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 Operation Capital, Fire Support Base. 'Flinders', a Gunner, covers his ears at 'The Fortress' or 'Sandbag City' as 105mm (Howitzer) gun of 104 Battery fires in support of 4 RAR/NZ (ANZAC) elements operating in the Thua Tich area east of Phuoc tuy Province. (Circa October 1968)photograph, operation capital, fire support base flinders, 105mm howitzer, 104 battery, 4 rar nz, thua tich, phuoc tuy province, gibbons collection catalogue, denis gibbons, photographer, vietnam war, 4 rar/nz (anzac), sandbag city, the fortress

A black and white photograph of 131st Divisional Locating Battery, 1st Field Regt RAA. Gnr Cahill mans an M60 machine gun while his number two is at the ready with his SLR rifle, in one of the units' sandbagged bunkers, in the battery location on top of Nui Dat Hill, 1AFT BAse, (circa March 1967)photograph, 131st locating battery, 1st field regt, raa, nui dat, gibbons collection catalogue, gnr cahill

Water channel, 2 excavators, worker climbing ladder. Poppet head of a mine in background, Rubber tyred tractor with blade and trencher fitted in creek bed, larger excavator is adjacent to the tractor on the left bank, light posts and wire along the left bank, central gutter has plastic laid for a short distance, Pipe held down with sandbags in centre gutter.Kodakorganisation, industry, gas and fuel

A black and whitie Photograph of A series of South Vietnamese Regional Force heavily sandbagged outposts on Vietnams National Route 23, built around both approaches to a second bridge built by 1st Field Sqn Engineers of the 1st Australian Task Force soldiers had the responsibility for protecting the bridge against NVA/VietCong attack. The Regional Force soldiers living in these outposts normally had their families, wives and children, living with them.photograph, south vietnamese regional force, national route 23, 1st field sqn engineers, 1st atf base, nva/vc, gibbons collection catalogue, regional force soldiers

From the early 1960s, the Forests Commission had pre-season arrangements in place with local aeroclubs and pilots across regional Victoria. Air observers from FCV districts routinely flew during the summer months in small, fixed-wing aircraft on fire spotting missions and to map fire boundaries. The information was often needed quickly by crews on the ground or in the control centre and these small chutes were used to drop messages and maps from the reconnaissance aircraft on a low pass above a cleared area like a football field. About 3-foot long when fully extended, they had a small pouch secured with a press stud for the map or package. The chutes were made from tough canvas with a small, weighted sandbag at one end and a long yellow streamer tail on the other to help direct its fall and locating it on the ground. Drop chutes were still in common use in the 1990s, but the increased availability of helicopters combined with improved digital data transfer made drop chutes redundant. Simple, but now redundant technologyAerial drop chute"Return to Forests Comm Vic" stenciled on sidebushfire

Item in the Cooper Collection.Hard Cover Book with Dust Cover. Hard cover - cardboard with adhered paper cover, white and black print on front, spine and back. Illustrated with black and white photographs. Front - group of six soldiers standing, with sandbags in the background. Back - soldier in silhouette pouring a cup of tea against background of sea and a ship. Dust cover - paper, print and photographs as above. front and back flaps - white colour print on green background. End papers - grey and black photographs of battle scenes. 154 pages - cut, plain, white colour semi gloss paper. Pictorial book with colour and black and white photographs, maps, posters, postcards and handwritten information.publications, books, ww1, gallipoli, cooper collection

The Dunstan Memorial is a minimal form of rough-cut bluestone and sheet granite in memory of Ballarat born soldier, William Dunstan, who served with honour in Gallipoli, WWI. His unit successfully defended a post despite being seriously wounded. He and one mate were the only survivors of the 10 men defending the trench and all were awarded the Victoria Cross. Following the war Dunstan worked as manager and director of the Herald and Weekly Times.The memorial is of historical significance to the people BallaratThis is a minimal form of rough-cut bluestone and sheet granite in memory of Ballarat born soldier who served with honor in Gallipoli. His unit successfully defended a post despite being seriously wounded. He and one mate were the only survivors of the 10 men defending the trench and all were awarded the Victoria Cross. In honour of William Dunstan, VC 1895-1957. William Dunstan was born in Ballarat East and educated at Golden Point State School. Shortly after the outbreak of the First World War, 19 year old Dunstan enlisted in the 7th Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 1st Division of the Australian Imperial Forces. Within 3 weeks he was posted to Gallipoli and was immediately embroiled in the Battle of Lone Pine. Early on the morning of 9th August, 1915, Dunstan and 10 other men were defending a trench captured from the Turks. The enemy launched repeated counter attacks and suffered heavy casualties. Only 3 surviving Australians remained and were rebuilding the blown-up barricade of sandbags when the Turks launched a final vicious assault to regain the trench. Struggling to defend their position, the three Australians resorted to catching the Turkish hand bombs and throwing them back at the enemy or smothering those that landed with Turkish great-coats. Hand bombs killed a 10th defender and wounded both Dunstan and his only remaining companion. Again the Turks were driven back and this time the two wounded Australians were left alone until later relieved and hospitalised. As a result of the intensity of the fighting and the tenacity of the 3 defenders, each was awarded Victoria Crosses for their most conspicuous bravery. Following the war, Dunstan enjoyed a successful career to become the Managing Director of the Herald and Weekly Times. He died in Melbourne aged 62 and is remembered with respect by the citizens of Ballarat.first world war, wwi, william dunstan, conflict, war

This is part of a collection belonging to Sgt, William E. CarrollThis is a copy of a letter written by 815 Cpl William Carroll to his Aunt while he was hospitalised in Cairo. It is written on YMCA letterhead.Top Left hand Corner: Patron/ YMCA National Council/ H.M. The King/ Patron /Military Camp Dept./ H.R.H. Duke of Connaught. Centre top: For God, For King & For Country/ YMCA Logo/ with the/ Mediterranean Expeditionary Force. (written through the logo)/ Right hand top corner: Committee/ for Egypt/and/the Near East./ Chairman/ H.E. Sir Henry McMahon Lower down page: Reply to No. 815 Coy D Bat 21st/ Dec 31st '16/ Stationed at/ Dear Aunt,/ I am at present a patient in the (??)/ General Hospital, Egypt, back again at Cairo. I/have a slight abcess on my lip and my neck was a/ bit swollen, but both are almost right now./ It's quite a relief to be away from the shot &/ shell, for a spell & to enjoy comfort and sunshine/ again after four months hardships in the trenches./ During the latter part of my stay at ANZAC, it/ was intensely cold, snow & ice galore & freezing/ cold winds. It's five days since I left the pen/insular; we were taken off in a small steamer/ to Lemnos & put aboard a fine hospital ship./ We arrived at Alexandria yesterday morning/ & came on here last night. My lip has been/ lanced & the swelling is disappearing fast./ I had many miraculuous escapes in the trench./ Once whilst observing over the sandbags a barage/ ventilated my hat. On another occasion when/ I was stiring the porridge a piece of shrapnel/ knocked over our breakfast into the fire. So I have/ a lot to be thankful for to be sure./Many of my comrades have gone and are buried in the/ churchyard in Shrapnell gully & more are away sick/ and wounded. I intended to cable to you for some money but I think I'll be able to make do/ of it, & we have all our wants attended to here./ Do you remembr Willy O'Leary of Mansfield?- He/ was killed near us in an attack some time ago./ Young Sgt. Roberts, my chum of Dookie & Broadmeadows/ was also sniped a few days before I left./ The war doesn't appear to be going too well, but/ I am sure time will tell, & we will eventually/ give the Germans a good belting. Just address/ my letters as usual, as I don't think I'll be here/ for long & if I am my mates will send them/ on. I gave them permission to keep any parcel/ you might forward on whilst I am away. It was/ awfully good of you to send the other thing along./ Hoping all are quite well./ I am/ Your Affectionate Nephew/ William E. Carroll. Cpl/ww1, battalion, aif, 815, sgt, carroll, e, 21st, 6th, brigade, 1st, dcm, wiiliam

world war 1, anzac, ww1, soldiers, australian, uniform, back, duty, camp

world war 1, anzac, ww1, soldiers, australian, uniform, back, camp

Photographic printworld war i, ww1, australian imperial forces, anzac, trenches, sandbags, dugout, shelter

photosandbag, trench, ww1, world war 1

ww1, world war 1, aif, a.i.f, trench, battlements, sandbag