Plaque present to Corporal Sperry BODSWORTH MID who served with the 2/21st Battalion and involved with the Battle of Ambon. On the night of 30-31 January 1942 this small force of 1131 Australian soldiers were stationed at Ambon, an island which formed part of the Netherland East Indies (now Indonesia). An invasion of approximately 20,000 Japanese overwhelmed Gull Force and the majority of the Australian soldiers were taken prisoner. The execution of 229 at Laha, starvation, over work, disease and the absence of medical supplies led to horrific loss. At the cessation of hostilities only 352 of the original 1131 had made it back to Australia. 779 members of Gull Force made the supreme sacrifice and now lie in foreign fields. The Battle of Ambon (30 January – 3 February 1942) occurred on the island of Ambon in the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia), during World War II. Japan invaded and conquered the island in a few days, facing Dutch, American and Australian forces. The chaotic and sometimes bloody fighting was followed by a series of major Japanese war crimes. Allied casualties in the battle were relatively light. However, at intervals for a fortnight after the surrender, Japanese personnel chose more than 300 Australian and Dutch prisoners of war at random and summarily executed them, at or near Laha airfield. In part, this was revenge for the sinking of the Japanese minesweeper, as some surviving crew of the minesweeper took part.. Three-quarters of the Australians captured on Ambon died before the war's end. Of the 582 who remained on Ambon, 405 died. They died of overwork, malnutrition, disease and one of the most brutal regimes among camps in which bashings were routine. Blood Oath, a 1990 Australian feature film is based on the real-life trial of Japanese soldiers for war crimes committed against Allied prisoners of war on the island of Ambon, in the Netherlands East Indies (Indonesia), such as the Laha massacre of 1942.Brown timber in the shape of a shield mounted with a metal a coat of arms depicting white seagull above black and orange diamond within pale blue oval shape.Gull Force 2/21 Battalion Ambon Laha Plaque - Cpl Sperry Bodsworth VX23435 MIDgull force, 2/21 battalion, ambon, ww2

Cylinder shape a few scratches and showing wear and tear, Glass window with cream and green numbers. With black matt baked on paint.Behind glass reads - GYRO HORIZON AMALGAMATED WIRELESS (A/SIA), MANUFACTURED UNDER LICENSE FROM THE SPERRY GYROSCOPE CO. LTD Label reads - Serial No A.W.A /2739-, Part no 643720R, Patented Aust. 110675, 18.8.39, R.A.A.F. Ref no G6A/3330gyroscope, r.a.a.f, artificial horizon, aircraft, sperry

Gyrocompass, sperry mark 19 modification, 3A & Poster, Information Board.gyrocompass

Sperry Ball Turret B-24 Liberator, meant for ventral defence needs on aircraft. Also used on B-17 Flying Fortress.a15

Document. Illuminated Souvenir Invitation to family of Mr. Thomas Langdon to the Public Reception of Rear Admiral Sperry and the Officers, Sailors and Marines of the Fleet of the United States of America, Melbourne August- September 1908.document, memo, souvenir invitation

Belonged to Maxwell Lennox Matheson 418447 RAAF. Refer 1959 for his service history.Wood frame block with six (6) instruments, round shape set in the wood frame. The 6 instruments all different all represent a replica of a standard "sperry flight instrument panel". These parts were fitted to most RAF and RAAF aircraft. "M Matheson 87 Reservoir Road Strathdale Bendigo" (Label on rear).instruments, equipment, raaf

Aircraft Gyro Horizon Indicator made by Sperry Gyroscope Co., in 1945. A gyro horizon or artificial horizon is an instrument used in an aircraft to inform the pilot of the orientation of the aircraft relative to Earth's horizon. It indicates pitch (fore and aft tilt) and bank (side to side tilt). Black painted cylindrical instrument with side cutout containing moving metal parts inserted with glass at one end. Indicator Gyro Horizon Manually Caged Electric Type H. 6B (1945)raaf, horizon indicator, gyro, 1945, sperry gyroscope, aircraft

5 Invitation cards in a display. 1. The ministers of state for the commonwealth of Australia request the pleasure of the company of R.H.S. Abbott at the public reception of Rear Admiral Sperry and the officers, sailors, & marines of the fleet of the united states of America. Sydney. August 1908. 2. Invitations to a theatre parties. Tuesday 25th August 1908. 3. Invitation to Public Reception. Friday 21st August. 1908. 4. Invitation to garden party. State government house. Rose Bay. Wednesday. 26th August 1980 at 3pm. 5. Invitation to Naval & Military review. Monday 24th August 1908 at centennial park. Deframed 2022document, invitations, receptions