HMAS Melbourne (1912), a Chatham class light cruiser launched in 1912 and broken up for scrap in 1929 HMAS Melbourne (R21), a Majestic class aircraft carrier acquired by the RAN in 1947. She was involved in two major collisions during her career, and was sold for scrap in 1985. HMAS Melbourne (FFG 05), an Adelaide class guided missile frigate launched in 1989 and active as of 2012Wooden plaque with insignia of H.M.A.S. MelbourneH.M.A.S. Melbourneh.m.a.s. melbourne

HMAS Hobart (D63), a Leander class light cruiser acquired from the Royal Navy in 1938, and operating until 1962. HMAS Hobart (D 39), a Perth class guided missile destroyer commissioned in 1965 and decommissioned in 2000. HMAS Hobart (DDGH 39), lead ship of the Hobart class air warfare destroyers, scheduled to enter service in March 2016Wooden plaque with insignia of H.M.A.S. Hobarth.m.a.s. hobart

Ark Royal (1587), the flagship of the English fleet during the Spanish Armada campaign of 1588. HMS Ark Royal (1914), merchant ship, converted to an aircraft carrier during World War I HMS Ark Royal (91), British aircraft carrier launched in 1937 that participated in World War II and was sunk by a U-boat in 1941. HMS Ark Royal (R09), an Audacious-class fleet aircraft carrier launched in 1950, decommissioned in 1979 HMS Ark Royal (R07), an Invincible-class aircraft carrier, launched in 1981, decommissioned in 2011Wooden plaque with insignia of H.M.S. Ark Royalh.m.s. ark royal

HMS Amethyst (1793) was a 36-gun fifth-rate frigate, originally the French Perle captured in 1793 and wrecked in 1795. HMS Amethyst (1799) was a Penelope-class 36-gun fifth rate launched in 1799 and wrecked in 1811. HMS Amethyst (1844) was a Spartan-class 26-gun sixth rate launched in 1844 and sold in 1869 for use as a cable vessel. HMS Amethyst (1871) was an Amethyst-class screw corvette launched in 1871 and sold in 1887. HMS Amethyst (1903) was a Topaze-class cruiser launched in 1903 and scrapped in 1920. HMS Amethyst (F116) was a modified Black Swan-class sloop launched in 1943. She was later designated as a frigate, was involved in the Yangtze Incident in 1949 and was broken up in 1957. HMS Amethyst was to have been a River-class minesweeper. She was renamed HMS Waveney before being launched in 1983, and was sold to the Bangladeshi Navy in 1994, being renamed Shapla See also Able Seacat Simon (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_(cat))Plaque with insignia of H.M.S. AmethystH.M.S. Amethyst

Wooden Plaque with insignia of Royal Australian Navy BandRoyal Australian Navy Bandroyal australian navy band

This Brodie helmet was issued to the BCOF (Japan) in 1946Rare version with Rising Sun BadgeSteel Brodie Helmet with kahki WWII textured (non-reflectiev) paint, leather skul band and webbing chin strap. This helmet has a Rising Sun Badge affixed to the front.brodie, helmet, bcof

Comerates the commissioning of the H.M.A.S. Melbourne Copy of "The Navy Times" Oct. 31 1980. "25 Years Service of H.M.A.S. Melbourne. Souvenir Edition h.m.a.s. melbourne, navey times

Reprint of the front page of the Melbourne "Sun Pictorial'" Headline news Pearl Harbour AttackedReprint of the front page of the Melbourne "Sun Pictorial'" Headline news Pearl Harbour Dec. 8 1941Reprint of the front page of the Melbourne "Sun Pictorial'" Headline news Pearl Harbour Dec. 8 1941pearl harbour

Reprint of the front page of the Melbourne "Sun News Pictorial'" Headline news "Bombing of Hiroshima Possible the event which ended the war in the Pacific WWIIReprint of the front page of the Melbourne "Sun Pictorial'" Headline news Bombing of HiroshimaThe Sun News Pictorialhiroshima, v p day, v.j. day

Reprint of the front page of the Melbourne "Sun Pictorial'" Headline news Loss of H.M.A.S. Perth and YarraReprint of the front page of the Melbourne "Sun Pictorial'" Headline news Loss of H.M.A.S. Perth and YarraSun News Pictorialh.m.a.s. perth, h.m.a.s. melbourne

Reprint of the front page of the Melbourne "Sun News Pictorial'" Headline news Loss of the H.M.A.S. SydneyReprint of the front page of the Melbourne "Sun News Pictorial'" Headline news Loss of the H.M.A.S. SydneySun News Pictorial'h.m.a.s. sydney

Reprint of the front page of the Melbourne "Sun News Pictorial'" Headline news Loss of H.M.S. Prince of Wales and RepulseReprint of the front page of the Melbourne "Sun News Pictorial'" Headline news Loss of H.M.S. Prince of Wales and RepulseSun News Pictorialh.m.s. prince of wales, h.m.s. repulse

Reprint of the front page of the Melbourne "Herald" Headline news Peace in the PacificThe Herald

Issued at launch of the new ship H.M.A.S AruntaCommissioning booklet for H.M.A.S. Arunta 1998 with Letter to Barry McKillop thanking him for the donation of The Ships Bell of the Original Arunta signed by G J Yorke Commanding OfficerThe Navy Timesh.m.a.s. arunta

Card was hand drawn to celebrate Christmas 1951 at H.M.A.S. Commonwealth .HMAS Commonwealth was a former Royal Australian Navy administered shore base located in Kure, Japan. The base was previously run by the British as HMS Commonwealth, the base was renamed HMAS Commonwealth on 1 October 1948 until it ceased operation , at which time the base was transferred to Japanese control HMAS Commonwealth(Establishment) was then transferred from 28 Apr 1952 19 Apr 1956 to KoreaChristmas card / Menu for the H.M.A.S. Commonwealth 1951 at Kure Japan. Map shows Japan and Korea where shore base was in service until 1956Xmas Greetings H.M.A.S. Commonwealthh.m.a.s. commonwealth, kure japan, korea, bcof

Base ball style cap with H.M.A.S. Warramunga and F F H 152 embroidered on front with an image of the shipF F H Warramungah.m.a.s. warramunga, f f h 152

Cloth baseball type cap commemorating The H.M.A.S. Sydney II H.M.A.S. Sydney II 1935 -41

Black and white photo of Barry McKillop (BCOF RAN) Kure Japan.see item d/025536953 s/a (v) McKillop H.M.A.S. Commonwealth Kure Japan

A set of 5 cloth badges from American forces collected by Barry McKillop (RAN Retired)A set of 5 cloth badges from American forces U.S. Navy,(oblong) Fourteenth Air Force Shield shaped), Tomcat(Round with banner at bottom), Flying Tigers (round), U.S. Air force (Oblong). All cloth with woven designs.U.S. Navy, Fourteenth Air Force, Tomcat, Flying Tigers, U.S.Airforceflying tigers, tomcat, fourteenth air force

Framed Collage featuring an Australian Soldier, a 3D Australian Flag , a brass plated "ration pack" can opener, and campaign ribbons from all conflicts until 2001The Australian Army 1901-2001(Spirit Ordinary People Extraordinary Service)

The National Liberation Front Flags 1955-1976 The Viet Cong, or National Liberation Front, was the patriot/rebel army based in South Vietnam that fought the South Vietnamese government and the supporting United States troops during the Vietnam War (1959-75). They fought mainly as guerrilla units and rarely as regular army units. They also provided a network of cadre who organized the peasants against the government in the territory they controlled. The Viet Cong were closely allied with the government of North Vietnam. The group was formed in the 1950s by former members of the Viet Minh acting on orders from Hanoi. They proved highly effective against both ARVN (Army of the Republic of Vietnam) and later against the better equipped American troops. There were at least four types of flags, probably more, seen being carried by the Viet Cong. Type #1 had a small yellow star centered over a red and blue striped background, Type #2 had a larger white star centered on the red and light-blue striped background, Type #3 had either a large or small yellow star centered on a red and white striped background, and Type #4 had three vertical stripes of red/white/red with a small gold star centered on the white stripe. Like the early flags of the American Revolution, most flags were hand-made and each flag was a little different. Some examples of these variant flags also had Vietnamese text added to them. http://www.loeser.us/flags/cold.html#vietnamCotton flag with a red upper half and bluish lower half An Orange star is in the centre. The flag is very water damaged with extensive fading of the colour. It was initially difficult to differentiate between a Type 1, Type 3 and Type 5 flag vietcong, flag,

Set up by The Shire of Mulgrave. Later placed in front of the old RSL building at Glen Waverley. Now part of the Waverley RSL Memorabilia collection2 Marble Slabs erected by the Shire of Mulgrave to commemorate the men of the Shire who served in "The Great War"Shire of Mulgrave Honour Roll 1914 The Great War 1918 * Died in Service Plaque 1 ADAMS F., ADAMS A. , ADAMS. J, AJANI A. W. , AJANI E. ,ADJANI M., *ALCOCK J. ,ANDERSON G. McK. , ARMSTRONG S. ,ARNOLD W. R. ,ARNOTT W. –MM ,AURISCH F. R. , * BARKER F. ,BANKS D. A. ,BARKER E. J. H. ,BARKER L. C. S. ,BARKER R. C. I. , * BATTEN T. ,BEACON C. J. , BEACOM W. F. ,BEGS J. A. , BENNETT T. T. , BENNINGTON K. C. , BISCHOFFER K. S. E. ,BIZLEY L. ,BRAND A. M. , BRAND A. ,* BRAY R. L. , BRENNAN E. V. , BRENNAN W. J. , BREWER J. H. ,*BROWN S. , BRIDLE N. ,BUTCHER J. , BRABAZON F. , *CAMPBELL W. , CARLSON J. ,CHANDLER S. A. ,CLARKSON A. H. ,COCHRANE D. ,COLWELL E. ,*CORNELL C. ,CORNELL E. ,CORNELL R. ,COX B. T. ,CRAWLEY J. ,CRIPPS A. W. ,*CROW . , CUTTING R. ,DAYS E. J. ,DAGNALLA. E. , DALCOM T. ,DECARTE S. ,*DOOLAN W. E. ,*DOVER T. E. ,DUNTZELL R. ,DYER C. H. ,DYER H. ,DYKE H. ,EARLE A. F. , EVANS E. ,EVANS J. H. , FEAR H. ,*FEAR S. R. W. ,FIELDS C. J., *FURPHY A. F. ,GASCARD A. S. , GLENNON T. R. , GOBBI J. –MM ,GOULD T. D. , GRAY R. , GREENHAM A. ,GUNTHER C. J. ,GUNTHER H. V. , HENLEY A. , Plaque 2 HARRIS A. , HENLEY C. H. , HERRIOT S. T. ,*HERRIOT W. E. , HIND S. J. , HOLFORD J. S. S. , HORE H. R. ,*HORE S. C. , *HORNER C. S. C. ,HOURIGAN E. ,HOURIGAN F. ,HUNTER N. A. ,HURST W. K. , HUSSEY W. F. , JACKSON H. ,JAMES P. M. ,JANE R. W. –DCM, JOHNSON A. J. , *KELSALL W. J. ,KITCHEN J. H. ,KNIGHTS E. D. , LAITY J. E. ,LAITY F. C. , * LAW F. ,LAW J. ,LETCHE A. J. ,LECHTE D. W. ,MAILER D. ,MARKLE V. W. ,MARTIN W. E. ,MARWICK S. J. ,MAY J. ,MOORE A. J. ,MOYLAN P. , MUIR P. F. –MM , *MUNRO A. M. , MUNRO W. , MUNYARD W. ,MURPHY J. ,MUSTARD A. D. ,McGILL T. , McKELVIE F. W. ,McNALLY A. E. ,* McPHERSON A. P. ,OWENS H. C. ,OWENS O. , PARSONS G. ,PARSONS H. W. , PETERSON G. F. ,PEGG W. ,REEVE P. ,ROBBINS E. J. ,ROBBINS R. R. ,ROOKE W. L. ,SAWYER E. H. J. , SCAMMELL A. E. ,SHEPPARD H. ,SIM W. ,SIMMONS A. W. ,SMITH H. ,*SMITH N. , SMITH R. B. ,STEELE G. ,TURBER J. J. ,WATTS W. E. , WATTS W. E. ,* WHEELWRIGHT H. M. ,* WHITE D. C. ,WHITE S. G. S. ,WHITE W. ,WILLIAMS H. ,WILLIAMS L. ,WILLIAMS L. E. ,WILSON F. W. , WILSON H. R. ,WRIGHT W. ,WESTNEY P. E. –MM DCM , honour roll, great war, adams f., adams a., adams. j, ajani a. w., ajani e., adjani m., *alcock j., anderson g. mck., armstrong s., arnold w. r., arnott w. –mm, aurisch f. r., * barker f., banks d. a., barker e. j. h., barker l. c. s., barker r. c. i., * batten t., beacon c. j., beacom w. f., begs j. a., bennett t. t., bennington k. c., bischoffer k. s. e., bizley l., brand a. m., brand a., * bray r. l., brennan e. v., brennan w. j., brewer j. h., *brown s., bridle n., butcher j., brabazon f., *campbell w., carlson j., chandler s. a., clarkson a. h., cochrane d., colwell e., *cornell c., cornell e., cornell r., cox b. t., crawley j., cripps a. w., *crow ., cutting r., days e. j., dagnalla. e., dalcom t., decarte s., *doolan w. e., *dover t. e., duntzell r., dyer c. h., dyer h., dyke h., earle a. f., evans e., evans j. h., fear h., *fear s. r. w., fields c. j., *furphy a. f., gascard a. s., glennon t. r., gobbi j. –mm, gould t. d., gray r., greenham a., gunther c. j., gunther h. v., henley a., harris a., henley c. h., herriot s. t., *herriot w. e., hind s. j., holford j. s. s., hore h. r., *hore s. c., *horner c. s. c., hourigan e., hourigan f., hunter n. a., hurst w. k., hussey w. f., jackson h., james p. m., jane r. w. –dcm, johnson a. j., *kelsall w. j., kitchen j. h., knights e. d., laity j. e., laity f. c., * law f., law j., letche a. j., lechte d. w., mailer d., markle v. w., martin w. e., marwick s. j., may j., moore a. j., moylan p., muir p. f. –mm, *munro a. m., munro w., munyard w., murphy j., mustard a. d., mcgill t., mckelvie f. w., mcnally a. e., * mcpherson a. p., owens h. c., owens o., parsons g., parsons h. w., peterson g. f., pegg w., reeve p., robbins e. j., robbins r. r., rooke w. l., sawyer e. h. j., scammell a. e., sheppard h., sim w., simmons a. w., smith h., *smith n., smith r. b., steele g., turber j. j., watts w. e., * wheelwright h. m., * white d. c., white s. g. s., white w., williams h., williams l., williams l. e., wilson f. w., wilson h. r., wright w., westney p. e. –mm dcm, mulgrave

Photo taken by a sailor onboard H.M.S.Ajax 17 Dec.1939 On December 17, 1939 the Admiral Graf Spee, with Langsdorff and a skeleton crew of 40 aboard, steamed out of Montevideo as 20,000 onlookers watched. The crew set the scuttling charges and and everyone was evacuated by an Argentinian tugboat. The explosions ripped through the ship and it sank at 08:55 PM. On December 20, Captain Langsdorff, lying on the ship's flag and wearing his full dress uniform, shot and killed himself.Black and white photo of The Admiral Graf Spee being scuttled in the Pate Rivergraf spee

A4 Booklet Yellow coloured paper cover with P.W.L.H emblem on coverRegimental History4/19 p.w.l.h., 17 p.w.l.h.17/19 l.h., 19 l.h., victorian mounted rifles, 1 a.c.r., 4 a.c.r., 4 motor regiment, 2/4 armoured regiment

Awarded to Alan Bowers (A236814) who was a R.A.A.F. dental mechanic who serverd during WWII including service in Darwin, and then continued in the R.A.A.F. for some years after the end of WWII The Royal Australian Air Force (and all Commonwealth Air Forces) Long Service and Good Conduct Medal: Awarded to NCOs and ORs of the RAAF (RAF, RCAF etc) for 15 years service. A cupro-nickel plated medal, the obverse features the sovereign's head, the reverse features the crown and eagle emblem of the RAAF (and RAF). Officers are eligible for the award provided they have served a minimum 12 years in the ranks. The riband is dark blue and maroon with white edges. This medal ceased to be awarded in Australia in 1975 when it was replaced by the National Medal (and sbsequently the DFSM and DLSM) in the Australian system of honours and awards. http://www.heritagemedals.com.au/medals-1/service-long-service/air-force-long-service-and-good-conduct-medal.html History of the RAAF Dental Branch It took six years following the formation of the RAAF in 1921 for the first Dental Clinic to be established at Point Cook, Victoria. On 10th June 1927 Flying Officer James Carl Rosenbrock commenced work as an RAAF Dental Officer for the FlyingTraining School at Point Cook. As personnel numbers were still relatively small, Rosenbrock was also responsible for the dental care of all Victorian RAAF units, which involved treating members at 1AD Laverton, as well as Air Force Headquarters at Victoria Barracks in Melbourne. As Army Dental Officers were currently caring for RAAF personnel at Richmond, NSW, the Senior Dental Officer of the 3rd Military District in Victoria (SDO 3MD) requested through the military board that a similar arrangement be established, where that the newly appointed RAAF Dentist provide part time dental services to the Army units stationed at Queenscliff. This was seen as an effective reciprocal arrangement, with both units having a Dental Officer in attendance for, in total, around 3-4 weeks a year. Rosenbrock continued to serve as the sole RAAF Dental Officer until the middle of 1933, when the Air Board asked for his service to be terminated following ‘behaviour unbecoming of a RAAF officer'. He had borrowed several sums of money, of around 40 Pounds or so, from junior ranks on base (as well as from the Regimental Sergeant Major) and had failed to pay the money back. He was replaced by a fellow Victorian, FLGOFF Norman Henry Andrews, on the 18th Sep 1933, who went on to become our first Director of Dental Services, and was instrumental in establishing the organisations and conditions of the Branch that are still present today. Through a fair amount of persistence and hard work on the part of Norman Andrews, the RAAF Dental Branch began to expand from 1937, with the introduction of 2 additional positions, at RAAF station Richmond, and at the FlyingTraining School at Point Cook. This gave the RAAF 3 uniformed Dental Officers, which was expanded to 5 in the months leading up to WW2. 4 of these Dental Officers were based in Victoria and 1 at Richmond, with the other two RAAF units being cared for by the Army (as in the case of Pearce in WA) or by civilians (as in Darwin). With the sudden increase in RAAF personnel required at the outbreak of WW2, the number of RAAF Dental Officers increased dramatically, from 5 in 1939, 28 in 1940, 64 in 1941, 147 in 1942, 193 in 1943, 219 in 1944, and peaking at 227 in 1945. RAAF Dental Officers were required to work in a variety of locations, both in and out of Australia. Between 1940 and 1942 a massive construction programme occurred, with new dental clinics being established around Australia. Priority was given to aircrew training units in order to get these personnel dentally fit for operational deployment, but Dental Officers could equally find themselves posted to recruit depots, fixed stations, medical clearance stations, mobile dental sections, and RAAF and civilian hospitals. RAAF Dental Officers were posted to the large dental centres at Ascot Vale (Vic) and Bradfield Park (NSW) when first appointed, where they received military and clinical training, before being deployed to their needed location. Mobile Dental Units When Japan entered the war in 1941, the rapid deployment of troops to northern operational areas with less than ideal dental fitness was extremely high. As a result, the RAAF deployed a range of mobile dental units, either alone or with medical sections, to support the increasing number of isolated deployed personnel within Australia and overseas. There were three types of mobile unit used: a. Mobile Dental Unit – relied on using either a semi-trailer to get around or by building a surgery directly on to the truck chassis, and installing hydraulic chairs, units, x-rays, and laboratory equipment. They were able to move around between small units, such as RAAF radar stations, where they could plug into the local power supply and work immediately. b. Transportable Dental Units – used for stops of longer duration, where field equipment was carried in panniers from one unit to another by road or rail and housed in whatever accommodation was available at the destination. They were often carried within Australia on Tiger Moths and Dakota aircraft. c. Itinerant Dental Units – in some areas, the dental equipment was installed at the RAAF unit and the Dental Officer and their staff would travel from unit to unit, using the equipment available at each location. RAAF Dental BadgeAs the war developed in Europe, it soon became obvious that the RAF Dental support was not capable of supporting the increasing numbers of RAAF aircrew that were being sent for service with the RAF, with only enough Dental Officers available to provide one to every 2000 men ( instead of the preferred 1 to 600). As a result, the RAAF provided a mobile dental unit, fitted out in a caravan and pulled by a Ford V8 Coupe, to travel around England in support of RAAF personnel at various squadrons. Some degree of tact was needed to ensure that the RAF did not take this as a comment on the treatment they were providing, but it proved successful in maintaining a satisfactory state of dental fitness in RAAF personnel, and a second mobile unit was soon dispatched. They were also set up with a laboratory on board as well as the surgery, which was a major difference between the RAF and RAAF, as the RAF did not provide dentures for their troops (the RAAF would, providing they had served for 6 years). In 1943 the RAF was no longer able to provide Dental support to Australian troops in the Middle East, which resulted in the need for a transportable dental unit to be deployed from Australia. It functioned in a similar manner to the RAF, by moving from one squadron to another. It served in the Middle East and Africa, from Cairo across North Africa, to Italy, and eventually back to England to treat returned prisoners of war. GPCAPT Norman Andrews The growth and development of the RAAF Dental Branch owes a debt to one man in particular, GPCAPT Norman Andrews. As the second RAAF Dental Officer to enlist on 18 Sep 1933, Andrews became the principal architect of the structure and organisation of the RAAF Dental Branch leading up to and during WW2. Until early 1940, the RAAF Dental Branch was administered by the Director of Medical Services (Air), which placed it under the control of the Army Medical staff. The Army would provide their Inspector of Dental Services for advice whenever needed. In April 1940, the RAAF Medical service separated from the Army, resulting in the control of the RAAF Dental Branch shifting back to the RAAF. Andrews became the first Director of Dental Services, when the position was created in 1943 as recognition of the higher profile the Dental Branch was now playing in the RAAF Medical service. Until this time, Andrews's title had been as the Dental Staff Officer to the RAAF Medical Service. Andrews was responsible for the establishment of the war-time structure of the Dental service, establishing new dental centres at all major bases, creating mobile and transportable dental units, ensuring the continual growth of the Branch, maintaining professional development of staff through the establishment of a professional journal, and by organising renowned lecturers to speak at RAAF bases. He also believed in visiting as many dental units as possible to see for himself what conditions were like and to talk first-hand to staff in remote units. His itinerary during the war years, both in and out of Australia, shows a large number of trips in a variety of modes of transport in order to reach remote areas where units were serving. He was promoted to GPCAPT in July 1944, as the numbers of Dental Officers soon peaked at 227 towards the end of the war (1 GPCAPT, 9 WGCDRs, 60 SQNLDRs, and 157 FLTLTs). After the war, with the reduction in RAAF personnel required in uniform, the Dental Branch also reduced its numbers significantly. By 1947 there were only 18 Dental Officers serving (many part-time), with 1 GPCAPT, 1 WGCDR, 10 SQNLDRs, and 6 FLTLTs, and only 13 by 1950. With the decrease in Branch personnel numbers, the ‘powers to be' saw fit to reduce the Director of Dental Service rank to WGCDR, and as a result Norman Andrews found that in order to continue serving in the RAAF he would have to wear a reduced rank. This appears to have been a contributing factor in his decision to discharge at the relatively early age of 43 and accept an administrative job as Director of the Victorian Government's School Dental Service. Norman Andrews holds the proud honour of being the founder of the RAAF Dental Branch, which during the war was instrumental in educating servicemen of the importance of dental health and maintaining the dental fitness of troops in a variety of areas. Dental Orderlies (Assistants) The dental orderly mustering was first introduced in 1937. Until that time, medical orderlies were assigned to assist the Dental officer with their duties. As early as 1931 it had been noted by both RAAF and Army Dental Officers working in Victoria and Richmond that a lot of the troubles they were having would be solved by appointing a permanent Dental Orderly. Often they would find that the medical orderly they were assigned was a different one each day, and as a result the administration and work in general was very inefficient. By 1937, with the increase in Dental Officers to 3, it was realised that a Dental Orderly mustering needed to be created. Dental Mechanics/Technicians Before WW2, dental laboratory work was provided by civilian laboratories, as most RAAF units were stationed around metropolitan areas. At this time, service personnel were still required to pay for their own dentures, unless they had served for six years or had their dentures damaged during performance of their duties. In July 1940, mainly in response to the development of more remote RAAF dental units and the increasing demand for dental prostheses, the Dental Mechanic mustering was established. Unfortunately there was a very limited pool of civilian dental mechanics to recruit from, and as a result the RAAF set up a training school at Laverton (which was later moved to Ascot Vale) in June 1941 which conducted an intensive 6 month course in Dental mechanics. Dental mechanics were quickly in demand. In all fixed and mobile dental units at least 1 Mechanic was supplied for each Dental Officer, and indeed the RAAF supplied Dental Mechanics throughout all its deployments, something the RAF were unwilling, or unable, to do. Two grades of dental mechanic existed: the Senior Mechanic (with the rank of NCO), who was competent in all phases of laboratory work; and the Junior Mechanic, who could only handle routine work and not more advanced denture work. The progression to Senior required a further trade test in techniques including setting up, clasp-forming, casting and backing teeth. During the course of the War, two special courses were held for Mechanics. The first, directed at senior mechanics so that they could instruct others, was in 1942 when Acrylic Resin was first introduced as a denture base material, as an alternative to the current option of vulcanite. Later, towards the end of the War, a ‘refresher' course was provided for those that had served for the greatest period of time in order to allow them retraining in techniques that they had not practised during their service and which were common in civilian life. This included cast base dentures, crowns and bridges, partial dentures, and retainers. Towards the end of the War, a course was held with WAAAF trainees to train them as Mechanics. However, as the War was soon to end they never had the opportunity to progress within the mustering to become Senior Mechanics. The RAAF Dental Branch has survived 75 years of turbulence, with reviews of its viability occurring regularly every few years from as early as 1937. The Branch continues to provide excellent service to the ADF community and, despite reduced manpower, will continue to play an important role in Air Force Health operations. http://www.defence.gov.au/health/about/docs/RAAFDental.pdf40cm cupro-nickel plated medal, the obverse features the sovereign's head, the reverse features the crown and eagle emblem of the RAAF (and RAF). A23814 BOWERS.A. A. F.r.a.a.f long service medal, r.a.a.f good conduct, r.a.a.f. dental service medal

During WWII the Batallion fought in Syria, New Guinea,Borneo and Darwin. Pte. Eric Wild D.O.B. 30/09/1909 enlisted in Windosr Vic. 27/05 1940. and served with the 16RWAR. until his discharge 27/10/1944, at which time he had been assigned to 2/2 Army Fld. Wshops. He saw service in Africa and the Pacific 16 RWAR Campaign WWII North Africa 1941, Syria, Syrian Frontier, The Litani, Sidon, Wadi Zeini, Damour, South West Pacific 1942 - 1945, Kokoda Trail, Isurava, Eora Creek, Templetons Crossing, Efogi-Menari, Ioribaiwa, Buna-Gona, Gona, Liberation of Australian New Guinea, Ramu Valley, Shaggy Ridge, Borneo, Balikpapan, WaitavoloMedal set 1939-45 star, Africa star,Pacific Star,Defence Medal,War Medal 1939-45 and Australian Service Medal 1939-45.Also patches for 16 RWAR Awarded to Wild, Eric Vincent VX 17865 2/2 Field Workshop16 rawr, wild eric vincent

Presented to Waverley R. S. L. sub branch by South African Military Veterans Organisation of Australia http://www.samvoa.org/abouthistory.htmlhttp://www.samvoa.org/abouthistory.html The founder of SAMVOA, Veteran Tony Macquet MMM, documents the early history of the organisation: Two statements characterise the formation of the South African Military Veterans Organisation of Australasia that has taken on the acronym SAMVOA: SAMVOA was long in the making, yet I am reminded of what Garth Pienaar once said, "If you had not started it, I would have". And no doubt he or someone else would have because it needed "starting" and it just did not seem right that almost every other nation was represented on ANZAC Day and there were no South Africans marching, particularly when South Africans fought alongside Australians in two World Wars and in Korea. It is important to note that SAMVOA has had predecessors who were South Africans who had marched in Melbourne and probably elsewhere prior to 1996, but they were an older group of WW1 and WW2 veterans who by 1996 were too old to even travel by vehicle and they had fallen away. Around 1998, I contacted and spoke to their leader Major (retd.) Norval who confirmed that their group had become too old to march and he was delighted that a younger group was interested, although at that stage it was only me. http://www.samvoa.org/membership.html SAMVOA Membership This Veteran Organisation dedicates itself, in grateful recognition and memory of our countrymen, the Immortal Dead of South Africa, who, at the call of Duty, made the great Sacrifice on the battlefields of Africa, Asia and Europe and on the Sea. Their ideal is our legacy, Their sacrifice our inspiration. Metal Plaque mounted on wooden shield shaped backing plateSouth African Military Veterans Organisation of Australia Pro Patriasamvoa, south africa, military veterans organization australia, pro patria,

The Changi Museum is a museum dedicated to Singapore's history during the Second World War. The original chapel has been re-erected at Duntroon Military Academy and is on public display as a memorial to the P.O.W's In 1988, Singapore built a replica Chapel and Museum next to the Changi Prison. When Changi Prison was expanded in 2001, the Chapel and Museum was relocated to a new site 1 km away and the Changi Chapel and Museum was officially established on 15 February 2001. Bernard Stogden, the son of Sgt. Harry Stogden, was invited to place the cross that his father made onto the wreathed altar in the new Chapel. He was claimed to have cried while doing so, as this was one of the only chances he got to interact with his father(through his work) as "Harry" Stogden died during the war. The Museum has a collection of paintings, photographs and personal effects donated by former POWs. Among the collection is a series of paintings and sketches by a POW named William Haxworth which provide valuable insight on the daily life of the internees during the occupation. In 1986, Haxworth's wife donated a collection of over 400 paintings and sketches to the National Archives of Singapore. Also in the museum is a collection of watercolour paintings by Mary Angela Bateman who was among the thousands of women and children held at Changi Prison for more than three years during the war.[1]Poster produced by Australian War Memorial detailing the history of The Changi Chapel Framedchangi, changi chapel, changi history

German Luftwaffe (Land Forces) minefield warning flag from WWII.originally intended to be gas markers, rather than mines, but as it turned out, the use changed .they were mounted on a red metal pole & there were 12 to a set in a leather pack. This Flag was presented to the Treasurer of Waverley RSL. It is a souvenir from Bardia in Libya The Battle of Bardia was fought over three days between 3 and 5 January 1941, as part of Operation Compass, the first military operation of the Western Desert Campaign of the Second World War. It was the first battle of the war in which an Australian Army formation took part, the first to be commanded by an Australian general and the first to be planned by an Australian staff. Major General Iven Mackay's 6th Division assaulted the strongly held Italian fortress of Bardia, Libya, assisted by air support and naval gunfire, and under the cover of an artillery barrage. The 16th Infantry Brigade attacked at dawn from the west, where the defences were known to be weak. Sappers blew gaps in the barbed wire with Bangalore torpedoes and filled in and broke down the sides of the anti-tank ditch with picks and shovels. This allowed the infantry and 23 Matilda II tanks of the 7th Royal Tank Regiment to enter the fortress and capture all their objectives, along with 8,000 prisoners. In the second phase of the operation, the 17th Infantry Brigade exploited the breach made in the perimeter, and pressed south as far as a secondary line of defences known as the Switch Line. On the second day, the 16th Infantry Brigade captured the township of Bardia, cutting the fortress in two. Thousands of prisoners were taken, and the Italian garrison now held out only in the northern and southernmost parts of the fortress. On the third day, the 19th Infantry Brigade advanced south from Bardia, supported by artillery and the Matilda tanks, now reduced in number to just six. Its advance allowed the 17th Infantry Brigade to make progress as well, and the two brigades reduced the southern sector of the fortress. Meanwhile, the Italian garrisons in the north surrendered to the 16th Infantry Brigade and the Support Group of the British 7th Armoured Division outside the fortress. In all, some 36,000 Italian prisoners were taken. The victory at Bardia enabled the Allied forces to continue the advance into Libya and ultimately capture almost all of Cyrenaica. In turn this would lead to German intervention in the fighting in North Africa, changing the nature of the war in that theatre. Bardia boosted the competence and reputation of the Australian Army. Perhaps most important of all, it raised confidence in the possibility of an ultimate Allied victory around the world, which would lead to the Lend-Lease Act being passed in the United States http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_BardiaCloth Flag bearing a skull and cross Bones on a metal spike mounted on a square varnished wooden basebardia, land mine, marker flag, minefield, mustard gas

Collected by Lt.Clifford John Owens VX108037 who was a member of "Z" force during WWII.6 Regimental colour patched and one shoulder flash RAAOCr.a.a.o.c., lt. c. j. owens, colour patches, color patches