROESZLER & SON MELB".plaque, memorial

Names recorded on manufacturers label on jacket. "J.E. COOK", "W. RICHARDSON", "MENTONE GRAMMAR".1. Jacket - Khaki colour wool serge fabric. Battle Dress style, belted at waist with metal buckle. Brown plastic buttons. Collar, shoulder epaulettes with three red, cream and brown fabric rank insignia = Captain. Two front pockets with concealed button down flap. Shoulder sleeve insignia - red with cream colour embroidered lettering "ROYAL AUSTRALIAN ARMY/ MEDICAL CORPS". Sleeves with cuff and button. Light Khaki colour cotton fabric - pocket and waist lining. Manufacturers white cotton fabric label (two) on right pocket lining. 2. Trousers - khaki colour wool serge fabric Battle dress style. Two side pockets, two inset rear pockets with concealed button flaps and one patch pocket left thigh with concealed button flap. Five button fly. Waistband with button down belt keepers. Trouser cuffs have fabric tab with two buttons. khaki colour cotton fabric lining to waistband and pockets. Manufacturers white cotton label on waistband. 3. Braces - set of cotton elastic braces with brown leather button attachments for trousers. Stripes on elastic are beige, black, blue, cream and green in colour. Metal slides for adjustment to wearers size, with stamped lettering. brown leather strap joiner.Manufacturers information on labels. 1. Black ink print "REGIMENTAL NO./ NAME". Handwritten blue ink pen "JE COOK/ MENTONE/ W. RICHARDSON/ GRAMMAR". Red ink print label "M.TX/ SIZE 8" , Purple ink stamp on fabric lining "D^D/ MADE IN AUSTRALIA/ 1953". 2. Black ink print "REGIMENTAL NO./ NAME". Red ink print "M.TX/ SIZE 5". 3. Lettering on metal slides "POLICE/ AND/ FIREMEN". Black ink stamp - back leather strap joiner "???/ ^/ 196?/ 38".uniform, army, battle dress

John James Davis (J.J. Davis) was Australia's most decorated NCO in the Vietnam conflict. This plaque commemorates the deeds he performed and medals received.Framed ceremonial medal board for JJ Davis. The piece includes a service photograph of JJ Davis in uniform, a fabric patch with the Australian Coat of Arms, five metal pins and 13 replica medals as listed below. The information plaque states '5411313 WO1 J.J. DAVIS, SB St J, MM, JP - RAAMC - 30 JAN 1963 - 30 JAN 1986. The five metal pins are: 1. Returned Services League Australia 2. Returned Active Service 3. RAAMC 4. Royal Australian Army Medical Corps 5. Knife surrounded by laurel leaves. Replica medals included are: 1. Military Medal 2. Australian Active Service Medal 1945-75, Vietnam 3. Vietnam Medal 4. Defence Force Medal with 1st Clasp 5. National Medal 6. Australian Defence Medal 7. St John 12 Year Long Service Medal with five year clasp 8. Silver Star (Unites States of America) 9. Gallantry Cross with Bronze Star (South Vietnam) 10. The Armed Forces Honour Medal (2nd Class) (South Vietnam) 11. Civil Action Medal (2nd Class) (South Vietnam) 12. Vietnamese Campaign Medal 13. ACT Emergency Service Medal (2003 Bushfires) john jams davis, john james davis, j j davis, vietnam, nco, photographs, portraits, badges, medals

An incomplete diary of an Australian nurse serving in France in 1916. The author is unidentified in the document but after extensive research it is concluded that is by Priscilla Wardle, who left Melbourne on 14 April 1915 on RMS Orontes and served with Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service (QAIMNS) in France. A larger portion of her diary is available from the Ballarat Base Hospital Trained Nurses League entries on Victorian Collections. The contents of the diary has been retyped and is in the Word document. The diary shows she was serving at a Casualty Clearing Station (CCS) in Bethune, France in March 1916. She goes on to serve at Wimereux, at the No 8 Stationary hospital. Also possibly at Boulogne. She had a period of rest at Hardelot, a convalescent home for nurses, and also a trip to England and Scotland. She tried to visit the graves of ancestors, such as relatives of 'Grandfather Allan', in the church yard at East Kilbride church. During her nursing experience she mentions being gassed by 'weeping' gas and hearing the sounds of shelling. Also the numbers of operations per month, such as 311 in March 1916. And another day when there were 29 operations in one day. She talks of POWs coming to the hospital. They are treated after the Allied soldiers are looked after. So operations often continued into the night to take care of the Germans. She also mentions removing a piece of shrapnel herself in one operation. She appears to be of a senior rank as she is asked to meet with senior hospital officials and high ranking officers that visit. In particular she mentions a staff surgeon from Admiral Jellicoe's ship the 'Iron Duke'. He visited just after the Battle of Jutland, which was a naval battle fought between Britain's Royal Navy Grand Fleet, under Admiral Sir John Jellicoe, and the Imperial German Navy's High Seas Fleet, under Vice-Admiral Reinhard Scheer, during the First World War (‎31 May – 1 June 1916). Also being visited by Stan Walker (also from Ballarat) and Lt Brough who was ADC to General Legge. It is possible Stan Walker is Lt (later Captain) Edward Stanley Walker. Lt Brough is believed to be Charles Anthony Brough. She also mentions meeting a Lady Gifford and Madam O'Gorman. She mentions travelling with Captain Newton to London in early December 1916 - she calls him Sauchiehall and Sauchie, both could be nicknames. Capt Newton later becomes Sir Wilberforce Newton, who was serving in the Royal Army Medical Corps on the Western Front between 1915 and 1917. His diaries are held in the University of Melbourne archive. He also left Melbourne on the RMS Orontes on 14 April 1915 (source Trove) and would have known the 14 Victorian nurses that went on to serve with QAIMNS. On 11 December 1915 he mentions trying to see a Sister Loughran at the No. 7 Stationary hospital - which was in Boulogne. Sister Loughran was also on the RMS Orontes. When he was ill he mentions receiving a parcel from two other nurses that were on the Orontes and served with QAIMNS (Madge Donnellan and Margaret Donaldson). Other things that indicate it might be Priscilla Wardle is that from Births Deaths and Marriages Victoria (BDM) she was born in Ballarat, her mother's maiden name was Allan, she had a sister Janet that went by the name of Jean who was married at the time mentioned in the diary (BDM and Trove), Priscilla's mother also died during the time of diary and coincides with the diary entry of the 'death of dear mother'. An article in Trove after Priscilla's return to Australia mentions she was in the areas mentioned in the diary. Also that Priscilla went on to be trained as an anaesthetist to help in the surgeries. It matches the comment in the diary that she was involved in many operations and even allowed to perform a bullet extraction. Finally on seeing the diary held by Ballarat Base Hospital Trained Nurses League - it was determined the handwriting matched and this diary is part of the larger diary held there, so is definitely Priscilla Wardle. After the war Priscilla Wardle married Cyril Terrence (Terry) Charles Kirby, an English soldier and they settled in Ballarat and later Melbourne. Terry Kirby became a Legatee in 1929 and transferred to Melbourne Legacy in 1935. He was a well liked, hard working Legatee and worked at Legacy House up to his death in 1967. That is probably how the diary ended up in the building. In May 2021 the pages were returned to descendants of Priscilla so now only electronic copies are in our archive.A valuable first hand account of life as a nurse in World War One. The founders of Legacy all served in World War One and may have known this nurse or been in situations similar to her.Handwritten diary of a nurse from 1916 on 10 pages of notepaper.memoir, world war one, nurse

Benjamin Rank was considered by many to be the father of plastic surgery in Australia. He was born on 14 January 1911 in Heidelberg, Victoria, where his father, Wreghitt Rank, owned a grain store and mill. His mother was Bessie née Smith. He was educated at Scotch College, Melbourne, and Ormond College, University of Melbourne, graduating with many honours and prizes. He did a two-year residency in the Royal Melbourne Hospital before going to London to specialise in surgery. There he did junior posts at St James' Hospital, Balham, but soon became fascinated by the new specialty of plastic surgery and was appointed assistant plastic surgeon at Hill End (Bart's EMS unit). Joining the Royal Australasian Army Medical Corps in 1940, he commanded their plastic surgical unit in Egypt. In 1942, he returned to Australia to set up a plastic and maxillofacial unit at Heidelberg Military Hospital. Among the patients treated there was one Flight Lieutenant John Gorton, who went on to become Prime Minister of Australia. In 1946 he was the first honorary plastic surgeon at the Royal Melbourne Hospital. He spent much time overseas and was instrumental in setting up the specialty of plastic surgery in India, for which he set up 'Interplast' - a charity supported by the Rotary Clubs to offer training and expertise to Asian and Pacific nations. He was the Sims Commonwealth Travelling Professor of the College in 1958, Moynihan lecturer in 1972, President of the British Association of Plastic Surgeons in 1965 and President of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons from 1966 to 1968. He made important contributions to the study of Marjolin's ulcer, radiation carcinoma, and the transition from benign to malignant melanoma. He also made a major contribution to hand surgery, and his textbook Surgery of repair as applied to hand injuries (Livingstone, 1953) ran to four editions. He wrote extensively, including an autobiography, and was a talented painter. He was a tireless campaigner for no-fault motor accident insurance and was President of the St John Ambulance Association. He married Barbara Lyle Facy in 1938. They had one son Andrew, and three daughters, Helen, Julie and Mary (one of whom became a nurse). He died on 26 January 2002. Reference; https:livesonline.rcseng.ac.uk surgeon, sir benjamin rank, heidelberg military hospital, plastic surgery, royal melbourne hospital

This suture needle was used by Ferguson Fisher, a farmer, of Orbost. He was a private , 17340, with the army medical corps reinforcements and then with 8 Field Ambulance. He did his initial training at Seymour Clearance Hospital (AMC) at Royal Park and then 5 Australian General Hospital. He served in France and Belgium. He was not a trained doctor but had been taught to stitch wounds.He returned to Australia in 1919. This item gives an insight into the human element of World War 1 ensuring that those who were part of the Orbost community and played a vital role during this time are remembered.A small curved stainless steel suture needle.ww1 fisher-ferguson-linklater suture-needle

Cream wooden framed selection of 9 badges displayed on cream coloured background.Top centre: “BADGES OF CORPS ASSOCIATED WITH PASSCHANDAELE BARRACKS 1964 TO 1977” Underneath each badge: “1. Royal Australian Infantry 2nd Battalion Royal Victorian Regiment 2. & 3. Royal Australian Army Service Corps 4. Royal Australian Electrical & Mechanical Engineers” 5. Royal Australian Army Medical Corp 6. Australian Army Catering Corp 7. Women's Royal Australian Army Corps 8. Royal Australian Army Ordnance Corps 9. Royal Australian Corps of Transportpasschendaele barracks trust, badges, framed

The Battle Dress is a 1953 model, style used for many years. The uniform was issued to William Gamaliel Bartlett, Regt No’s 35052 (VX25300) enlisted in the 2nd AIF on 11.6.1940 age 21 years, 2/9th Field Ambulance, taken POW Malaya, discharged from AIF on 12.11.1945 with the rank of Pte. He later enlisted in the CMF on 20.7.1959, unit OCTU 3 TRG GRP and was discharged in 1974 with the rank of WO 2 after 15 years 32 days. The ribbons on the uniform, five are for WW2 service and one is a long service award. .1) Jacket - Serge, khaki, maroon lanyard, service ribbons, "ROYAL AUSTRALIAN MEDICAL CORPS" on both upper sleeves and WO 2 rank patches. .2) Trousers - serge, khaki .3) Tie - cotton, light khakifield ambulance, wwii, battle dress

This H.B Devin’s operating frame and abdominal retractor kit is named after its designer, Sir Hugh Berchmans Devine, 1878-1959, son of a Werribee district grazier in Victoria, Australia, surgeon at the Royal Melbourne Hospital. A text book diagram of H.B. Devine’s Abdominal Retractor shows the frame and retractors set up for a pelvic operation. The accompanying text reads “Devine’s retractor is so designed that there are no screws, yet the retractors and “mechanical hands” by a jamming action remain firmly on the frame in whatever position they are placed. This is accomplished by a system of inclined planes incorporated in the frame and in the single and double hooks, retractor blades and handles of the “mechanical hands”. Set comprises 3 “mechanical hands” 5 retractor blades. (Pg 72, The 1948 Catalogue of Surgical Instruments, published by Felton, Grimwade & Duerdins Pty Ltd of Melbourne). Devine became a general surgeon who later gained an international reputation for his for his contribution in the advancement of abdominal surgery. Devine was educated in Ballarat and later became an Honourable Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons. During his career he became Senior Surgeon and Dean of the Medical School at St Vincent’s Hospital in Melbourne. He served in the Australian Army Medical Corps in WWI and developed techniques in gastro-intestinal surgery. He was instrumental in the foundation of the Australasian College of Surgeons in 1927, retiring from the council in 1948. A survey on needs for operating room equipment notes that “In the past some surgeons associated themselves with particular instrument makers… The Melbourne surgeon [Hugh Devine] had his special abdominal retractor made by a small firm in South Yarra…” Hugh Devine writes instructions for inserting the Operating Frame in his book “The Surgery of the Alimentary Tract”. He says “ … the author’s operating frame is inserted into the wound … for exposure of the stomach … and exploration of the abdomen” and adds a note that the frame is “obtainable from J. Ludbrooke & Son, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia”. He accompanies his text with a diagram of the frame set into the wound. This surgical kit was donated to Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village by the family of Doctor William Roy Angus, Surgeon and Oculist. It is part of the “W.R. Angus Collection” that includes historical medical equipment, surgical instruments and material once belonging to Dr Edward Ryan and Dr Thomas Francis Ryan, (both of Nhill, Victoria) as well as Dr Angus’ own belongings. The Collection’s history spans the medical practices of the two Doctors Ryan, from 1885-1926 plus that of Dr Angus, up until 1969. ABOUT THE “W.R.ANGUS COLLECTION” Doctor William Roy Angus M.B., B.S., Adel., 1923, F.R.C.S. Edin.,1928 (also known as Dr Roy Angus) was born in Murrumbeena, Victoria in 1901 and lived until 1970. He qualified as a doctor in 1923 at University of Adelaide, was Resident Medical Officer at the Royal Adelaide Hospital in 1924 and for a period was house surgeon to Sir (then Mr.) Henry Simpson Newland. Dr Angus was briefly an Assistant to Dr Riddell of Kapunda, then commenced private practice at Curramulka, Yorke Peninsula, SA, where he was physician, surgeon and chemist. In 1926, he was appointed as new Medical Assistant to Dr Thomas Francis Ryan (T.F. Ryan, or Tom), in Nhill, Victoria, where his experiences included radiology and pharmacy. In 1927 he was Acting House Surgeon in Dr Tom Ryan’s absence. Dr Angus had become engaged to Gladys Forsyth and they decided he further his studies overseas in the UK in 1927. He studied at London University College Hospital and at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary and in 1928, was awarded FRCS (Fellow from the Royal College of Surgeons), Edinburgh. He worked his passage back to Australia as a Ship’s Surgeon on the on the Australian Commonwealth Line’s T.S.S. Largs Bay. Dr Angus married Gladys in 1929, in Ballarat. (They went on to have one son (Graham 1932, born in SA) and two daughters (Helen (died 12/07/1996) and Berenice (Berry), both born at Mira, Nhill ) According to Berry, her mother Gladys made a lot of their clothes. She was very talented and did some lovely embroidery including lingerie for her trousseau and beautifully handmade baby clothes. Dr Angus was a ‘flying doctor’ for the A.I.M. (Australian Inland Ministry) Aerial Medical Service in 1928 . Its first station was in the remote town of Oodnadatta, where Dr Angus was stationed. He was locum tenens there on North-South Railway at 21 Mile Camp. He took up this ‘flying doctor’ position in response to a call from Dr John Flynn; the organisation was later known as the Flying Doctor Service, then the Royal Flying Doctor Service. A lot of his work during this time involved dental surgery also. Between 1928-1932 he was surgeon at the Curramulka Hospital, Yorke Peninsula, South Australia. In 1933 Dr Angus returned to Nhill and purchased a share of the Nelson Street practice and Mira hospital (a 2 bed ward at the Nelson Street Practice) from Dr Les Middleton one of the Middleton Brothers, the current owners of what previously once Dr Tom Ryan’s practice. Dr Tom and his brother had worked as surgeons included eye surgery. Dr Tom Ryan performed many of his operations in the Mira private hospital on his premises. He had been House Surgeon at the Nhill Hospital 1902-1926. Dr Tom Ryan had one of the only two pieces of radiology equipment in Victoria during his practicing years – The Royal Melbourne Hospital had the other one. Over the years Dr Tom Ryan had gradually set up what was effectively a training school for country general-practitioner-surgeons. Each patient was carefully examined, including using the X-ray machine, and any surgery was discussed and planned with Dr Ryan’s assistants several days in advance. Dr Angus gained experience in using the X-ray machine there during his time as assistant to Dr Ryan. When Dr Angus bought into the Nelson Street premises in Nhill he was also appointed as the Nhill Hospital’s Honorary House Surgeon 1933-1938. His practitioner’s plate from his Nhill surgery is now mounted on the doorway to the Port Medical Office at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village, Warrnambool. When Dr Angus took up practice in the Dr Edward and Dr Tom Ryan’s old premises he obtained their extensive collection of historical medical equipment and materials spanning 1884-1926. A large part of this collection is now on display at the Port Medical Office at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village in Warrnambool. In 1939 Dr Angus and his family moved to Warrnambool where he purchased “Birchwood,” the 1852 home and medical practice of Dr John Hunter Henderson, at 214 Koroit Street. (This property was sold in1965 to the State Government and is now the site of the Warrnambool Police Station. and an ALDI sore is on the land that was once their tennis court). The Angus family was able to afford gardeners, cooks and maids; their home was a popular place for visiting dignitaries to stay whilst visiting Warrnambool. Dr Angus had his own silk worm farm at home in a Mulberry tree. His young daughter used his centrifuge for spinning the silk. Dr Angus was appointed on a part-time basis as Port Medical Officer (Health Officer) in Warrnambool and held this position until the 1940’s when the government no longer required the service of a Port Medical Officer in Warrnambool; he was thus Warrnambool’s last serving Port Medical Officer. (Masters of immigrant ships arriving in port reported incidents of diseases, illness and death and the Port Medical Officer made a decision on whether the ship required Quarantine and for how long, in this way preventing contagious illness from spreading from new immigrants to the residents already in the colony.) Dr Angus was a member of the Australian Medical Association, for 35 years and surgeon at the Warrnambool Base Hospital 1939-1942, He served with the Australian Department of Defence as a Surgeon Captain during WWII 1942-45, in Ballarat, Victoria, and in Bonegilla, N.S.W., completing his service just before the end of the war due to suffering from a heart attack. During his convalescence he carved an intricate and ‘most artistic’ chess set from the material that dentures were made from. He then studied ophthalmology at the Royal Melbourne Eye and Ear Hospital and created cosmetically superior artificial eyes by pioneering using the intrascleral cartilage. Angus received accolades from the Ophthalmological Society of Australasia for this work. He returned to Warrnambool to commence practice as an ophthalmologist, pioneering in artificial eye improvements. He was Honorary Consultant Ophthalmologist to Warrnambool Base Hospital for 31 years. He made monthly visits to Portland as a visiting surgeon, to perform eye surgery. He represented the Victorian South-West subdivision of the Australian Medical Association as its secretary between 1949 and 1956 and as chairman from 1956 to 1958. In 1968 Dr Angus was elected member of Spain’s Barraquer Institute of Barcelona after his research work in Intrasclearal cartilage grafting, becoming one of the few Australian ophthalmologists to receive this honour, and in the following year presented his final paper on Living Intrasclearal Cartilage Implants at the Inaugural Meeting of the Australian College of Ophthalmologists in Melbourne In his personal life Dr Angus was a Presbyterian and treated Sunday as a Sabbath, a day of rest. He would visit 3 or 4 country patients on a Sunday, taking his children along ‘for the ride’ and to visit with him. Sunday evenings he would play the pianola and sing Scottish songs to his family. One of Dr Angus’ patients was Margaret MacKenzie, author of a book on local shipwrecks that she’d seen as an eye witness from the late 1880’s in Peterborough, Victoria. In the early 1950’s Dr Angus, painted a picture of a shipwreck for the cover jacket of Margaret’s book, Shipwrecks and More Shipwrecks. She was blind in later life and her daughter wrote the actual book for her. Dr Angus and his wife Gladys were very involved in Warrnambool’s society with a strong interest in civic affairs. He had an interest in people and the community They were both involved in the creation of Flagstaff Hill, including the layout of the gardens. After his death (28th March 1970) his family requested his practitioner’s plate, medical instruments and some personal belongings be displayed in the Port Medical Office surgery at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village, and be called the “W. R. Angus Collection”. [References: The 1948 Catalogue of Surgical Instruments; hospital supplies and guide to instruments for operatons, published by Felton, Grimwade & Duerdins Pty Ltd, 21 Alfred Place, Melbourne; Sir Hugh Berchmans Devine, Royal College of Surgeons, http://livesonline.rcseng.ac.uk/biogs/E004999b.htm; Equipment, What Surgeons Want in Operating Rooms, https://mpatkin.org/op_room_planning/what_surgeons_want.htm ]The W.R. Angus Collection is significant for still being located at the site it is connected with, Doctor Angus being the last Port Medical Officer in Warrnambool. The collection of medical instruments and other equipment is culturally significant, being an historical example of medicine, administration, household equipment and clothing from late 19th to mid-20th century. Dr Angus assisted Dr Tom Ryan, a pioneer in the use of X-rays and in ocular surgery. Surgical Kit containing operating frame and abdominal retractors, part of the W.R. Angus Collection. Kit cover is brown kid leather lined with navy cotton, 6 leather pockets inside and cotton flaps to close. Contains Sir Hugh Devine operating frame and abdominal retractors, stainless steel, made by J. Ludbrooke and Sons, Melbourne. Note with instruments "Sir Hugh Devine, surgeon at Royal Melbourne Hospital” c. 1920’sImpressed into instruments “J. LUDBROOKE AND SONS”, “PATENT 12990/28”, “83”, flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, dr w r angus, dr ryan, surgical instrument, t.s.s. largs bay, warrnambool base hospital, nhill base hospital, mira hospital, flying doctor, medical treatment, medical history, surgical kit, j. ludbrooke and sons, operating frame, abdominal retractor set, abdominal surgery, alimentary surgery